Nashville Executive Summit
Thursday, November 19, 2026 8:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. CST
Event Overview
Every Decision, Obstacle, and Success Has Shaped the Leader You Are Today
The Vistage Executive Summit is your day to build on that experience through expert insights, meaningful peer connection, and practical tools that drive growth.
My biggest takeaway from the Vistage Executive Summit is the importance of aligning long-term planning with both business goals and personal well-being. Success isn’t just about short-term wins—it’s about building something sustainable over time. When both areas are nurtured, they reinforce each other, leading to more consistent progress and a better quality of life.
— Davinder Harcharan Singh, Vistage member and 2025 Executive Summit attendee
Event Speakers
Tara Bayke
Economist, ITR EconomicsSetting Expectations for 2027 and Beyond
Navigating inflation, interest rate changes, labor challenges, and geopolitical uncertainty will be critical for leaders preparing for what's ahead in 2027. While many markets improved this year, others experienced only muted growth and are at risk of hard landings in 2027. In this presentation, ITR Economics will delve into the key macroeconomic drivers that will take hold next year or carry over from 2026.
With a long and proven track record of “seeing the future first,” ITR Economics will provide their latest forecasts as well as the top economic forces impacting your business and their implications for overall cost structure, workforce strategy, the risk of profitless prosperity, and the timing of resource allocation. You’ll gain a broad view of business cycle changes and sector-level drivers that will help you identify risks and opportunities, align your strategy, budgeting, and investments with forward-looking economic insight — ensuring your organization remains resilient in the ever-changing market landscape.
Rajeev Kapur
CEO, 1105 Media & AuthorLeading Digital Transformation: 6 Key Takeaways for AI Success
The AI revolution is here—but adoption doesn’t happen by inspiration; it happens by execution that starts with you as a leader. In this presentation, Rajeev Kapur, author of AI Made Simple and CEO of 1105 Media, shares the specific steps leaders must take to implement AI successfully, and what they should be worried about. This presentation, tailored to the CEO audience, will include the tools you should use to turn your AI adoption into measurable productivity gains.
Anne Petrik
VP of Research, Vistage Worldwide, Inc. | Summit EmceeAs emcee for this Summit, VP of Research Anne Petrik will share the latest data from the Vistage CEO Confidence Index, adding context about peer sentiment and CEO priorities to the program throughout the day.
A deep dive into the economic forecast facing your market.
Learn how to uncover hidden heart disease risk that traditional screenings miss.
See below for a full listing of expert-led breakouts.
See below for a full listing of expert-led breakouts.
Discover the exact AI tools and tactics top CEOs are using right now to drive productivity and what pitfalls to avoid.
Celebrate your community's Vistage Member Excellence Award winners and finalists and connect with fellow peers. Refreshments to be served in the Marketplace.
Breakout sessions
11:25 - 12:25 PM
Beyond the Algorithm: A CEO's Guide to Measurable Talent ROI
Presenter: Executive Advisors | Culture Index
AI has automated resume screening for nearly every company—but it still can't assess critical thinking, adaptability, or leadership. This session equips CEOs with a proven behavioral analytics framework to identify the human capabilities that separate businesses that scale from those that stall.
Topic: Leadership - Hiring Recruitment & Sourcing
11:25 - 12:25 PM
The Dark Side of Private Equity: Missteps that Could Cost You Millions
Presenter: Brian Daley, Director of Strategic Partnerships | Founders Advisors
With more Private Equity (PE) firms targeting private companies, business owners must be equipped to navigate this complex world successfully. Using case studies, data-driven insights, and over two decades of M&A experience, we’ll discuss the PE investor ecosystem, how they exploit inexperienced business owners, and strategies to help you protect your equity.
You’ll learn:
- 7 reasons your business is not qualified for PE investment (and what to do)
- Essential questions to answer before engaging PE
- The truth about “Minority Investors” and “Founder Aligned” PE
- Why 90% of founders lose in PE negotiations
- Enterprise Value Coaching through Industry Driven Valuation Scorecards
Topic: Financials - Mergers & Acquisitions
11:25 - 12:25 PM
Your Digital North Star in the World of AI and Intelligent Automation
Presenter: Mark Shivers, Founder & CEO | Ignite IPA
Overwhelmed by AI and automation? Unsure where to start or which tools matter? This session simplifies AI and automation and aligns them to your business goals using real-world case studies with financial impact.
You’ll walk away with:
- Clarity on AI and automation that drives results
- Strategies to cut costs, scale efficiently, and improve customer experience
- A clear digital path to boost margins and navigate the future confidently
Topic: Business Operations - Technology
1:20 - 2:20 PM
The CEO’s Guide to Building a High-Performance Sales Culture
Presenter: David Mullins, Strategic Growth Partner | SalesStar
Most sales teams don’t struggle because of effort—they struggle because of unclear plans, inconsistent processes, and gaps in leadership and talent. In this session, CEOs will learn the three essential drivers of a high-performance sales organization: clarity, leadership, and putting the right people in the right roles. Attendees will leave with practical insights they can immediately apply to create more predictable, consistent revenue growth.
Topic: Customer Engagement – Sales
1:20 - 2:20 PM
The Value Creation Formula: Build the Company Everyone Wants to Buy
Presenter: Jim Canfield, VP of Strategic Relationships | Class VI Partners
For most company owners the value of their business is the most significant asset they hold. In fact, recent research showed that for most business owners their ownership in the company represented 85-95% of their net worth. So, the question we face as owners is how we accomplish three objectives:
- Creating a growing and scalable business
- Increasing the value of the business
- Making the business easier and more fun to run and lead
Jim will present a formulaic approach to address these three objectives and will explore concepts and tools that when applied produce results.
Topic: Financials - Mergers & Acquisitions
1:20 - 2:20 PM
How to Keep More of the Money You Make
Presenter: Kimberly Ellis, Strategic Partnerships | Fisher\SMB
High earning business owners typically face a common problem—As income grows, so does your tax bill. While we can’t completely eliminate your taxes, we can show you:
- Create a tax shelter for up to $400,000 of earned income per year
- Diversify the tax treatment of your retirement income
- Pay yourself instead of Uncle Sam
Topic:Personal Development - Exit Planning
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