Robert Leonard

Sonoma, CA



My business experience

I spent 25 years with top Madison Avenue advertising agencies helping Fortune 500 CEOs and key decision makers achieve their strategic business objectives. In this capacity I worked as a Vice President/Account Director for several of the most respected advertising agencies in the world, including J. Walter Thompson & Foote and Cone & Belding. I developed successful business strategies for a variety of diverse high-profile products and services ranging from Burger King Whoppers to Gulfstream G5 luxury business jets.

I also spent 10 years as a freelance business consultant, specializing in strategic planning for industries ranging from the largest mountaineering guide service in North America to the second oldest hospice foundation in the United States.

For the past 7 years, I have managed a family partnership with several luxury residential real estate brokerages, including Sotheby's International Realty and Alain Pinel Realtors, selling more than $34 million in total volume sales transactions since January 2005.

With my unique background I've acquired extensive experience in problem solving for both consumer and business-to-business enterprises, regardless of size and profit motivation.

My Vistage experience

My first Vistage group experience began when I participated as a member of a Vistage Trusted Advisor group in Seattle, Washington. The September 11th terrorist attacks occurred during the first week of my membership, and I personally witnessed the powerful strength of the Vistage experience during a time of fear and economic uncertainty.

As a Vistage Chair, I have three abiding beliefs:

  • Nothing is more dangerous than an idea, when it's the only one you have.
  • You get ahead in life by helping other people get what they want.
  • To get what we've never had, we must do what we've never done.

My Vistage groups

During the past several years, the following diverse industries have been represented within my groups: lodging and hospitality; packaged goods; specialty luxury foods; financial services; wealth management; higher-education consulting; alternative secondary education; legal services; travel and tourism; print media; marketing communications; e-commerce, spa and personal well-being, corporate investigative services; dentistry; early childhood education; residential real estate; executive search; and a military veteran's non-profit organization. My groups have been evenly divided between female and male members.

I am committed to assisting CEOs, business owners and key executives to become better leaders who achieve better results. These results translate into more successful lives—working fewer hours, making more money and enjoying more satisfying interpersonal relationships.

Who is the "ideal" Vistage member?

I'm looking for CEOs, business owners and key executives who live and/or work in San Francisco or just north of the Golden Gate in Marin, Sonoma or Napa Counties.

I am only looking for business leaders who have decided that:

  • This is the year to take their company to the next level. No excuses.
  • They will do whatever is necessary to triple their company's annual revenue growth rate during the next 12 months. No excuses.

I am also looking for business leaders who can check their egos at the door and:

  • Admit to not having all the answers
  • Want to be better human beings, not just better business leaders
  • Are willing to help other people achieve their vision and goals
  • Have a big and generous heart

More about Robert Leonard

My executive leadership training began immediately following college graduation, during which I served on active duty as a U.S. Marine Corps Infantry officer and achieved the rank of Captain. My postgraduate educational credentials include a Master of Arts degree from Pepperdine University's Graduate School of Education and Psychology.

I am extremely active in my community, and I have co-founded several grass roots non-profit charities dedicated to helping military veterans and their families. I am a Rotarian, a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Freemason, and I currently serve on the board of directors of several high-profile diverse non-profit organizations.

I'm very fortunate to live, work and play in the heart of California Wine Country with my wife Kathy and our Australian shepherd dog, Clio.