David Silber

Foster City, CA

My business experience

I have been a chief executive officer/president in three different businesses. My experience also includes practice as a lawyer, marketing management and general management. I have held management roles in the food industry, specialty retailing, business-to-business services, publishing, graphic arts and stationery, consulting and the not-for-profit sector. In the corporate realm, I have held management positions with three large Fortune 100 companies as well as assignments in smaller post-start-up entrepreneurial environments.

My Vistage experience

I was a member of a Vistage Chief Executive group for six years. I am convinced that our business would not have achieved the success it did without the insights and support I received from my fellow members.

I have been a Vistage Chair since 2002. It is the most satisfying work I have ever done.

My Vistage groups

The members of my Vistage group range in age from 31 to 65 years of age. Annual business revenues range from $1 million to $200 million.

The diversity of the group is reflected not just in the variety of our members’ current businesses, but also in their cumulative past experience. For example, one member of the group has had direct responsibility for managing more than 2,000 people, while another was responsible for sales of more than $30 billion.

Who is the “ideal” Vistage member?

Someone who listens as well as they speak, who doesn’t think they have all the answers, who is interested in learning and growing, and who believes in living up to their commitments.

More about David Silber

I hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Oxford University, England. I hold an MBA from the Harvard Business School. I became a US citizen in 1976. My personal interests include most sports, travel, bridge, choral singing, opera, genealogy and theatre.