Dear BTF Community,
In this interview we chat with Laura Vaughan, Chair of the upcoming Toronto Business Transitions Forum and Ontario Regional Director of MacKay Forums, about CEO peer learning and business transitions. She discusses:
- The Power of Peer Learning: Vaughan emphasizes that leadership can be isolating, but CEO peer groups provide a judgment-free space for executives to share insights, tackle challenges, and accelerate growth by learning from others’ experiences.
- Business Transitions Beyond Just Selling: Transition planning isn’t just about selling a business—it includes leadership evolution and succession planning. With many Canadian businesses facing transitions in the next 10–20 years, early preparation is crucial.
- The Value of Community and Preparation: As Chair of the Business Transitions Forum in Toronto, Vaughan highlights the importance of proactive conversations and networking. Engaging in discussions early helps business leaders be better prepared for future transitions.
Enjoy,
Mark
Leadership can be a lonely and complex journey, but Laura Vaughan, Ontario Regional Director at MacKay CEO Forums, is working to change that. Based in the Greater Toronto Area, Vaughan facilitates peer learning groups that bring together CEOs and executives to share insights, tackle challenges, and gain a broader perspective on leadership.
MacKay CEO Forums, founded by Nancy MacKay 20 years ago, provides a judgment-free space where executives from organizations ranging from $5 million to $5 billion in revenue can learn from one another.
“It’s really lonely at the top. It’s a really tough job. It’s too hard to go it alone, particularly in the CEO role but also in the executive roles. Many of the executives in my group are fond of saying it might be lonely at the top but it’s complicated in the middle,” said Vaughan.
“So we really do need each other. The days of trying to DIY our jobs, to grind it out on our own, we can go further, faster if we tap into all the experiences of other people who are doing a similar journey to us in life.”
The organization emphasizes diversity across industries, including manufacturing, distribution, professional services, legal, accounting, tax, and healthcare. Importantly, competitors are never placed in the same group to maintain a secure and open environment for discussion.
“The people who get the most out of peer learning, they show up with a mindset of ‘I’m on the journey of growing as a human being and growing as a CEO and I can learn something from almost anyone’. So they tend to be very growth oriented, very learning oriented people,” said Vaughan.
“We’re all trying to figure it out together but we try to create a very judgement free space. We’re not here to judge one another, we’re just trying to be generous with our experience and open-minded to the experiences of others and that creates a really great space.”
Vaughan also plays a key role in the Business Transitions Forum (BTF), a critical event for business owners preparing for transitions. She is Chair of the Toronto Forum on May 21.
Last year, she chaired a panel discussion.
“If you are anticipating a transition in your business at some point in the future, you should be there and start the conversation. Make connections with other people who know something about transitions. Other CEOs who have been through transitions and professionals who have seen a lot of transitions,” explained Vaughan.
“They’ve seen all the best practices and they’ve seen all the mistakes. The sooner you start having those conversations, the sooner you can learn from other people’s mistakes and successes in your own business. And then I say to people, if you’re not anticipating a transition in your business, you should be because it’s going to happen. So the more you know about your options for transitions and the more runway you give yourself to prepare and navigate that transition, the better set up you are to have more choices when the time comes.”
Business transitions are a frequent discussion topic in CEO forums, alongside workforce changes and economic shifts. Vaughan stresses that transition planning isn’t just about selling a business—it includes leadership evolution and succession planning. With many Canadian businesses facing transitions in the next 10 to 20 years, these conversations are more relevant than ever.
For business leaders looking to expand their knowledge, gain new perspectives, and prepare for the future, MacKay CEO Forums and the Business Transitions Forum offer invaluable opportunities.
Mario Toneguzzi is a veteran of the media industry for more than 40 years and named in 2021 and 2024 a Top Ten Business Journalist in the world and only Canadian. He also made the RETHINK’s global list as a Top Retail Expert 2024 and 2025.