CEO Executive Facilitation
- Vicky Pike
- Jun 19
- 2 min read
Why executive facilitation is more than just moderating
Last month, after moderating a CEO dinner, one of the attendees leaned over and said, "This felt more like therapy than a round table." We laughed, but the comment stuck with me.
It’s when I knew: I wasn’t just facilitating. I was coaching the group. The most powerful leadership conversations happen when people feel safe enough to be real. And creating that kind of space, whether at an executive dinner, in a boardroom, or within a group coaching circle, isn’t accidental. It’s facilitated.
Over the past few years, I’ve facilitated many different types of events, from private executive dinners, all-day workshops, panel conversations, cohort events. The settings vary, but the dynamics are always the same. You’ve got a room full of smart people who need meaningful connection, fresh insight, and space to think out loud.
The coaching principles behind great facilitation
It’s struck me how much this mirrors the work I do in group coaching. The principles are identical:
Holding space without dominating it
Making it safe for people to think and speak freely
Listening for deeper themes, not just individual comments
Inviting multiple voices without putting anyone on the spot
Guiding a room with light structure and strong intention
Facilitation, like coaching, is not about having the answers. It’s about creating the right conditions for others to uncover theirs. And that’s where the real value lies.
Facilitation as a strategic leadership skill
As leaders wrestle with uncertainty, whether that’s AI disruption, shifting workforce expectations, or strategic reinvention, the ability to hold thoughtful, human-centred conversations is becoming a critical leadership skill. More than ever, we need rooms where people can pause, reflect, challenge and reframe.
We need less presentation. More presence.
So whether I’m coaching a group of senior women in tech or guiding an evening of CEOs through the challenge of AI transformation, the goal is the same: to host the kind of space where insight becomes possible.
If you’re designing leadership gatherings, cohort experiences, or strategy sessions don’t just think about content. Think about atmosphere. Because the room doesn’t change unless the energy does.
And energy, like trust, is always facilitated.
Want to make your next leadership gathering more impactful?
Let’s talk about how I can help you design and facilitate executive experiences that spark connection, insight, and strategic clarity.
