Robert Friend

About Robert Friend

VISTAGE CHAIR & LEADERSHIP GROWTH ADVISOR | GLOBAL SALES, MARKETING, AND TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVEA lifetime of building teams, leading growth, and creating impact has shaped not only my career — but who I am at my core. Every role, from global sales leader to Vistage Chair, has been guided by a simple belief: leadership is about making life better for the people we touch and the world we influence.My work has spanned sales, marketing, and technology — from managing complex enterprise relationships to scaling platforms that connect communities and drive measurable results. What I’ve learned along the way is that the real success comes from people — from helping others find clarity, purpose, and confidence in their leadership. That’s what drives me every day.Family, service, and creativity are at the heart of everything I do. My wife, Maribel, and our three children remind me daily what true leadership looks like — patience, love, and accountability. Rotary has been my compass for service, teaching me that peace isn’t just the absence of conflict, but the presence of understanding. Through Opus for Peace, I’ve witnessed how art and music can bridge divides and heal communities.As a Vistage Chair, I now have the privilege of guiding CEOs and senior leaders through their own growth journeys — helping them lead with courage, balance their lives with purpose, and unlock the potential of the teams and communities they serve.Core Strengths:• Leadership & Team Development• Consultative & Enterprise Sales• ROI-Driven Growth Strategy• Problem Solving & Negotiation• Strategic Marketing & Brand Positioning• SaaS, Data Systems & Technology Innovation• Coaching & Human-Centered Leadership

Experience

1. Vistage Chair

   Vistage Worldwide, Inc.

   Oct 2025 — Present · Madison, CT, US

   Imagine having your own confidential board of peers—leaders who challenge your thinking, share hard-earned insights, and help you grow faster. That’s what happens in my Vistage groups for CEOs and business leaders ready to reach the next level. Each month, we meet in a trusted space to tackle real challenges and bold ideas, uncover blind spots, test assumptions, and gain clarity to make better decisions and achieve stronger results. As a Vistage Chair, I guide these conversations so every leader leaves with actionable insight, renewed focus, and the confidence to lead with greater impact.

Education

• Emerson College

  BS, Theatre Education

  1975 — 1979

Skills

• Editing
• Leadership
• Management
• Team Building
• Project Planning
• Ticketing Software
• Advertising
• Social Media Marketing
• Integrated Marketing
• Event Planning
• Sales Operations
• Customer Service
• Sales
• Email Marketing
• Strategy
• Marketing
• Business Development
• Nonprofits
• Digital Media
• Sponsorship
• Theatre
• Strategic Planning
• Public Relations
• Fundraising
• Marketing Strategy
• Performing Arts
• Direct Sales
• Entertainment
• Event Management
• Graphic Design
• Online Advertising
• Strategic Partnerships
• Budgets
• New Business Development
• Social Media
• Business Planning
• Public Speaking
• Start-Ups
• Marketing Communications
• Enterprise Software