Episode 6: Who You Surround Yourself with Really Matters, with Leo Bottary

Leo Bottary is Vice President, Peer Advantage for Vistage Worldwide, where he directs a thought leadership initiative on the power of peer influence for business leaders. Leo recently coauthored the book, The Power of Peers with Leon Shapiro, which was released by the publisher in March, 2016. Since 2008, Leo has also served as an adjunct professor, teaching online and on campus residencies for two of Seton Hall University’s graduate communication and leadership programs. In 2015, he was named adjunct teacher of the year for the College of Communication and the Arts.

Earlier in his career, Leo served in senior leadership positions at Mullen and at Hill & Knowlton (H&K), where he was also Director of Client Service for the US. In the mid 1990s, Leo founded a public relations agency that a leading industry trade publication hailed as a regional powerhouse, new media pioneer, and great place to work. Bottary & Partners Public Relations won national and regional awards and developed a website that was named best PR Agency website in America by Ragan Communications in 1997. He sold the firm in 2000.

Leo has earned a BA from Jacksonville University, an MA in Strategic Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University and is expected to receive his EdD from Northeastern University with a concentration in Organizational Leadership upon completion of his Leos dissertation topic focuses on learning outcomes for CEOs who participate in peer advisory groups.