Lim Kah Hooi – Vistage Chair Story

As Chairs, we often do not have a short answer to friends who asked, “What do you do?” My favorite reply is, “I am a Vistage Chair. I help CEOs to become better leaders, make better decisions and get better results”.

A simple way to illustrate how we do this is by the Vistage whistle. On the front side of the whistle is a compass that reflects our role in helping CEOs to align their businesses and personal lives to true north. On the other side is a thermometer. The temperature of their businesses and personal lives may go up and down along the way. Like a thermometer, we highlight the dangers and help them to regulate safely. And when things get out of hand, we blow the whistle and call for a time out to help them re-strategize before going forward. Hidden in the whistle is a magnifying lens that we use to magnify issues or opportunities that warrant careful consideration! So you see, it’s serious business but at the same time, it can also be fun. Some Chairs say that being a Vistage Chair is having the best job in the world!

After 14 years as a Vistage Chair, I personally not only found my role to be fulfilling but also most edifying. There is tremendous satisfaction seeing the lives of CEOs and their companies being transformed. “I can’t find a better vocation helping business owners and CEOs with their important decisions whilst keeping me green and growing”.

As a Regional Chair, I get to experience first hand helping other Chairs grow to become better Chairs and better leaders. The on-going Chair training and yearly renewal is most edifying to Chairs. It is here that Chairs received help in their own life transformation. As Chairs, we are constantly reminded, “we can’t take our CEOs anywhere we have not been ourselves”.

What does it take to be a Vistage Chair? Apart from the basic qualification of being a former CEO (or equivalent) of a Company, the other key requirement is someone who has a strong desire to help others succeed. If you satisfy these two criteria and you’re willing to stay green and growing throughout the journey, contact us for further discussion. Who knows, you might find this to be the best job in the world!

Lim Kah Hooi
Regional VCE Chair since 1996
Vistage Malaysia