Questions,
answered.
Who is Jay Hirshberg?
Jay Hirshberg is the founder of The Growth Engine, a CEO coach and Forum Retreat facilitator based in South Florida. He has launched six businesses and had three exits: Fortelligent, a big-data marketing analytics company acquired by WPP (NYSE: WPP) that returned 800% to shareholders; Mark 7 Reloading, where he invented machines that manufacture metallic cartridge ammunition automatically and sold the company to the leading firearms accessory company in the world; and Galerie D’Orsay, a multi-channel master’s work art gallery he co-owned, which ended in a management buyout. He holds 18 U.S. patents and an MBA from MIT Sloan, and serves as an MIT Admissions Educational Counselor.
Jay has spent 25 years in YPO and EO Chapters so far, and has served as a Forum moderator six times and in multiple Chapter positions. He is a Forum seed moderator and Forum trainer, and has designed and run Forum Retreats for 25 years. He coaches founders and CEOs one-on-one and in groups, both in person and virtually. Jay is a commercial multi-engine jet pilot and flies his Cirrus Vision Jet to clients and Forum Retreats across the U.S.
Why does a business coach need hands-on experience in the business challenges you face?
Having relevant experience is critical for a world-class business coach because it bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and operational reality. A coach who has sat in the executive chair, managed complex P&Ls, navigated market downturns, and led high-stakes turnarounds possesses a deep, intuitive understanding of the pressures their clients face. This lived experience equips them with sharp pattern recognition, allowing them to spot blind spots, diagnose organizational bottlenecks, and evaluate strategic risks far faster than a coach relying solely on textbook frameworks. When complex leadership, governance, or market dynamics arise, real-world context enables a world-class coach to ask targeted, high-impact questions and offer nuanced perspective grounded in proven practice.
Furthermore, relevant experience underpins the foundational element of any coaching relationship: immediate credibility and psychological trust. World-class executives, founders, and business leaders are often cautious about seeking guidance, preferring advisers who genuinely comprehend the isolation, accountability, and weight of top-level decision-making. Knowing a coach has successfully navigated similar trials fosters instant rapport and trust, encouraging clients to be vulnerable, candid, and open to feedback. While fundamental coaching skills like active listening and powerful questioning are essential, relevant business experience transforms those tools from generic techniques into sharp, high-value strategic catalysts.
What is a Forum Retreat facilitator?
A Forum Retreat facilitator is a trained professional who designs and leads multi-day intensive gatherings (retreats) for peer-coaching groups, often known as "forums."
These forums are common in executive and entrepreneurial organizations like YPO (Young Presidents' Organization), EO (Entrepreneurs' Organization), Vistage and C100, as well as high-impact peer advisory groups.
How do I choose a location for a Retreat?
This one is quite challenging, and it has a great deal to do with the goals of the Retreat. The Growth Engine has been facilitating Retreats for 25 years and knows the game. We have a framework built for this decision, as well as a network of properties where we have actually held previous Retreats. That minimizes the surprises that take a Retreat in counterproductive directions.
What is the Coaching Slide?
It's a term The Growth Engine coined. It refers to the challenge of achieving results in a professional coaching environment when real life gets in the way.
Life rarely pauses to let us work on our goals in a vacuum, no matter how important they might be. When life gets overwhelming, the goal usually isn’t the problem. It’s that our strategy for reaching it assumes ideal conditions that don’t exist. You don’t need a perfect environment to make progress; you just need a system that adapts when life gets chaotic. Progress during hard seasons counts double, because it builds resilience.
Virtual or in-person CEO coaching?
There are pros and cons to each approach. Virtual is the easiest on both parties, but it can lead to the least results if it isn't managed well. The Growth Engine has the answer.
Here is a direct breakdown comparing virtual and in-person meetings across the key operational, financial and interpersonal dimensions:
| Dimension | Virtual | In person |
|---|---|---|
| Primary advantage | High efficiency and zero travel friction | High engagement and rich non-verbal communication |
| Primary drawback | Fatigue and reduced spontaneous collaboration | High cost, scheduling friction and spatial limits |
| Best used for | Status updates, check-ins, multi-time-zone alignment | Brainstorming, sensitive conversations, team bonding |
Virtual meetings
Pros
- Time and cost efficiency: Eliminates transit time, travel expenses, venue costs and catering budgets.
- Scheduling flexibility: Easy to organize quickly across multiple time zones with minimal advance notice.
- Automatic documentation: Built-in recording, automated AI transcription, screen sharing and chat logs streamline follow-up.
- Equalized access: Remote team members or external partners can participate on equal footing regardless of location.
Cons
- Communication friction: Subtleties like body language, micro-expressions and eye contact are lost or degraded.
- Virtual fatigue: Prolonged screen time (“Zoom fatigue”) leads to passive listening and reduced cognitive focus.
- Loss of organic chemistry: Informal “hallway conversations” or spontaneous ideation rarely happen naturally in structured video calls.
- Technical dependency: Unstable internet connections, software glitches and audio delays can derail meeting flow.
In-person meetings
Pros
- Deeper human connection: Builds trust, rapport and psychological safety faster through physical presence and shared space.
- Higher engagement: Participants are less likely to multitask, leading to active listening and focused participation.
- Effective complex problem solving: Whiteboarding, rapid physical ideation and sensitive conflict resolution thrive in physical settings.
- Nuanced communication: Full physical cues and room dynamics make reading tone and consensus immediate and accurate.
Cons
- High logistics and costs: Incurs travel, accommodation, venue rental and productivity loss during travel time.
- Scheduling complexity: Harder to coordinate, requiring significant lead time to align multiple schedules and locations.
- Geographic exclusion: Key stakeholders may be left out if they cannot attend physically due to distance or budget.
- Inflexible setup: Requires dedicated space and setup, making ad-hoc or last-minute meetings difficult to pull off.