Pod Circles - C-Level Peer Groups for Senior Executives

YOU ARE NOT ALONE AT THE TOP

What is a Pod?

A Pod is an invitation-only peer group of 5–6 senior C-level executives from different industries who meet six times a year for confidential, moderated dinners. Members challenge and support each other as equals; no coaching, no networking, no small talk.
Every member is handpicked. Every conversation stays in the room. A skilled moderator holds the space. Sessions run three hours over a refined three-course dinner, with no distractions.
Members connect through exclusive Mixers throughout the year.

A Pod is NOT about...	A Pod is not coaching, mentoring, therapy, or networking; it's not a place to perform, compete, or deliver.
A Pod is about...	A Pod is a commitment: a structured, confidential space where C-level peers challenge and support each other actively, honestly, and as equals. Show up. Engage. Leave knowing you are not alone at the top. Every session is guided by a trained moderator who keeps the conversation focused and the time respected.

For me, the PODs Circle is a business incubator, where people can be weak, tired, confused or even in a fighting mood - but this special top management environment, professional and human attention, experience, and openness can really put things right. I'm not alone.

Agnes Fabian, Former President and Country Chair Henkel, Hungary

"Being part of a Pod is like being part of a close-knit family; trust and honesty at the core, warmth in the room, and a shared passion that makes every conversation count. Great to be part of the journey."

Robert Wagner, Former Head of Image Guided Therapy and Health Systems Marketing, CEE, Country Head Hungary, Philips

PERSONAL GROWTH

Exposure to peers across industries and nationalities sharpens the instincts and self-awareness that got you into the room in the first place.
Exceptional leaders already possess emotional intelligence; self-awareness, empathy, the ability to read a room. That's the baseline for entry into a Pod. What happens inside takes it further. Challenging your assumptions, expanding your perspective, and sharpening the instincts you've spent a career building. You leave each session a more considered, more grounded leader, with the rare reassurance that you are not alone at the top.

The Benefits of Joining a Pod

BUSINESS BENEFIT

A Pod gives you benchmarking without competition; real challenges and real opportunities discussed with leaders who have no stake in your outcome.
Fresh eyes see what familiarity misses. By listening to and exchanging with leaders from entirely different industries, Pod members gain what no other C-level peer group offers: new perspectives, coaching tools, and sharper instincts to bring back to their own organisations. It is a rare space to share real concerns, explore real opportunities, and reach a depth of trust that most professional platforms simply do not offer.

Joining Pod Circles gave me the authentic peer community I was missing, especially as someone leading a business in a new country and culture where leadership can feel isolating. It’s a safe, honest space to explore viewpoints, share real challenges, and have your perspective gently challenged. (And, knowing others face similar hurdles makes a difference!)

Sabrina Jacksteit, CEO Decathlon, Hungary

Pod Circles has had a significant impact on me, making me more conscious of the emotions every event creates and reinforcing the connection between business and personal life. The peer coaching approach, where we share experiences rather than just give advice—is truly unique and valuable. Most importantly, being part of a trusted circle has shown me that I’m not alone in facing challenges, which has been incredibly reassuring and empowering!

Nikos Zois, Managing Director, Heineken Hungaria

WHAT SETS US APART?

Pod Circles is deliberately exclusive: every member is handpicked for gender balance, nationality, industry diversity, and emotional intelligence, so calibre stays consistently high and genuine connection happens naturally.
No ice-breaking, no small talk. Just the right people in the right room.

"We are all from diverse industries, leading various size companies in different periods of its life cycle, but we are all leaders and humans. The intimacy and openness of these Pod discussion are so unique and valuable. With Anna’s moderation, it's like a little living MBA course in TOP management."

Timea Pesti, Managing Director, LeasePlan, Hungary

The Pods have been an incredibly valuable experience for me. The trusting atmosphere and the open exchange with other business leaders provide a unique opportunity to discuss challenges that might not be addressed in other settings. The depth of experience and expertise of the people at the table in my group was truly remarkable and extremely beneficial for me.

Wolfgang Wallisch, former CEO Phoenix Pharma

A MODEL POD SESSION

SETTING

18.30

You arrive. Before anything else, the Pod does one thing together: creates the container. Confidentiality. No judgement. All phones off for the evening, without exception. The agenda is introduced and the tone is set in the first ten minutes. It holds for the rest of the night.

18.40

An icebreaker. One minute each. Not a formality rather a moment to connect as human beings first, leaders second.

18.50

Updates. Every member shares their highs and lows from the past couple of months; uninterrupted, untouched by small talk. Five minutes each. Timed by the moderator. Equal.

the core

19.30 – 20.15

The themes that surfaced during updates become the material. The Pod chooses what to explore; a shared tension, a member’s challenge, a question worth sitting with. The moderator guides the conversation, not the direction.

Past discussions have included: how do you manage toxic behaviour on the management team? How do you practise leadership resilience? How do you help teams embrace change? How do you lead with full presence when life outside your role is demanding everything you have?

Every voice is heard. Questions are asked. Experiences are shared. No advice giving. No judgement.

20.15

A ten-minute break.

20.25

A second exploration. Different theme, same depth.

The Wrap

21.10

The Wrap

Personal takeaways. A reminder of confidentiality. Housekeeping. What should the next session hold?

21.30

Close

Throughout the evening, a refined three-course dinner is served, timed to the agenda, so the conversation is never interrupted.

Experiencing one of Anna's CEO Pods has been an opportunity for me to look into my own business challenges in the context of other industries, cultures and professional backgrounds. The change of sceneries, yet relating to similar stories, allows for a very insightful perspective on how I can improve further.

Eloi Malta-Bey, Partner - Payroll Operate Poland, Europe Central & Global COO

"Anna's Pods are among the safest spaces I've ever been in. She has a way of making complete strangers feel not just welcome, but trusted and valued from the very first moment. She creates an atmosphere you rarely encounter in business where you feel that you are ok, and others are ok too."

Gyorgy Nagy, Country Manager, Sigma Technology Hungary