“Go Blue!” “Go Buckeyes!” When you hear these University of Michigan and Ohio State University cheers, you may have a strong reaction depending on whether you went to one or the other.

Universities have powerful networks and communities. Some large, some small. They link alumni who have roots in learning, excitement and progress. What better playing field to start from than one that’s inherently emotionally charged? Typically, grads want to support and cheer one another on as they did during college years.

When successful leaders are seeking new ways to connect with other successful leaders, it’s essential they find a way to identify experienced peers with professional and/or personal ties. That’s a tall order for a busy executive. Envision a CEO with a challenge who wants to reach out to other CEOs who may have faced the same situation, either in the local area, same industry, or business sector.

How can a CEO best connect to another CEO?

A CEOs LinkedIn positioning is different from employees networking to find sales and business referrals. Let’s say a CEO is having a challenge with a C-level executive. They may need to be cautious discussing the problem internally. However, if he or she had a strong network of trusted CEOs, they could use that group as a sounding board as well as a place to start a discussion for possible solutions. At the peer-to-peer level, you may find individuals who can provide feedback for difficult situations while also building upon one another’s ideas.

In addition, after working with other CEOs and high-level leaders, you may discover that two or three of them truly meld with your company’s values. This is where LinkedIn connections can immensely impact your business. You may find individuals who would be a perfect fit for an advisory board position, mentoring project or a seat on your board of directors.

How do you find CEO matches?

LinkedIn is a superstar portal with powerful database tools. Its connectivity produces a vast search authority. One of its untapped resources is the “All Filters” tool where you can pull together factors such as position, industry, location, language, etc. Make sure to add your university to narrow the search and lock in your alumni connections.