Succession Stories

Laurie Barkman talks about building your employer brand and cultivating culture with Tiffany Castagno, CEO of CEPHR, a human resources consulting firm. Having a strong culture is foundational to succession and transition planning. As organizations adapt to changes from the pandemic, how do you maintain an environment that fosters productivity, authentic engagement, and safeguards employee wellbein...

Most of us get a glimpse into the world of complex business families by watching shows like Succession and Dallas. Josh Baron, co-founder and Partner at BanyanGlobal, has had a front row seat to some of the world's leading family enterprises and how those companies make difficult decisions during transition. Josh talked about his new book that he's co-authored and published with the Harvard Busine...

On this episode of the What's Next Series, host Laurie Barkman talks with David Gamble, Founder of DG Coaching & Consulting, about what comes next after you achieve your dream. After an NFL Super Bowl win with the Denver Broncos, David reinvented his career by redefining success to leave a trail where there is no path. If you're thinking about a transition, this episode may provide inspiration to...

I invited listeners to submit questions and a few were about CEO succession. To explore this topic, I invited Bruce Walton onto the show. Bruce is a Partner at Battalia Winston, one of the world's largest woman-owned executive search firms, and an expert at recruiting CEOs, C-Suite, and private company Boards. We talked about Five Best Practices for recruiting external executives, competencies in...

Ten years ago, Laura Coe and her sister launched their company, Snapology. She was inspired to create a social and educational outlet for kids to fuel her sons' curiosity for learning outside the classroom. Laura shared how they discovered a market niche and eventually adopted a global franchise model. The company has expanded to 150 locations across twelve countries. Listen in to learn more about...

The Succession Stories "What's Next Series" features conversations with entrepreneurs about changes in their life and their business. Laurie Barkman speaks with Jeffrey K. Walker, Air Force Veteran and former JAG prosecutor. Jeff grew a military consulting practice that took him to 34 countries over seven years before parting ways with his partners. Eventually Jeff followed his true passion- writi...

Laurie Barkman talks deal making and transition planning with Chris Brodman, President of Metz Lewis, a law firm specializing in M&A and business transactions. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted private equity and strategic deals. As more owners are thinking about selling, is the company ready to be bought? As Chris says, when the machine breaks and you're in Florida, you don't shut down because y...

Janet Wischnia is an Owner and former CEO of her family's 90-year old company, Thomaston Mills. In 2019, they launched an e-commerce startup called American Blossom Linens. The new venture brought the "Made In USA" commercial linens company back to their direct-to-consumer roots. And they were well positioned to deal with the market changes a year later brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is...

Introducing the What's Next Series, a new monthly segment of the Succession Stories Podcast spotlighting transitions. Succession - in business and in life - is about transitions and how you embrace "what's next" matters. For many people, transitions are fueled by financial security. Laurie Barkman talks with Cheryl Fields, an entrepreneur who unexpectedly restarted her career at age 47 and found h...

This episode focuses on the power of connecting to create business value. Lou Diamond, CEO of Thrive Loud, is a performance mentor for sales, marketing, and leadership teams. This has been a tough year and not everyone is thriving. Authenticity and empathy are paramount. How can we do a better job as leaders at connecting with our teams and our customers? It's a great conversation about ways to ch...

Laurie Barkman and Chris Chaney from Fort Pitt Capital talk about transition planning for business owners. Many owners do not yet have robust transition plans in place. It may feel complicated because of blurred lines between personal identity, finances, and the company. Answering what success means to you is a way to start separating these lines and avoiding larger problems down the road. If you...

Laurie Barkman speaks with Elizabeth Blount McCormick, 2nd generation CEO of UniGlobe Travel Designers. Elizabeth discussed the challenges of COVID-19 on her firm, and how focusing on client service, relationships, and fresh ideas are creating value in the new travel industry landscape. If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe and leave a review!  Show links: UniGlobe Travel Designers on LinkedI...

Laurie Barkman speaks with Evan J. Segal, General Partner of 412 Venture Fund. Evan shares how he grew his third generation manufacturing company and sold it to a strategic buyer. He also tells how he created a meaningful next act career in social entrepreneurship and venture investing focusing on providing greater opportunities for women and minorities. Show Notes: Follow Evan J. Segal on LinkedI...

Shift your focus from maintaining your business to reimagining. Laurie Barkman is joined by Sean Ammirati, Co-Founder and Director of the Corporate Startup Lab and Partner at Birchmere Ventures. Listen in as they discuss how mature companies can rediscover their entrepreneurial vision and develop innovation strategies to thrive post-recession.   Show notes: LinkedIn - Sean Ammirati seanammirati.co...

Laurie Barkman speaks with Ann Dugan, former Executive Director and Founder of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence. Her expertise in succession, Board governance, and family philanthropy stems from her relationships with thousands of family businesses over 30 years. Ann shared insights how families can break the tradition of "shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations" by innovatin...

On the Season 1 Finale, Bradley Franc, author of The Succession Solution, joins Laurie Barkman to discuss how business owners can bring the future into the present by including transition planning as part of strategic planning. Listen in as they discuss Bradley's framework to identify obstacles and develop a roadmap forward. Bradley also shares succession stories where obstacles broke up the compa...

Mary Richter is a Shareholder at Schneider Downs, one of the 60 largest accounting and business advisory firms in the United States. Mary was a catalyst for formalizing a practice group for exit planning and succession advisory services to help clients control their destiny. When it comes to succession, it takes a realistic and objective approach to getting the oars in the same direction at the sa...

James Austin company was a fourth generation family business without a succession plan. After 130 years, the company sold to a competitor in 2018. Laurie Barkman spoke with one of the family members, Doug Austin, about his experience before and after the sale. Doug was an ex-prosecutor, ex-litigator and ex-street salesman for years. His mantra was it's all about the "sale." Now two years later, th...

Dawn Fuchs Coleman is the former CEO of Weavertown Environmental Group, a 2nd generation company. Dawn shared her decision to join the family business, getting the keys to the company when she didn't expect it, leading a turnaround and growth, and selling the business to a strategic buyer. And that was just the beginning of her story. Five years after the sale, Dawn is living her entrepreneurial m...

It's a topic on the mind of many business owners, what to do when family members are not interested or not able to run the company going forward. Listen in as Laurie Barkman speaks with Jamie Van Buren, Managing Director at Generational Transfer Entrepreneurs about his search fund that acquires legacy businesses and places energetic operators as CEOs. Jamie shares his strategies for successful tra...

Laurie Barkman speaks with Will Knecht, Chairman of Wendell August, America's oldest and largest forge, producing hand-wrought metal giftware since 1923. In March 2010, two days after receiving its largest order ever, a fire nearly destroyed their company. Will shares his leadership lessons for resilience and transformation in the face of disaster. It's a great Made in America comeback story with...

Laurie Barkman speaks with Bobby Zappala and Andy Ellis, Managing Partners of Localize Capital. This episode highlights an innovative financing approach for family owned businesses that supports long-term growth and the independence of emerging entrepreneurs. It's a strategy that may resonate with legacy businesses, technology creators, and anyone who believes it is possible for companies to grow...

Len Caric acquired Uncle Charlie's Sausage in 2014 after the company faced a tragic business succession. Just six weeks after acquiring the company as the new CEO, he faced a significant industry challenge. Listen in as Laurie Barkman speaks with Len about how he overcame these crises and the parallels to today with COVID-19. Len also shared his passion for teaching entrepreneurial alternatives an...

How prepared is your business to operate without you? Do you have a structured plan in place that can be implemented, or is it only in your head? Listen in as Laurie Barkman talks with Jason Seltzer about worst-case scenarios where privately held companies weren't prepared for unexpected transitions. If you're a business owner that has not yet formalized a transition plan, this episode is for you....

When there is no successor within the family, how do owners move to the next level of finding someone to buy and operate the business? On this episode, listen in as Laurie Barkman speaks with Joe Bute, Managing Partner of Hollymead Capital, as he shares his strategies for investing in family-owned companies, considering liquidity options, avoiding ownership transition pitfalls, and staying resilie...