The Family Business Podcast

In this episode, Jamie Shah talks with Jeff Wilcoxon — a next-generation family business leader and thoughtful advocate for redefining what “being involved” really means. Together, they explore the quiet but critical roles that family members play beyond the corner office: from shaping vision and governance to fostering trust and continuity. Jeff shares lessons from his own journey, the importance...

Succession in family business isn’t just a name on a chart—it’s one of the most emotional, complex, and defining transitions a family can face. Emily Holdman, Managing Director at Permanent Equity, joins Jamie to unpack why succession so often gets framed as a power struggle, and how families can turn it into a collaborative, purpose-driven process instead.   They explore what emotional readiness...

Fourth-generation leader Nick Perrino shares how Home Run Inn grew from a neighborhood tavern to a Chicago tavern-style pizza legend—without losing the family feel. From scaling to 80 pizzas a minute to navigating succession after loss, Nick reflects on the values, intentional growth, and employee culture that have kept people at the table for decades.

Matt Miniat of South Chicago Packing and Miniat Holdings joins Jamie to talk about what it means to steward a fifth-generation family business rooted in one of Chicago’s most iconic industries: meatpacking. From early pivots to product reinvention, Matt shares how the company leaned into its tallow legacy and used the unexpected power of TikTok and direct-to-consumer growth to find new relevance....

In this episode, Jamie sits down with Elana Schulman, third-generation leader of Eli’s Cheesecake, to explore what it means to carry a family name—and a legacy—into the future. From the steakhouse where it all began to the values that still guide the business today, Elana shares stories of innovation, identity, and what it's like to grow up inside one of Chicago’s most beloved food brands.  From l...

Work Was Love Featuring: Jessica Shah and Michelle Ranavat Join Jamie and her sisters for an intimate kickoff conversation. They discuss their unique paths into (and around) their family business, the dynamics of sibling collaboration, and what it means to grow up inside a company—literally.