79: The Burton Report on Family Business in Canada 2026
Release Date: 05/21/2026
80: How Assessments support Leadership Development in Family Business
Let's Talk Family Enterprise
Host Aileen Miziolek speaks with Managing Director of The McQuaig Institute, Venessa Vasilakeris. Together, they talk about how using assessments in leadership development can be transformative inside a family business. In family systems where trust, perceived favouritism, and emotional history can distort even the most straightforward decisions, objectivity is not a luxury — it's a leadership necessity. Aileen and Venessa unpack how assessments create a shared, neutral reference point that depersonalizes tension and reframes differences as strengths rather than...
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79: The Burton Report on Family Business in Canada 2026
Let's Talk Family Enterprise
Host Steve Legler speaks with Susan St. Amand, President and CEO of the James A. Burton and Family Foundation, about the upcoming release of the 'Burton Report' on Canadian Family Business. Their conversation explores the vital role family enterprises play in Canada’s economy and communities, the challenges surrounding succession and public policy, and the importance of stronger collaboration between enterprising families and government. All views, information, and opinions expressed during this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent...
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78: Compensation in Family Business: Challenges and Strategies
Let's Talk Family Enterprise
Host Aileen Miziolek speaks with Gerry Meyer about navigating the complexities of compensation in family enterprises through the lens of the three-circle model. Their conversation explores the tension between fairness and equality, the importance of role-based pay and formal policies, and how remuneration differs across the business, ownership and family systems. All views, information, and opinions expressed during this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of . Guest bio Gerry has over 40 years of experience in all aspects...
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77: Rediscovering the Leader Beneath the Stewardship
Let's Talk Family Enterprise
Host Steve Legler speaks with Executive Coach Jill Nykoliation ahead of her Keynote set for Family Enterprise Canada's upcoming Symposium in Vancouver, taking place May 25-27, 2026. The discussion covers some of the limits of a stewardship mentality, and delves into helping each family member discover their own innate drivers and talents to use in service of the family enterprise All views, information, and opinions expressed during this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of . Guest bio Jill Nykoliation is an award-winning...
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76: Love, Wisdom, Money
Let's Talk Family Enterprise
Host Steve Legler speaks with Buddy Thomas, the author of Love, Wisdom, Money: The Family Fiduciary's Guide to Generative Wealth. Together, they discuss the concept of a ‘Family Fiduciary’ and the importance of putting those three elements—Love, Wisdom and Money—in the right order. All views, information, and opinions expressed during this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of . Guest bio Buddy Thomas is the founder of Superior Planning – Family Office, specializing in customized family wealth and relationship...
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75: Cognitive Optimization for Leadership
Let's Talk Family Enterprise
In this episode, host Aileen Miziolek speaks with Celina Caesar-Chavannes about why ‘change’ can feel so difficult in family businesses. Celina explains, in simple terms, how our brains get used to certain ways of thinking and reacting—and how that affects family relationships and decision-making. She also offers practical advice and resources to help families and professionals better navigate change and work together more effectively. All views, information, and opinions expressed during this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent...
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74: The Best of 2025 (A Retrospective)
Let's Talk Family Enterprise
Regular hosts Aileen Miziolek and Steve Legler discuss some of their favourite episodes and insights from 2025's episodes of the Let's Talk Family Enterprise podcast. Hear them share their greatest takeaways and bring back good memories while encouraging listeners to subscribe for more! All views, information, and opinions expressed during this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of . Key Takeaways [0:26] Steve Legler and Aileen Miziolek come together for a year-end review for the Let’s Talk Family Enterprise podcast....
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73: Understanding ADHD in Family Enterprises
Let's Talk Family Enterprise
Host Aileen Miziolek speaks with Dr. Tamara Rosier about how ADHD can show up in adults and the common misconceptions that can shape family enterprise dynamics. They explore how traits such as emotional dysregulation, risk-taking and divergent thinking influence communication, trust and generational roles within enterprising families. Dr. Rosier also shares practical ways to design systems that support neurodivergent minds, and highlights the value of coaching and self-awareness in helping families work more effectively together. All views, information, and opinions expressed during this...
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72: Navigating Complexity in Enterprising Families
Let's Talk Family Enterprise
Host Steve Legler speaks with Michelle Osry about how families need to deal with both complicated issues that require specific solutions, as well as complex challenges that require different skills to navigate to help the family make progress. They discuss the challenges in getting both advisors and families to understand these distinctions and find ways to work on having each family's best outcome emerge from co-creation. Guest bio Michelle Osry works with family enterprises and offices on governance and generational transition. She draws from a broad experience and range of disciplines and...
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71: Parenting Adult Children in Family Business
Let's Talk Family Enterprise
Aileen Miziolek hosts an in-depth conversation with Alyson Schafer, an acclaimed author and Adlerian family counsellor. In this thoughtful 30-minute episode, they touch on issues around over- and under-functioning children, why the notion of fair vs. equal in childhood can impact long-term family business dynamics, and how tackling the unique challenges of enterprising families requires maturity, open-mindedness and an understanding that sometimes personal responsibility is the only path forward. All views, information, and opinions expressed during this podcast are solely those of the...
info_outlineHost Steve Legler speaks with Susan St. Amand, President and CEO of the James A. Burton and Family Foundation, about the upcoming release of the 'Burton Report' on Canadian Family Business. Their conversation explores the vital role family enterprises play in Canada’s economy and communities, the challenges surrounding succession and public policy, and the importance of stronger collaboration between enterprising families and government.
All views, information, and opinions expressed during this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Family Enterprise Canada.
Guest bio
Susan St. Amand is President and CEO of the James A. Burton & Family Foundation and Founder of The Sirius Group Inc., based in Ottawa. With more than 30 years of experience advising enterprising families, she is a trusted authority on family enterprise governance, continuity planning, and strategic philanthropy. She is the immediate Past Chair of Family Enterprise Canada (FEC). She has chaired more than six boards while serving on over two dozen others, including the Ottawa Community Foundation, the Ottawa International Airport Authority, the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health, CALU, the Institute of Corporate Directors Ottawa Chapter, and a privately held steel company. Susan is also a founding member of the Women for Mental Health campaign at the Royal Ottawa Centre for Mental Health.
You can learn more about Susan St. Amand on LinkedIn and on the James A. Burton Foundation website.
Key Takeaways
[1:20] Steve Legler introduces Susan St. Amand, President and CEO of the James A. Burton and Family Foundation. He launches the episode by introducing the Burton Report on Canadian Family Business to the audience.
[2:53] The Burton Report was a long time in the making, Susan explains its genesis, construction, and purpose to support and maintain Canadian enterprises.
[5:28] Family enterprises seed, water, nourish, and grow more entrepreneurs, a necessity in today’s economically shifting world.
[6:56] Susan touches on the importance of family enterprise in the changing demographic structure of Canada.
[8:11] Proper data and information are needed for the government to support family businesses effectively.
[10:02] Susan discusses the current information gaps and how to palliate them both on the business and the government sides.
[14:14] Transitions can be scary, but family enterprises think multi-generationally, and as such, provide stability through time. Advisors are critical in creating that long-term vision.
[19:00] Susan shares her thoughts on the role advisors may have in the sale of family enterprises outside of the family or even internationally.
[23:06] Succession planning currently marries poorly with the Canadian Income Tax Act. Susan offers a perspective on overcoming this.
[26:00] Susan shares a vision for family enterprises and their relationship with the government of Canada.
[28:21] Susan explains how the James A. Burton Family Foundation plans to support family enterprises for the economic future of Canada.
[29:47] Susan offers some of the results that enterprising families would be looking for in an amelioration of their relationship with the government.
[32:05] The importance of family enterprises in our very own communities.
[32:48] Susan shares her reading recommendation and a piece of advice for advisors.
[34:36] Steve thanks Susan for sharing some preliminary information on the Burton Report and invites listeners to sign up for Symposium, which will be held May 25‒27 in Vancouver, BC.
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Mentioned in this episode
James A. Burton Family Foundation
The History of Money: A Story of Humanity, by David McWilliams
More about Family Enterprise Canada