The Future of Family Wealth Management with Tom McCullough
Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo
Release Date: 07/24/2019
Leading Family Business Succession with Self-Compassion
Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo
Stop letting self-criticism ruin your family business dynamics. Leadership coach Massimo Backus explains how self-compassion and emotional intelligence create a more resilient succession plan. Why do so many family business leaders feel like they have to choose between being a "strong boss" and a "loving family member"? Often, the pressure to maintain a multi-generational legacy leads to a culture of overcontrol and self-pressure that actually stifles growth. In this episode of Safe Space, we sit down with leadership strategist and author of Human First, Leader Second, Massimo Backus. With a...
info_outline
Unlocking Procrastination: Emotional Roots and Family Strategies
Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo
Stop letting procrastination stall your family business succession. Dr. Moira Somers explains the neuroscience of avoidance and how to master emotional regulation for better family governance. Why do the smartest families avoid the most important conversations? Whether it’s succession planning, wealth transition, or conflict resolution, the "fault lines" in a family business usually aren't financial—they’re neurological. In this episode of Safe Space, we sit down with neuropsychologist and family wealth consultant Dr. Moira Somers. As the author of Advice that Sticks, Moira has spent her...
info_outline
Inheriting a 70-Year-Old Family Business: Embracing Change with 3rd Gen Leadership
Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo
How do you modernize a 70-year-old family brand without losing its soul? Marshall Rabil, CEO of Hubs Peanut Company, joins Safe Space to discuss family business succession, co-create a family legacy and innovation strategy. Connect with me here: • • • •
info_outline
Stewardship, Values, and Reconciliation
Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo
In this episode, Francesco Lombardo sits down with Karen Alko, a fourth-generation steward of ABC Recycling and her role as a "family champion" for governance and legacy. As a 2025 Transformational Women in Family Business Award recipient, Karen discusses how she integrates core family values into long-term strategy and the importance of next-generation planning. The conversation explores her efforts in fostering community relations and social impact, including her leadership in Indigenous reconciliation and staff education. Connect with me here: • • • • https://veritage.ca
info_outline
The Relentless Family Champion
Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo
In this episode, Francesco Lombardo interviews Anthony Contrucci, a fifth-generation member of a family business, Centier Bank. They discuss the concept of a 'family champion'—a person who plays a crucial role in preserving family legacy and navigating the complexities of family dynamics. Anthony shares his personal journey, the challenges he faced, and the importance of emotional cohesion and governance in family enterprises. He emphasizes the need for passion, support, and continuous learning for those stepping into the role of a family champion. Connect with me here: • • • •...
info_outline
The Emotional Landscape of Parenting
Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo
In this episode, Francesco Lombardo speaks with parenting expert Manu Brune about the complexities of parenting, especially in wealthy families. They discuss the challenges of navigating emotional intelligence, entitlement, and the importance of compassion in parenting. Manu emphasizes the need for parents to teach their children how to handle uncomfortable emotions and the role of grandparents in fostering emotional development. The conversation also touches on reframing guilt and shame in parenting, highlighting that relationships can heal through presence and awareness. Connect with me...
info_outline
Intentionally Investing in Family Closeness
Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo
In this episode of Safe Space, Kunal Amalean shares insights on the dynamics of family businesses, emphasizing the importance of closeness among family members. He discusses how his family maintained strong relationships despite geographical distances and the intentional efforts made to ensure emotional intimacy across generations. Kunal highlights the return on investment of fostering closeness, not only in terms of family harmony but also in business success. He concludes with advice for future generations on the significance of understanding oneself and others within the family context....
info_outline
Passion and Stewardship in Winemaking with Véronique Sanders
Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo
In this episode of Safe Space, host Francesco Lombardo welcomes Véronique Sanders, the steward of Château Haut-Bailly, a prestigious Bordeaux winery with a rich history dating back 800 years. Véronique shares about the complexity of her family’s history with the business, emphasizing the emotional connection she has with the land and the importance of passion in winemaking. She discusses the responsibilities that come with being a custodian of the estate, highlighting the need to preserve its legacy for future generations while adapting to modern challenges such as climate change and...
info_outline
Navigating Family Dynamics: Beyond Binary Thinking
Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo
In this episode of Safe Space, Daniel Trimarchi and Francesco explore the often-unspoken complexities of family dynamics, particularly the tendency toward binary thinking (right or wrong, in or out, success or failure) that can quietly limit relationships within enterprising families. Daniel challenges this mindset by inviting families to recognize the “gray space,” where nuance, curiosity, and empathy create room for deeper connection, better decision-making, and unexpected opportunities. Drawing on more than 16 years of global experience advising business families, family offices, and...
info_outline
The Fulfillment Journey: Beyond Happiness
Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo
In this episode, Marc Kielburger unpacks the difference between happiness and fulfillment, explaining why fulfillment is a deeper state of being that shapes how we experience the world. He reflects on stepping off the “happiness treadmill” and what it means to build a life rooted in purpose. Marc draws on more than 30 years as a social entrepreneur, advising global leaders and co-creating movements that inspire meaningful impact. A Harvard and Oxford graduate and Rhodes Scholar, he has worked with changemakers like Richard Branson, Oprah Winfrey, and Sheryl Sandberg. He is the co-founder...
info_outlineTom McCullough is Chairman and CEO of Northwood Family Office.
He has spent over 35 years in the wealth management/family office field, initially in senior executive roles with RBC Wealth Management. The combination of this background, along with his own family’s desire for a truly ‘comprehensive, customized and confidential’ service, led him on a search for a multi-family office. While multi-family offices are well-developed in the U.S. and growing rapidly as wealthy families seek out objective advice and boutique-style service, they were virtually non-existent in Canada.
In 2003, this led Tom to start Northwood Family Office with partner Scott Hayman. Northwood Family Office has quickly become one of the leaders in its field and has consistently been recognized as the ‘#1 independent family office in Canada’ by Euromoney in its global private banking survey.
Tom is a frequent speaker on issues relevant to families of wealth and is the co-author of Wealth of Wisdom: The Top 50 Questions Wealthy Families Ask and Family Wealth Management: 7 Imperatives for Successful Investing in the New World Order. He is an Adjunct Professor and Executive-in-Residence at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management MBA program where he teaches ‘The Management of Private Wealth’, and is a faculty member in Rotman’s Family Wealth Management program for families of wealth. He is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Western University’s Ivey School of Business and a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Wealth Management. He is also a Fellow of the Family Firm Institute (FFI) and holds an Advanced Certificate in Family Business Advising from FFI.
Tom holds an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University, as well as the CIM (Chartered Investment Manager) and CIWM (Certified International Wealth Manager) designations, and is a registered Portfolio Manager. He is married, has two adult children and is actively involved in a wide range of philanthropic and community activities, most notably education and poverty alleviation in the developing world. Tom also serves on the board of The Bentway Conservancy, a new 1.75 km urban public park and performance space underneath Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway.