Trends in Family Business and Finance with Keith Whitaker
Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo
Release Date: 08/14/2019
Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo
Paul Hutchinson has dedicated his entire life to creating a world where every child can experience safety, freedom and hope. As an entrepreneur, philanthropist and anti-child trafficking advocate, Paul’s work is underpinned by helping victims to heal from their trauma so that they can go on and live as healthy, functional and emotionally rich adults. Paul's work extends beyond rescuing trafficked children to helping adults heal their inner child, ultimately liberating humanity from the cycle of abuse and trauma. He believes in the promotion of emotional healing and connection to foster a...
info_outline Navigating the Emotional Terrain of Family Wealth with Felicia HengSafe Space with Francesco Lombardo
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Felicia Heng, founder and managing director of Wise Purpose, a boutique consulting firm specializing in family wealth advisory, leadership coaching, and next-generation succession. Felicia shares her diverse expertise in psychology, investments, and family governance, and sheds light on her work with families and the next generation, specifically focusing on the emotional aspects of inheritance and succession. The conversation delves into the profound impact of sudden deaths and accidents on succession planning, and...
info_outline Leading with Legacy: Family Business Success and Evolution with Julie CharlesteinSafe Space with Francesco Lombardo
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Julie Charlestein, a fourth-generation President and CEO with Premier Dental. Julie shares the inspiring journey of the business, which started with her grandfather, Julius Charlestein, who was a dental instrument sharpener and eventually evolved into a global leader in developing and manufacturing innovative dental consumables. Julie and Francesco discuss the importance of having governance structures and a board of directors in place to ensure the business's continuity and success. They highlight the value of open...
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On this week's episode of Safe Space, Francesco Lombardo is joined by Chris Larson, a fourth-generation shareholder of a 107-year-old family-owned and operated business, IDEAL INDUSTRIES. In this episode, Franco and Chris discuss the emotional side of transitioning family businesses. Chris emphasizes the importance of addressing the emotional aspects of letting go of control and passing it on to the next generation, not just the intellectual aspects. Highlighting how emotional preparation is crucial for family business success and how coaching family members on an individual basis can...
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Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Stefanie Kyles, a fourth-generation family business member, and former CEO. Stefanie discusses financial insecurity that is common in family businesses and how family businesses need accountability and transparency to succeed. She shares her experience negotiating with family members to understand their personal sensitivities around risk, financial security, and lifestyle, and emphasizes the importance of separating emotions from conversations around money. The one piece of advice Stefanie offers for both the senior and...
info_outline Equipping Successors: Insights from a Fifth-Generation Family Business Owner with Philip McKeownSafe Space with Francesco Lombardo
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Philip McKeown, a fifth-generation family business owner from Ireland. Philip discusses family governance and succession planning, as well as his book, Successors Voice, which emphasizes the importance of understanding one's value and role in a family business and the emotional complexities of family dynamics. He also stresses the need to nurture family talent in order to sustain family businesses. Overall, the goal is to prepare successors with the knowledge, confidence, and skills required to successfully integrate into...
info_outline Preparing for the Future: Insights on Succession Planning and Self-Belief in a Family Business with Cecily McGuckinSafe Space with Francesco Lombardo
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Cecily McGuckin the CEO and managing director of Queensland Steel and Sheet, in Brisbane, Australia. Cecily talks about the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry and the difficulties of succession planning in a family business. Stressing the importance of being prepared for the worst-case scenario and making the business sustainable for future generations, she highlights the need for a clear roadmap to preparedness, including an emotional component. Cecily's advice encourages people to stop apologizing...
info_outline The Importance of Purpose in Business and Personal Life with NK ChaudharySafe Space with Francesco Lombardo
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space episode where he interviews NK Chaudhary, the founder of Jaipur Rugs, who established the company 44 years ago with a vision of uplifting society by enabling everyone to reach their full potential. NK discusses the importance of business purpose and its connection to personal life, and the importance of emotional safety in families, and how to create it. He also shares his personal purpose, knowing himself through the business and improving himself by understanding the impact of his actions and decisions. NK’s one piece of advice to the...
info_outline Navigating Internal and External Credibility in Family Enterprises with Torri HawleySafe Space with Francesco Lombardo
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Torri Hawley, one of five next generation members in a successful 7th generation family enterprise. Internal credibility is about ensuring that one's actions align with their values, while external credibility involves earning the trust and respect of others. For next-generation family members, establishing external credibility can be challenging, as they must prove themselves to be worthy of the business and navigate generational trauma. Torri offers advice to those struggling with credibility issues, encouraging them to...
info_outline Creating A 27 Generation Family Business with Passion & Love with Pasquale MarinelliSafe Space with Francesco Lombardo
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Pasquale Marinelli, a 27th generation owner with Pontificia Fonderia e Museo di Campane, the second oldest family business in the world. With many companies struggling to carry on over just a couple of generations, what is the secret of a successful business that has existed since before 1339? How does the younger generation working right alongside the older generation create the knowledge and respect needed to continue the business? Pasquale, with the support of trusted assistant Ivo, speaks about the fascinating history of...
info_outlineKeith is President of Wise Counsel Research. He has consulted for many years with leaders of enterprising families, helping them plan succession, develop next generation talent, and communicate around estate planning. With a background in education and philanthropy, he enables family leaders to better understand their values and goals as well as to have a positive impact on the world around them. Family Wealth Report named Keith the 2015 "outstanding contributor to wealth management thought-leadership."
Keith has served as a Managing Director at Wells Fargo Family Wealth, an adjunct professor of management at Vanderbilt University, an adjunct assistant professor of philosophy at Boston College, and a director of a private foundation. He was also a special assistant to the President of Boston University.
Keith’s writings and commentary have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Financial Times, Claremont Review of Books, and Philanthropy Magazine. His Wealth and the Will of God appeared in 2010 from Indiana University Press and he is co-author of The Cycle of the Gift, The Voice of the Rising Generation, Family Trusts, Complete Family Wealth, and Wealth of Wisdom: the Top 50 Questions Wealthy Families Ask, all published by Wiley / Bloomberg Press.
Keith holds a Ph.D. in Social Thought from the University of Chicago and a BA and MA in Classics and Philosophy from Boston University. He is Chairman of the board of directors of the National Association of Scholars.