Stranberg

Why do so many family companies instinctively hand family business keys to the next generation, regardless of fit? I've seen firsthand how this thinking can put decades of hard work at risk. The truth? Your employees, loyal customers, and the communities your business supports deserve leadership chosen for capability, not just DNA. In our latest blog, we share our candid conversation with a fifth-generation agribusiness employee who asked: "Don't you need to be family to be CEO here?" That question sparked a powerful discussion about what truly matters in succession planning. Link in comments. #FamilyBusiness #Succession #SuccessionPlanning #FamilyOwned

"You don't need to be a member of the family to be the CEO of a family company." This statement often surprises people—we recently had a non-family employee directly ask us if being a family member was a requirement for the CEO role. This common belief isn't just widespread—it's widely practiced. But it introduces significant risk to family businesses. Why? Because too many stakeholders depend on your family business for decisions to be made based solely on family ties: 👥 Long-term employees who've dedicated decades to your company 🤝 Loyal customers who rely on your products/services 🏙️ Communities where your business serves as an economic anchor 🔄 Business partners whose success is intertwined with yours As stewards of your family legacy, you have a responsibility to select the most qualified person to lead—and qualifications aren't determined by bloodline. The critical distinction: ownership often requires being family, but executive leadership should always be based on qualifications. Learn more about our 3x3 framework for family business leadership selection at the link in comments. #FamilyBusiness #Succession #ExecutiveSearch

Learn how to ensure the long-term success of your family business with strategic CEO succession planning that emphasizes qualifications over family ties: https://ow.ly/IhFf50Vapy6

💡Fractional leadership can pave the way for successful permanent hires. In this week's video with Tim Emmitt and Greg Simsa from Bridge Leadership Solutions LLC we share a real-world example of how a fractional CFO helped a family business discover: 💰 Where they were actually making (or losing) money 📊 Which metrics truly mattered for their growth 🔄 How to restructure their finance organization 📈 Ways to create value while minimizing risk As one client put it: "It was a sausage grinder - inputs went in, profit came out, but we had no idea where the money was actually made." The beauty of the fractional-to-permanent approach? It demonstrates what's possible, creates a firm platform for the permanent hire, and de-risks a major transition for family businesses with no precedent for the role. Access our collaborative tool that helps disambiguate different talent solutions and how they might work for your business in the comments. #FamilyBusiness #LeadershipTransition #FractionalExecutives #FractionalLeaders #SuccessionPlanning

💡Fractional leadership can pave the way for successful permanent hires. In this week's video with Tim Emmitt and Greg Simsa from Bridge Leadership Solutions LLC we share a real-world example of how a fractional CFO helped a family business discover: 💰 Where they were actually making (or losing) money 📊 Which metrics truly mattered for their growth 🔄 How to restructure their finance organization 📈 Ways to create value while minimizing risk As one client put it: "It was a sausage grinder - inputs went in, profit came out, but we had no idea where the money was actually made." The beauty of the fractional-to-permanent approach? It demonstrates what's possible, creates a firm platform for the permanent hire, and de-risks a major transition for family businesses with no precedent for the role. Access our collaborative tool that helps disambiguate different talent solutions and how they might work for your business in the comments. #FamilyBusiness #LeadershipTransition #FractionalExecutives #FractionalLeaders #SuccessionPlanning

💡Fractional leadership can pave the way for successful permanent hires. In this week's video with Tim Emmitt and Greg Simsa from Bridge Leadership Solutions LLC we share a real-world example of how a fractional CFO helped a family business discover: 💰 Where they were actually making (or losing) money 📊 Which metrics truly mattered for their growth 🔄 How to restructure their finance organization 📈 Ways to create value while minimizing risk As one client put it: "It was a sausage grinder - inputs went in, profit came out, but we had no idea where the money was actually made." The beauty of the fractional-to-permanent approach? It demonstrates what's possible, creates a firm platform for the permanent hire, and de-risks a major transition for family businesses with no precedent for the role. Access our collaborative tool that helps disambiguate different talent solutions and how they might work for your business in the comments. #FamilyBusiness #LeadershipTransition #FractionalExecutives #FractionalLeaders #SuccessionPlanning

Learn how tailored CEO succession planning and executive search services can help family companies throughout their lifecycle: https://ow.ly/KT9z50V4kMk

Our Managing Partner, Bill Stranberg, recently sat down with R. Adam Smith of the Family Business Audiocast, to discuss all things #familybusiness and #SuccessionPlanning

Learn how your family business’s governing structure can impact your leadership transition plans: https://ow.ly/LP8a50UZHiz