“I’m still trying to determine whether or not I deserve this position.” A family enterprise client recently said to me, “I’m still …
Let’s Replace Judgement With Curiosity
Are You Above The Line or Below The Line? I recently led an exercise with a group of 50 people at a national philanthropy conference. I asked them to …
Episode 071: The Family Business of Tharawat Magazine with Ramia El Agamy
Ramia El Agamy is the Editor-in-Chief of Tharawat magazine, the global publication for family businesses, and a product established by her family. In …
Curiosity And Coaching
“The bar is low for entry but high for success” —Stacey Boehman on Coaching One of my friends recently shared with me a story. She was …
Celebrate Your Wins: 3 Steps to Start Today
One of the topics I consistently teach my clients is how to recognize and celebrate their wins. Yes, I TEACH them to celebrate. It might sound …
Ready For Your BYE? Let’s Do This!
A few years ago, I decided to leave my amazing position leading a family business center serving Michigan to live my dream of serving next-generation …
Want to Up Your Game? Stop Being a Lone Wolf.
Do you ever find yourself thinking, ‘It’s time to get serious. I need to up my game’? If so, what happens next? Does anything …
Episode 070: Raising Money-Smart, Money-Empowered Kids with John Lanza
John Lanza and his wife recognized early on that they had very different money personalities. After becoming parents 16 years ago, they agreed they …
Do The Things That Terrify You
I often have my clients do something that terrifies them. In the end, they always love me for it. I know that if they can do something that truly …
Leaving Behind Compare & Despair
I’m currently coaching several leaders on the frequent human tendency to compare and despair. Not familiar with this term? Compare and despair are …
I Said No To My Dream Job
I just said "no" to the top spot in my family’s business. The position I am referring to is working for my family as the Board Chair of our family’s …
Episode 069: Morning Routine—5 Steps to Lead Strong
In her role as a leadership coach, Ellie noticed that she fairly consistently received calls and messages from her clients around the morning commute …
“You Can Wear My Hat…I Don’t Need It”
Have you ever lost touch with a song that you loved only to rediscover it years or maybe even decades later and fall in love with it all over again? I …
REPLAY: My Summertime Pause, Reflect & Connect Challenge
We live in the age of busy. (Did you catch my recent blog post on The Badge of Busyness?) Think of all the times you ask friends how they’re doing. …
Episode 068: Family Business Governance Done Right with Bruce Werner
In this episode, Ellie Frey Zagel speaks with Bruce Werner, who is a member of the third generation of Werner Co., a ladder and climbing equipment …
What if Everything Matters?
A coaching colleague of mine asked her clients, “What if everything matters?” This simple question got me thinking. Our brains are trained to …
Episode 067: Helping Families Heal From Addiction with Arden O’Connor
In this episode, Ellie Frey Zagel and Arden O'Connor talk about addiction and its impact on families. Arden grew up in a family business and is the …
What’s The Value of Having a Coach?
“Really, is there all that much value to having a coach?” I hear this question from time to time, and most recently, it got me thinking about …
Episode 066: Sharing Generosity Between Generations with Andrea Pactor
Andrea Pactor is the interim director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She's been …
The Curse of Competence And The Badge of Busyness
Someone I greatly respect once said to me, “Ellie, you have what I call the ‘curse of competence.’” This resonated with me. “Yes, that’s it,” I …
Bonus Episode: Philanthropy Focus on Human Trafficking with Mitzi Perdue
Recently, Mitzi Perdue (featured in episode 065) heard a lecture on human trafficking that changed her life. She learned about sting operations taking …
Episode 065: Advice and Traditions for Strong, Successful Families from Mitzi Perdue
If anyone knows family business, it's the amazing Mitzi Perdue. Her family's first enterprise, Henderson Estate Company, got its start in 1840. Her …
Going All In
I am learning how to be “all in.” My coach calls it burning the boats. I call it terrifying. Burning the boats means you figuratively sail to …
Episode 064: Next Gen Leadership Development with Janice DiPietro
In this episode, Ellie is joined by Janice DiPietro, Founder and CEO of Exceptional Leaders International. Janice grew up in a family business and is …
Are You Making Things Harder For Yourself?
I like a challenge, and I never take the easy way. Present me two paths to the top of the mountain, and without fail, I will always choose the one …
Episode 063: The Succession Solution with Brad Franc
In this episode, Ellie interviews Bradley J. Franc, Director with Houston Harbaugh Attorneys at Law and author of The Succession Solution: The …
Ready to Level Up? Let’s Lead Strong!
If you follow Successful Generations, you likely know that I recently launched a new 1:1 coaching program called Lead Strong. I am incredibly …
Bonus Episode: 6 Things to Help You Lead Strong!
In this bonus episode, I’m introducing six things to help you lead strong. If you follow my podcast or blog, you know that I coach family business …
062: Effective Philanthropy with Phil Buchanan
In this episode, Ellie interviews Phil Buchanan, President of the Center for Effective Philanthropy and author of the new book, Giving Done Right: …
Being a Leader is Hard…And That’s Okay
So many of my clients tell me that what they’re doing is challenging. “Why is this so hard?” is a question I hear all the time. In asking, they seem …
Episode 061: Family Business and Real Estate with Chris Prefontaine
In this episode, Ellie interviews family business owner, real estate leader, and coach Chris Prefontaine. While Chris grew up in a family business—he …
How to Live By Your Priorities
“How do you live by your priorities?” A client asked me this question the other day after she had listened to my podcast episode, Setting your …
Episode 060: Finding Joy After Trauma with Polo Tate
In this episode, Ellie interviews Polo Tate, author of Deep Dark Blue: A Memoir of Survival. In the book, Polo recounts the loss of her sister at a …
Episode 059: 4 Steps to Setting Your Priorities
As you likely know, I coach leaders in family business. Depending what leads someone to seek coaching, often one of my first questions is to ask my …
Episode 058: Understanding Community Foundations with Neel Harja
What exactly is a community foundation? And why would a donor choose to work with one over starting their own foundation? To explore these questions, …
Episode 057: Giving a Gift Beyond Your Imagination with Arlene Cogen
In this episode, Ellie is talking with Arlene Cogen, a certified financial planner and the author of GIVE TO LIVE: Make A Charitable Gift You Never …
Episode 056: Strategies for Reducing Stress in the Workplace with Alisa Craig
In this episode, Ellie and Alisa Craig, Administrator of Wellness & Population Health with Hurley Medical Center dive into stress in the …
Episode 055: Entitlement? No, thank you with Dr. John Townsend
In this episode, Ellie is joined by Dr. John Townsend, a psychologist, leadership expert, speaker, and New York Times Best Selling Author. Dr. …
Episode 054: 12 Steps to Achieving Your Goals in 2019
At a conference last year dedicated to goal getting, Michael Hyatt said that of 200 million Americans who make New Year’s resolutions, fewer than 50% …
Best of 2018 #1: Taking Over the Family Business with Mitchell Kaneff
You voted and we listened. Here's the #1 Successful Generations Podcast Episode for 2018! PLEASE NOTE: there is adult language in this episode. …
New Year. New Goals. New You.
Goals setting for 2019 Are you working on your personal and business goals for 2019? Did you achieve everything you set out to in 2018? Many …
Best of 2018 #2: An Action Plan for Mental Health with Christy Buck
You voted and we listened! Here's Best of 2018 Episode #2. When we talk about our health and wellness we focus on our physical bodies. We talk …
Best of 2018 #3: Digging Into the Family Business Landscape with Daniel G. Van Der Vliet
You voted and we listened! Here's Best of 2018 Episode #3. In this episode, Dann Van Der Vliet and I dig into family business from the family …
Episode 053: Top Resources From Ellie and Our Podcast Guests
Over the last year on this podcast our guests have shared an incredible number of resources related to family business, family wealth, family …
Episode 052: The Important Role of Professional Advisors in Discussing Philanthropy with Rebecca Miller
In this episode, we explore The U.S. Trust Study of The Philanthropic Conversation with Rebecca Miller, Senior Philanthropic Advisor with The …
Episode 051: 3Gen Perspectives on Philanthropy with a Boomer, a Gen Xer and a Millennial
In this episode, Ellie Frey Zagel is joined by Colleen Mitchell, Founder and Principal of VENTURE3Philanthropy, and Paige Cornetet, Chief Millennial …
Episode 050! What I’ve Learned in 50 Episodes with Guest Host Chad Zagel
We are so excited to celebrate this milestone 50th episode! In this episode, Ellie is joined by her husband, Chad Zagel for a bit of reflection. …
Episode 049: The Hidden Challenges of Wealth and the Path to Thrive as a NextGen with Kristin Keffeler
Kristin Keffeler is the founder and owner of illumination360. She is an advisor and certified professional coach with specializations in business …
Episode 048: How Family Champions Lead to Success with Joshua Nacht, Ph.D.
Joshua Nacht, Ph.D. is a consultant with the Family Business Consulting Group. He recently co-authored Family Champions and Champion Families: …
Episode 047: Power20—Combating Negative Self-Talk
Negative self-talk does not help us achieve our goals, yet I hear it all the time in my work with my coaching clients and from my peers who are fellow …
Episode 046: Critical Conversations for Succession Planning with Rochelle Clarke
In this episode, we talk to Rochelle Clarke, CEO & Founder of Succession Strength and author of The 5 Critical Succession Conversations: A …
Episode 045: Exploring Donor-Advised Funds with Bob Roth
In this episode, we're talking with Bob Roth who is President & CEO of RoMan Manufacturing, a global manufacturing business based in Grand Rapids, …
Episode 044: Philanthropic Due Diligence with Lynne Ferrell
Ellie Frey Zagel is a third generation Trustee and Vice Chair of her family's foundation, the Frey Foundation. The foundation was endowed with the …
Replay: A Legacy Lost with Douglas D. Box
Do you have a strong matriarch or patriarch? Do you have more drama in your family business than is healthy? Do you know someone who has sued a family …
Episode 043: Why Hire a Family Business Consultant? with Drew Mendoza
The Family Business Consulting Group (FBCG) consistently comes up as a top resource when we talk to family business leaders on the Successful …
Episode 042: Blending Passion, Family & Business with Anne Huntington, 2nd Generation
Anne Huntington is the second generation of her family's business, Huntington Learning Center. Based in New Jersey, they have over 300 locations in 41 …
Episode 041: An Action Plan for Mental Health with Christy Buck
So often when we talk about our health and wellness we focus on our physical bodies. We talk about things like diet and exercise. In this episode, …
Episode 040: My Journey to Coaching with Ellie Frey Zagel
The newest pillar of service offered by Successful Generations is Executive Coaching. In this week's episode, Ellie talks about the journey that led …
Episode 039: Selecting the Right Trustee with Attorney Mark Harder
It's been said that choosing a trustee is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Let that settle in for a minute. Why is this one …
Episode 038: Standing Up in a Male-Dominated Industry with Aviation Executive René Banglesdorf
René Banglesdorf is CEO of Charlie Bravo Aviation, an Austin, Texas-based company that buys, sells and leases corporate aircraft worldwide. René and …
REPLAY: Answering the Question I’m Always Asked About Family Philanthropy
As a third generation board member of my family’s foundation, philanthropy plays a big role in my life. I was first introduced to our foundation when …
REPLAY: How My Parents Raised Us to Be Business Smart with Paige Cornetet
Replay? Yep, that's right, this week and next, we are working on some really big and exciting new things at Successful Generations. While we …
Episode 037: Making Your Mark on the Family Business with Cara Mackay, 2nd Generation
In this episode, we're talking with Cara Mackay—a 31-year-old dynamo who has taken her family's shed construction business in Scotland to new heights. …
Episode 036: Financial Literacy, Leadership and Entrepreneurship for Teens with Whitney Webb
In this episode, we're talking with Whitney Webb. She is co-founder of Launch Generation, which produces unique summer programs for teenagers focused …
Bonus Episode: Power20—My Reflect and Connect Challenge
We live in the age of busy. Think of all the times you ask friends how they’re doing. I bet more times than not in return you hear, “I’m so busy.” We …
Episode 035: Great Governance for Your Investment Committee with Becky Wood
If you’re involved in a family foundation, a family office, or if you sit on the board of nonprofit with an endowment, you likely know something about …
Episode 034: Trapped in the Family Business with Dr. Michael Klein, Part 2
In part one of the interview with Dr. Michael Klein, we talked about what it means to be trapped in the family business and various the emotions that …
Episode 033: Trapped in the Family Business with Dr. Michael Klein
Do you feel trapped in the family business or do you think you may be contributing to a loved one feeling trapped? If so, this episode is for you. My …
Episode 032: Are You a Spendthrift or a Tightwad? with Dr. Scott Rick
Take a 5-minute survey to see where you fall on the Tightwad-Spendthrift Scale. How do you feel about spending money? Does it give you a thrill or …
Episode 031: Impact Investing with Jennifer Oertel
Jennifer Oertel serves as the Impact Investing Expert in Residence at the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF). In this episode, she and I dig into …
Episode 030: Holistic Weight Management with Cynthia Damaskos
The number on the scale, and whether it needs to go up or down, weighs heavily in the minds of many. In this episode, Cynthia Damakos, Certified …
Episode 029: Giving Back Through Giving Circles with Dr. Jason Franklin
Back in episode 026 my guest Rob Collier, President of the Council of Michigan Foundations mentioned giving circles as a trend to watch in …
Episode 028: Stories from The Family Business Podcast with Russ Haworth
My new friend, Russ Haworth, is the host of The Family Business Podcast and a contributor to many family business publications. Russ was writing a …
Episode 027: The Power of Mindset with Dr. Nancy Jonker
Mindset, also referred to as buoyancy or resiliency, speaks to our ability to bounce back. This week’s guest, Dr. Nancy Jonker explains it as, “an …
Episode 026: Reflections from Nearly Four Decades in Philanthropy with Rob Collier
Rob Collier is President & CEO of the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF), a nonprofit membership association of more than 330 community …
Episode 025: Power20—10 Ways to Set Your NextGen Up for Success in the Family Enterprise
In this Power20 episode, I'm speaking to my friends who are NowGen leaders. As you think about succession planning and preparing the NextGen to …
Pump it Up! Why Strength Training is Essential to the Success of Your Health Plan w/ Nick Klein
Interview By Ellie Frey Zagel, Successful Generations As I mentioned before, I was a rower all through high school and college. I loved the sport and …
Episode 024: Pump It Up! Strength Training and Leadership with Nick Klein
Blog Post: Pump It Up! Why Strength Training is Essential to the Success of Your Health Plan with Nick Klein Strength training and leadership …
Episode 023: Leadership Development and Agility with Greg McCann
In this episode, Greg McCann of McCann & Associates and I dive into the family enterprise model, vertical leadership development, and leadership …
Episode 022: Getting Started in Family Philanthropy with Colleen Mitchell
Colleen Mitchell is the founder of Venture3Philanthropy, a global philanthropic advisory firm. In her role, Colleen helps clients across generations …
Episode 021: Taking Over the Family Business with Mitchell Kaneff
PLEASE NOTE: there is adult language in this episode. It's only 1-2 words, but if you are listening with little ones, you may want to use …
Episode 020: Women and Wealth with Adrienne Penta
Happy 20th episode of the Successful Generations podcast! Our listeners are in for a treat this week. We wanted a dynamo guest for this …
Episode 019: Allyn Family 2.0—After the Sale with Eric Allyn (4th Gen), Part 2
In the previous episode, Eric Allyn shared the history of his family’s business, Welch Allyn. He told us how his generation banded together to change …
Episode 018: The Welch Allyn Family Business Story with Eric Allyn (4th Gen), Part 1
Eric Allyn grew up in a family with a legacy of entrepreneurship and innovation. His great-grandfather, William Noah Allyn and Francis A. Welch …
Episode 017: Power20—Achieving Your Goals Through a Mastermind or Peer Group
Peer groups, sometimes referred to as mastermind groups, can be incredibly helpful and effective at moving you along the path to achieving goals. …
Episode 016: Power20—Reframing Limiting Beliefs
For the past couple of years, I’ve been doing a lot of personal work, self-reflection, and goal-setting. As I’ve mentioned previously, I’m a big fan …
Episode 015: Beyond the Piggy Bank with Father, Author, and Entrepreneur Clint Greenleaf
After selling his publishing company, my guest, Clint Greenleaf recalls being on flight to Hawaii with his wife and two young daughters. …
Episode 014: More Awareness and Less Stress Through Yoga with Ashley Yost and Mali Jane
In one way or another, we are all on a health and wellness journey. My guests in this episode are dedicated to helping people on this journey through …
Episode 013: Raising Children to be Amazing Business Owners with Paige Cornetet
Paige Cornetet is a fourth generation family business owner and she’s involved in her family’s council. She’s also an entrepreneur who runs her own …
Episode 012: Raising Kids with Generous Genes with Susan Crites Price
Susan Crites Price is a Washington, DC-based author and speaker. Her most recent book, which she co-wrote with her daughter, Julianna Price, is titled …
Episode 011: Digging Into the Family Business Landscape with Daniel G. Van Der Vliet
In this episode, my guest Dann Van Der Vliet and I dig into family business from the family business center/academic perspective. Dann is …
Episode 010: 10 Things My Family Did to Engage Us in Philanthropy with Ellie Frey Zagel
As a third generation board member of my family’s foundation, philanthropy plays a big role in my life. I was first introduced to our foundation when …
Episode 009: Stress Management and Holistic Health with Cynthia Damaskos
After losing her father and discovering that the causes of his death could have been prevented, Cynthia Damaskos made dramatic changes to her own …
Episode 008: Family, Fights and Ferry Tales with Chris Shepler
In this episode, we hear the story of a seventy year old family business in Northern Michigan. My guest, Chris Shepler, is part of the third …
Episode 007: Raising Financially Responsible Kids Through the Holidays (and Beyond)
10 Activities to do with your Kids this Holiday Season The holidays— full of magic, wonder, traditions, and more. For many families, especially those …
Episode 006: Join the Philanthropic Revolution with Michael Moody
'Generation Impact' is Taking Over Research says that the rising generation of family philanthropy will take a different approach to giving. For …
Episode 005: Estate Planning 101 aka Estate Planning is Not Optional with Susan Gell Meyers
Everything You Need to Know Before You Meet with your Attorney The estate planning process can seem a little daunting. Having gone through the …
Episode 004: Engaging Your Family in Philanthropy with Ginny Esposito
The question I get asked the most, is “Ellie, how can I engage my family in philanthropy?” In this episode, Virginia “Ginny” Esposito, Founder of the …
Episode 003: Leadership, Wellness, and Concierge Medicine with Dr. Bill Baer
Successful Generations Podcast Are you struggling with your health and wellness? Are you feeling stretched thin, in a mental fog, constantly …
Episode 002: A Legacy Lost with Douglas D. Box
Successful Generations Podcast Do you have a strong matriarch or patriarch? Do you have more drama in your family business than is healthy? …