Do you look forward to having those tough conversations in your family business? Very few of us do. We know they’re coming, but when we’re around the …
Ep #12: Banning the Badge of Busyness
Several years ago, I was experiencing a lot of busyness in my life, and anytime someone asked me how I was doing, I would automatically respond, “I’m …
Ep #11: Power Dynamics in Family Systems
If you’re encountering difficult and often uncomfortable power dynamics in your family systems, trust me, you are not alone. Power dynamics are at …
Ep #10: Getting Out of Other People’s Brains
I hear some variation of this from my clients on a regular basis. They’ll come to me upset and angry at somebody else, usually a family member or …
Ep #9: The Reality of Being an Entrepreneur Couple with Jake and Whit Roehl
I hear from people all the time who work with their family or significant other, that they want to be on the same page more and clash less. Well, …
Ep #8: The Truth About Confidence
Pretty much all of my clients come to me wanting more confidence. This is especially the case when they are stepping into a new role within the …
Ep #7: The Emotional Armoire
We’re talking today about one of my favorite topics: emotions. Specifically, I’m discussing processing emotions while you’re at work, which comes up …
Ep #6: Entitlement with Kim Eddleston
Kim Eddleston is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and an academic fellow who specializes in family business. She comes from a family that runs several …
Ep #5: Purposeful Vacation Planning
Have you ever come back from vacation and thought, “I seriously need a real vacation”? We’ve all been there. We’ve taken what we believed would be a …
Ep #4: Why Tracking and Celebrating Your Wins Matters
Today’s topic is one of the often-overlooked fundamentals when it comes to our growth as leaders, both in the culture we create around us and our …
Ep #3: The Practice of Same-Page Leadership
Last week, I spoke about the concept of Same-Page Leadership. This week, I want to share some examples in practice and how significant others working …
Ep #2: Same-Page Leadership
What I’m sharing today is so useful because a lot of you work closely with others in your family business. Whether that is your parents, siblings, or …
Ep #1: Why the Name Change?
I made the decision to change the name of my podcast from Successful Generations to The Family Business Leader Podcast for a few reasons. I originally …
BONUS Episode: The Real Work of Mindset Transformation with Neill Williams
I’m so excited to bring you a bonus episode. I don’t usually do things like this, but a client of mine Neill Williams, a productivity coach, has a …
Episode 089: Millennial Engagement in Family Philanthropy with Bob Reid
Today, I’m interviewing a friend of many years, Bob Reid: a past CEO for the JF Maddox Foundation. Alongside this position, Bob is also a researcher …
Episode 088: Growing into Wealth with Logan Angel
Last week on the podcast, we had Andrew Doust from KORE Venture on the podcast. And he gave us some amazing insights into his work with the next …
Episode 087: Helping the Rising Generation Flourish with Andrew Doust of Kore Venture
On the show today, I’m talking to Andrew Doust of KORE Venture. Andrew has made his life’s mission to help guide the next generation of young adults …
Episode 086: Family Business Succession w/ Steven Goodman
Family Business Succession Planning with Steven Goodman In This Episode: Steve Goodman recently wrote a book on Business Succession Planning. …
Episode 085: Family Office 101 w/ Glen Johnson
Family Office 101 with FOX's Glen Johnson NOTE: This episode was recorded at the beginning of COVID-19. In This Episode: In this episode, Glen …
Episode 084: Rising Generation Education w/ CLO Mindy Earley
Rising Generation Education with Chief Learning Officer, Mindy Earley In This Episode: "Education is omnipresent" -Mindy Earley, Chief Learning …
Episode 083: A Vibrant Family Business Vision w/ Richard Seaman
A Vibrant Family Business Vision with Richard N. Seaman, 2nd Generation Chairman In This Episode: Another business model: …
Family Business Retirement: “I am Only Leaving Feet First”
In This Episode: “I am only leaving feet first” In today’s episode, Kathy and I talk about retiring as the leader of a …
BONUS Episode: Family Business and the Seaman Family Foundation
BONUS EPISODE! Richard Seaman talks about Family Philanthropy In This Episode: "Decedents aren't all going to have a passion for the …
Episode 081: Family Business with 2nd Gen Richard Seaman of Seaman Corp
The Family Business Story of Seaman Corporation with Richard N. Seaman, 2nd Generation Chairman In …
Episode 080: Delusional Altruism with Kris Putnam-Walkerly
Become Unstoppable. In This Episode: "Together the philosophy behind these strategies constitute a mind-set …
Episode 079: Getting on the Same Page as Your Spouse at Work
In This Episode: “Everything just works better when we are on the same page.” My clients tell me being on …
Episode 078: Best Practices in Family Councils Part 2
In This Episode: After interviewing Chris, I decided to split this interview into two parts. Welcome to …
Episode 077: Getting Started with Family Councils Part 1
In This Episode: After interviewing Chris, I decided to split this interview into two parts. Here are the questions I asked during my …
Episode 076: Family Philanthropy Trends 2020
In This Episode: Nicholas Tedesco, President and CEO of the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP), returns to the podcast to talk about …
Episode 075: Get to Know NCFP’s Nick Tedesco
In This Episode: In this episode, Ellie Frey Zagel speaks with Nicholas Tedesco, President and CEO of the National Center for Family …
Get Your Productivity Score and Banish Burnout
Everywhere I look, I see leaders feeling overwhelmed, spending more and more time at work, and struggling with the stress and pressure of it …
Episode 074: Be Like The Best with Anthony Renna
In this episode, Ellie Frey Zagel speaks with Anthony Renna, entrepreneur, personal trainer, owner of Five Iron Fitness, host of the Strength Coach …
Don’t Wait. Start Now.
Money is taboo, but today it’s on my mind. My dad says, “Money has an enormous psychological component. It has a fantasized …
Are You Experiencing Burnout?
Most of us don’t recognize the signs of burnout. For me, it happened over ten years. I experienced years of becoming sick more and …
Episode 073: Power20—Now Is Not The Time To Give Up On Your Goals
The first of the year is a time of renewal and new beginnings. Many of us draw a line at the end of 2019 and start fresh with new goals and …
Best of 2019: 12 Steps to Achieving Your Goals This Year
We're continuing our look back at the top episodes of the Successful Generations Podcast from 2019. This one seems perfect for this week as we start a …
Best of 2019: Family Business Governance with Bruce Werner
We're looking back at the top episodes of the Successful Generations Podcast from 2019. Next up is this episode with Bruce Werner, part of the third …
Can You Fix My Family Member?
"Can you fix my brother?" If only I had a dollar for every time I've been asked some form of this question. It also comes out like this: "I …
Best of 2019: Understanding Community Foundations with Neel Harja
We're looking back at the top episodes of the Successful Generations Podcast from 2019. Next up is this episode with Neel Harja, CEO of the Ann Arbor …
Best of 2019: Entitlement? No Thanks! With Dr. John Townsend
We're looking back at the top episodes of the Successful Generations Podcast from 2019. First up is this episode with Dr. John Townsend, author of …
Episode 072: A Conversation With Julie Charlestein, 4th Generation and CEO of Premier Dental
Julie Charlestein is part of the fourth-generation of Premier Dental, where she currently serves as CEO. Premier is a 106-year-old business that …
Feeling Thankful For My Clients & Their Wins
I am so incredibly proud and thankful for each of my clients—I don’t know if I tell them enough. The work we do is literally life-changing, but …
The Problem With Wanting People to Like You
"I want people to like me." This was me. This was my thought. I used to spend a lot of energy trying to get people to like me. A lot. People …
Do I Deserve This Position?
“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, …