The SuccessionReady Podcast

SuccessionReady
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The SuccessionReady podcast, hosted by James Grieve and Ashka Wirk, brings you expert guests who will provide you with information, insights, and actionable advice relevant to you as a founder-led business to help you become SuccessionReady.

  1. 09/10/2025

    Values-based Legacy Planning

    In this episode, co-hosts Ashka Wirk and James Grieve are joined by Sandy Pollack, founder of Trimaran Advisory Group and author of Don’t Leave a Mess. With more than 25 years of experience advising entrepreneurial families, Sandy takes a deeply values-based approach to legacy, helping clients protect their wealth while creating meaningful plans for the future. She explains why effective succession and estate planning must begin with values and strategy, and how uncovering the human side of wealth brings clarity, reduces conflict, and builds legacies with purpose.

    26 min

  2. 09/10/2025

    Open-Book Leadership: Building Trust, Alignment, and Legacy in Family and Founder-Led Businesses

    In this episode, co-hosts James Grieve and Ashka Wirk are joined by Ryan Markewich, an advocate for open-book cultures and transparent leadership. Ryan discusses how open-book leadership builds trust, drives alignment, and prepares family and founder-led businesses for long-term success and smooth succession. He shares strategies for overcoming founder resistance to transparency,connecting open-book practices to succession readiness, and using openness as a performance multiplier. Through real-world examples, Ryan highlights how transparency encourages employees to think like owners, strengthens alignment between family goals and business results, and reduces founder dependency.

    28 min

  3. 09/10/2025

    Governance as the Catalyst for being SuccessionReady

    In this episode, co-hosts Ashka Wirk and James Grieve are joined by Barb Schimnowsky, CMC, FEA, Partner at Watson Advisors Inc. Barb shares how governance, director recruitment, and leadership dynamics can help family andfounder-led businesses thrive and transition successfully. She explains why governance matters even in early growth stages, how to build effective boards or advisory councils, and the importance of recruiting directors who align withfamily values while bringing independent strategic thinking. Through real-world examples, Barb illustrates how governance supports leadership transitions,balances family priorities with business performance, and acts as a performance multiplier by shifting decision-making from reactive to strategic.

    27 min

  4. 09/10/2025

    What Can You Expect from Working with SuccessionReady?

    James Grieve and Ashka Wirk, co-founders of SuccessionReady, talk through what you, as a founder-led business, can expect from working with SuccessionReady.

    7 min

  5. 07/10/2025

    Talent is the Bridge – How a People Strategy Enhances Succession Planning

    In this episode, co-hosts James Grieve and Ashka Wirk are joined by David Litherland, Partner at Summit Search Group. David shares why recruitment is a critical part of succession planning, the importance of planning across all levels of an organization, and how organizations can take a proactive approach to future leadership.

    26 min

  6. 07/10/2025

    A New Path to Succession – How Employee Ownership Can Protect Your Legacy

    In this episode, SuccessionReady co-creators James Grieve and Ashka Wirk are joined by Michael Ras, CEO of Employee Ownership Canada. Michael explains employee ownership and why it offers a compelling succession path that keeps jobs local and preserves a founder’s legacy.

    38 min

  7. 07/10/2025

    The Co-op Advantage – A New Model for Business Succession

    In this episode, SuccessionReady co-creators James Grieve and Ashka Wirk are joined by Kyle White, Director of Education at Co-operatives First. Kyle breaks down how co-operatives work, shares real-world success stories, and explores how the co-op model can offer a powerful path to succession.

    38 min

  8. 07/10/2025

    SuccessionReady – The Client Experience

    In this episode, co-hosts James Grieve and Ashka Wirk are joined by Halee Fried. Halee is the founder of a family-owned business, Farmstrong Cider Company, located in Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada. Halee and her family were early adopter clients of the SuccessionReady approach to succession planning. Halee shares her experience with founding and growing Farmstrong, her succession planning experience with SuccessionReady, and her advice to other founders thinking about succession planning for their businesses.

    25 min
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About

The SuccessionReady podcast, hosted by James Grieve and Ashka Wirk, brings you expert guests who will provide you with information, insights, and actionable advice relevant to you as a founder-led business to help you become SuccessionReady.

Information

  • Creator
    SuccessionReady
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © SuccessionReady
  • Show Website
    The SuccessionReady Podcast