The Secret Thoughts of CEO's Podcast Chris Yonker

Kristi Baxter is a trusted advisor and change partner to executives, leaders, and entrepreneurs. She blends practical experience as an operator with Disney and Coca-Cola, life experience of growing up in a family business, and her inside-out coach approach to help clients achieve extraordinary results and transformation.
She integrates a deep appreciation for the beautiful mess of our humanity and a "lead thyself" mentality to guide clients through change, boldly meeting challenges head-on to achieve happiness, confidence, freedom, and abundance.
Clients say working with Kristi has had a profound impact on their life, allowing them to step into their power with confidence, energy, and positivity, reaching new heights in their personal and professional life.
 
What You’ll Learn
●      How to change the mentalities of future generations of leaders.
●      The benefit of cultivating leaders.
●      The ingredients of leadership development.
●      How to know when change is needed.
 
Timestamps
·       [03:57] Kristi’s background.
·       [10:07] The changing mentalities.
·       [17:13] The benefit of cultivating leaders.
·       [23:08] How to assess leadership potential.
·       [30:44] Overcoming the subconscious ceiling.
·       [33:27] Important indicators.
·       [38:04] The heart-centered approach.
·       [44:22] Questions to ask yourself.
 
Memorable Quotes
·       “Hire for attitude. Train for skills.” – Kristi Baxter [08:48]
·       “Your business cannot grow beyond the level of your current leadership.” – Kristi Baxter [20:58]
·       “A one-size-fits-all approach does not work.” – Kristi Baxter [43:06]
 
Websites
fambizforum.com.
www.kristibaxter.com.
www.chrisyonker.com.

Amanda Osmer is the fourth-generation owner of Grappone Automotive Group. Osmer’s great-grandparents, Rocco and Emanuela Grappone, were Italian immigrants who opened a gas station in Concord in 1924. Her grandfather, John Grappone, worked for 79 years to help expand that single business into the Grappone Automotive Group, which today encompasses five New Hampshire dealerships, representing Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, and Toyota, as well as one of northern New England’s largest wholesale parts operations. Amanda launched Leadership Grappone, a program that a seeks out the company’s emerging leaders, with the goal of uncovering their true leadership potential.
Rebecca Hamilton is the Co-CEO of Badger, a producer of organic body care products.
An advocate for issues concerning the environment, ingredient transparency, and societal change, Rebecca has spoken at the White House, addressed the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in support of organic and regenerative agriculture, testified before Congress on behalf of safer cosmetics, and attended Senate and House briefings on Capitol Hill in support of family-friendly workplace practices and chemical reform. Rebecca also spearheaded the passing of Benefit Corporation legislation in New Hampshire, a for-profit status that incorporates the pursuit of positive environmental and social impact in addition to profit. She was recently appointed to the National Women’s Business Council, a nonpartisan federal advisory committee comprised of women business owners, policymakers, bankers, representatives of women’s business organizations, and other stakeholders.
 
What You’ll Learn
●      How to approach succession planning with the lens of equality.
●      Upholding standards with family members.
●      Making decisions as a family leadership team.
●      How to manage a smooth succession with leaders who aren’t ready to let go.
 
Timestamps
·       [09:27] Taking on leadership roles within family businesses.
·       [18:13] Unique perspectives as women.
·       [23:51] Approaching succession planning.
·       [29:09] Dr Stacy: Are higher standards for family a risk or a benefit?
·       [32:14] The role of personal development plays in the future of leadership.
·       [34:26] Lessons learned stepping into leadership roles.
·       [39:21] Advice to other women aspiring to lead family-run enterprises.
·       [44:17] When leaders aren’t ready to let go during transitions.
 
Memorable Quotes
·       “Blood is thicker than water.” – Amanda Osmer [28:00]
·       “Your brain can’t be angry and curious at the same time.” – Amanda Osmer [33:26]
·       “We’ve had such a female dominated company that we thought about being more intentional of bringing some males in to balance it out.” – Rebecca Hamilton [34:02]
·       “Get really clear about what your mission is, and then pursue that.” – Amanda Osmer [39:46]
 
Websites
fambizforum.com.
www.badgerbalm.com.
www.grappone.com.

Russ Haworth is a specialist family business adviser and works with families from all over the world to help them understand what role their family business can play in living fulfilled lives.
He is the Co-Director of The Land of Giants, a research project that looks at how the rising generation are able to find significance and identity when they have grown up around significant wealth and/or achievement.
Russ is a regular speaker at National and International conferences and provides training and education to other professionals looking to enhance their understanding of working with family businesses. He is also the host of the widely acclaimed Family Business Podcast.
 
What You’ll Learn
●      The effects of living in the shadow of giants.
●      How next-gens can navigate their calling.
●      How to effectively communicate feelings between generations.
●      The importance of authentic transparency.
 
Timestamps
·       [03:45] Russ’s background.
·       [07:32] Researching prominent rising-Gen family members.
·       [12:10] The biggest insight from the research.
·       [22:50] How to help next-gen navigate their calling.
·       [25:34] Communicating feelings between generations.
·       [27:05] Authentic transparency.
·       [28:38] Exploration.
 
Memorable Quotes
·       “If you don’t find out who you are as an individual, that’s still something that’s missing.” – Russ Haworth [32:25]
·       “It’s not a linear journey.” – Russ Haworth [33:05]
 
Social Media
LinkedIn:         Russ Haworth.
 
 
Websites
familybusinesspartnership.com.
fambizpodcast.com.
www.questforlegitimacy.com.
Amazon.
fambizforum.com.

Troy is the Founder and CEO of Mosaic Research Management, founded in June 2010. Prior to founding Mosaic, Troy was a proprietary research analyst at Elliott Management Corp, a multi-strategy hedge fund firm based in New York with more than $20 billion assets under management. Troy received a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.
When away from the office, Troy enjoys working out, meditating, listening to audio books, discussing business with friends, and spending time with his wife and son near their home in DUMBO, Brooklyn.
 
What You’ll Learn
●      How spirituality informs business.
●      How to develop stronger spiritual practices.
●      The value of giving ourselves time.
 
Timestamps
·       [05:24] Troy’s entrepreneurial journey.
·       [19:29] Troy’s inspirations.
·       [32:40] The importance of being open to spiritual practices.
·       [43:08] How SOS makes it easy to show up.
·       [48:19] Three types of meditation.
·       [52:00] A shared meditation exercise.
 
Memorable Quotes
·       “Your openness to that source of life energy is what creates how bright you shine” – Troy Lavinia [33:53]
·       “Just spend five minutes on it every day.” – Troy Lavinia [41:42]
 
Social Media
LinkedIn:         Troy Lavinia.
 
 
Websites
mosaicrm.com.
dailysos.com.
fambizforum.com.

Tsitsi Mutendi is an internationally recognized Family Business Expert and Family Office Advisor (focused on building multigenerational family wealth). She is a third-generation family business owner, who has learnt how to build and grow business from her predecessors, but like many African family business owners, she has had to build her own businesses from the entrepreneurial spirit that has been cultivated over generations. Unlike the adage, shirt sleeves to shirt sleeves, she did not inherit financial wealth, but she did inherit the intellectual knowledge and the values of entrepreneurship, and now with the acumen she has learnt from the many families she has served and continues to serve, she hopes to pass wealth that becomes multigenerational to her own children and generations after. The family businesses that she has founded and co-founded and built include Mutendi Montessori and Dants Investments.
Over her career, she has been successful, and she has bagged many accolades, awards, and recognition to her contribution to various spaces in which she has established her work. She has also sat on numerous company boards and brought her worldly experience to help organizations gain a competitive edge and grow in profit, production, and expansion.
  
What You’ll Learn
●      How the Baobab tree is a symbol of family businesses.
●      Caring for the individual to care for the group.
●      How to nurture the five capitals in our businesses.
 
Timestamps
·       [05:27] Putting together the book.
·       [07:50] Why the Baobab tree is unique.
·       [18:40] Human capital.
·       [22:25] Intellectual capital.
·       [29:02] Social capital.
·       [33:44] Spiritual capital.
·       [35:33] Financial capital.
·       [40:13] Thinking about long-term continuity.
 
Memorable Quotes
·       “The sum of the whole is the individuals.” – Tsitsi Mutendi [19:20]
·       “We are a result of people who made decisions before us.” – Tsitsi Mutendi [41:34]
 
Social Media
LinkedIn:         Tsitsi Mutendi.
Facebook:       Tsitsi Mutendi.
Instagram:       @Tsitsi_Mutendi.
 
 
Websites
tsitsimutendi.com.
www.nhakalegacy.com.
Amazon.

Melissa Borowicz has been dedicated to working with companies since 2004, focusing on defining corporate culture and aiding leaders to maximize their management teams and personnel. With an adept understanding of relational barriers and their impact on personal and company growth l, Borowicz offers practical solutions that enhance value at every stage. Her comfortable and relaxed style ensures ease among individuals during challenging leadership transitions.
Borowicz’s ability to effectively and efficiently identify and tailor solutions to meet the unique needs of companies is underpinned by a robust educational and professional background. This includes earning a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, achieving Process Mastery certification from Hammer Company, becoming a certified ECHO Listening Practitioner, a Certified DISC Practitioner, and a Certified Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming.
She collaborates with business leaders to foster a unified language and understanding within organizations, reaching from the leadership team to employees, customers, and the wider community. Borowicz not only appreciates the significance of but also knows how to secure buy-in at every level, both internally and externally.
Driven by the goal of creating self-sufficient individuals and organizations, Borowicz has developed a three-day Leadership Boot Camp. This program guides individuals and staff through comprehensive personal and team development, aiming for consistent leadership. Additionally, her year-long Leadership Collective offers real-world interactional experiences that prepare team members to become adept at handling 50-70% of all organizational development issues.
With 17 years of experience, Borowicz has honed her expertise with a range of organizations, from small teams of 10 to large groups of 3000 employees, across the United States and Canada. She specializes in the effective use of leadership assessments, values identification, and articulation to spearhead culture strategy and transformation, develop leaders, and enhance team dynamics.
Outside her professional life, Borowicz enjoys an active lifestyle with her husband, their three boys, and two dogs. An avid runner committed to fitness, she is also a keen reader in her quest for continuous learning and loves to watch her boys engage in basketball and karate, pursuing their passions.
 
What You’ll Learn
How families can navigate family issues in businesses. Where to start making a change. How the family system affects everything. Navigating different family dynamics. Why feedback is vital for success. Dealing with underperforming family members. The value of non-family leaders. Why “lesser” priorities should not be put off.  
Timestamps
[05:17] A bit about Melissa. [09:13] Working through family issues. [10:47] A common referral point. [14:06] The starting point for families navigating a change. [17:01] The canary in the coal mine. [21:50] The family business system. [24:36] Dealing with family dynamics. [32:16] The importance of feedback. [37:57] Helping families deal with sub-par business performance. [42:56] The fear of reprimanding family members [47:17] Non-family leaders. [50:10] Advice for the eager younger family member. [54:12] Putting off “lesser” priorities.  
Memorable Quotes
“For things to progress and be successful is people's openness and willingness to change. –  Melissa Borowicz [30:40] “Feedback is a gift and an investment in itself.” – Melissa Borowicz [35:34] “The family is more important than the business.” – Melissa Borowicz [36:15] “Leadership is taken, not given.” – Melissa Borowicz [56:13]  
Social Media
LinkedIn: UTECH Consulting Inc.
Facebook: The UTECH Group.
 
 
Websites
Fambizforum.com.
utechod.com.