Your Next Gen Friend Podcast

Andrea Carpenter
Your Next Gen Friend Podcast

Your Next Gen Friend is the podcast for successors—whether you’re stepping into a family business, a privately held company, or simply the expectations tied to someone else’s legacy. I’m Andrea: G2, a successor in a privately owned business, and a guide for the next generation navigating identity, pressure, and purpose inside family systems. This show is for those of us in the in-between... honoring what came before while trying to build something that’s truly our own. Whether you’re blood family or the trusted non-family leader stepping in, this is your space for real conversations about what it actually means to succeed, on your terms. You’re not alone in this. And I hope that makes all the difference.

Episodes

  1. Becoming Your Next Gen Friend

    JUL 3

    Becoming Your Next Gen Friend

    After launching with a powerful three-part series on sibling dynamics, Andrea takes listeners behind the scenes of her own story in this deeply personal episode.   Most importantly, Andrea explains why Your Next Gen Friend exists - to create community for successors who often feel isolated while navigating guilt, imposter syndrome, and the challenge of building their own legacy while honoring what came before. The episode concludes with an invitation for listeners to join Andrea in building a supportive community where successors can share their stories, challenges, and victories without judgment.  Key topics covered:  Growing up with entrepreneurial parents and processing family wealth awareness Career evolution from advertising to becoming Elizabeth's successor at The Transition Strategists The emotional complexity of being a successor and creating community for next-gen leaders  Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Your Next Gen Friend  02:24 Growing Up in Small Town Colorado  04:42 High School: Design, Band, and Entrepreneurship  07:03 First Awareness of Family Wealth  09:21 College, Career, and the Pivotal Question  11:31 Meeting Elizabeth and the Successor Conversation  13:52 Navigating Business Transition and Motherhood  16:13 Why Every Successor's Experience is Unique  18:33 Creating Community for Next Gen Leaders   Connect with Andrea Carpenter and Your Next Gen Friend:  Website: https://yournextgenfriend.com/  Your Next Gen Friend on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yournextgenfriend/  Your Next Gen Friend on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournextgenfriend  Andrea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreashaver/  Subscribe to "Your Next Gen Friend" on your favorite podcast player:  Spotify: https://yournextgenfriend.com/open-spotify  Apple Podcasts: https://yournextgenfriend.com/apple-podcast  Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm.

    21 min
  2. Sibling Dynamics in Family Business: Trust, Legacy, and Leading Differently (Part 3)

    JUN 19

    Sibling Dynamics in Family Business: Trust, Legacy, and Leading Differently (Part 3)

    This is the powerful conclusion to the three-part series on sibling dynamics in family businesses. The conversation moves beyond day-to-day challenges to explore how the current generation can become "great ancestors" who build lasting trust, redefine success, and create positive legacies for future generations. The episode offers profound insights on cultivating trust, establishing clear communication protocols, and understanding that family business is both a privilege and a responsibility.  Show Notes  In this inspiring finale to the sibling dynamics series, Andrea Carpenter, Shannon, Andrew, and Mark shift from problem-solving to legacy-building. The conversation opens with Shannon's vulnerable admission that she might not have relationships with some siblings if not for their shared family business - a raw truth that normalizes the complexity of family relationships while affirming that healthy businesses can still thrive.  Mark emphasizes a fundamental truth: "The work isn't really worth the family relationship being lost. It's just not." This sets the tone for a discussion about priorities, boundaries, and the courage to separate family time from business time. Andrew shares his evolution from trying to maintain rigid boundaries to accepting that family and business naturally intersect, requiring maturity and clear communication rather than artificial separation.  The episode's centerpiece is Andrew's powerful insight about being a "great ancestor" rather than just a good descendant. He challenges listeners to think beyond preserving what they inherited to actively building something worthy of future generations' admiration. Shannon anchors this vision in practical terms through her framework for cultivating trust: belief, care, consistency, and respect.  Key topics covered include:  Normalizing complex sibling relationships in family business The courage to set boundaries between family and business time Understanding that founders also seek approval from the next generation Using "hat switching" to create clarity in different roles The three pillars of successful family business leadership: understanding your why, seeing others' perspectives, and embracing conflict Establishing rules based on individual strengths from an early age Creating conflict resolution plans before emotions run high Why family business is a privilege, not a right The four elements of trust: belief, care, consistency, respect Moving from being good descendants to great ancestors Healing sibling relationships that may have suffered during the pursuit of parental approval  The episode concludes with a rally cry for next-generation leaders to support each other, recognizing that the businesses and families they steward represent the future of communities and the world itself.  Chapters in this episode:  00:00 Navigating Sibling Dynamics in Family Business  01:07 The Importance of Boundaries and Relationships  03:49 Understanding Perspectives and Empathy  09:08 Clarity and Communication in Family Roles  14:39 Establishing Rules and Conflict Resolution  18:51 The Role of Patience and Legacy  24:31 Cultivating a Culture of Trust  29:01 Final Thoughts on Family Business Dynamics  Connect with Andrea Carpenter and Your Next Gen Friend: Website: https://yournextgenfriend.com/ Your Next Gen Friend on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yournextgenfriend/ Your Next Gen Friend on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournextgenfriend Andrea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreashaver/ Subscribe to...

    30 min
  3. Sibling Dynamics in Family Business: The Messy Middle (Part 2)

    JUN 19

    Sibling Dynamics in Family Business: The Messy Middle (Part 2)

    This is the second episode of a three-part series on sibling dynamics in family businesses. The conversation dives deeper into the complexities of family roles, the importance of communication (even poor communication), and how vulnerability and empathy become essential leadership tools when working with siblings. The episode explores the tension between family relationships and business responsibilities, revealing how the skills needed for Gen 1 success may be completely different from what Gen 2 requires.  Show Notes  In this revealing second episode of the sibling dynamics series, Andrea Carpenter continues her conversation with Shannon, Andrew, and Mark as they explore the messier, more vulnerable aspects of working with family. The discussion moves beyond role assignment into the emotional intelligence required to navigate complex family-business relationships.  Shannon Schottler opens up about the sudden loss of her father and how their family lacked a crisis plan, leading to important reflections on how Gen 2 leadership requires different skills than Gen 1 - specifically collaboration and over-communication rather than the "charging like a bull" approach that built their farming operation. Andrew Salmon shares profound insights about empathy, describing his relationship with his brother as an "accordion" that stretches and contracts but ultimately creates harmony when both parties are vulnerable and give each other grace.  Mark Mendes discusses the importance of teaching his children that "it's okay to fail" and how he's intentionally creating a different legacy than his father - one focused on preparing the next generation to "take the ball and run with it to higher levels." The conversation also tackles the impossible task of separating family and business relationships, with Andrew's honest admission: "How do you separate Shannon your sister from Shannon your boss? It's just not going to happen."  Key topics covered include:  The difference between skills needed for Gen 1 vs Gen 2 success Why poor communication is better than no communication How family birth order and age gaps affect business dynamics The role of empathy and vulnerability in family business leadership Teaching the next generation to embrace failure as part of growth Creating boundaries between family time and business discussions How to be a "broker of agreements" rather than a peacemaker The importance of giving family members grace and space to grow Why everyone in family business is "chasing the same approval"  The episode emphasizes that while family business relationships are inherently messy and complex, the key is moving from no communication to poor communication to better communication, all while building capacity to sit in discomfort as everyone levels up their skills.  Chapters in this episode:  00:00 The Importance of Legacy and Intentional Planning  01:36 Understanding Individual Roles and Family Dynamics  05:03 Empathy and Vulnerability in Leadership  10:13 The Impact of Birth Order on Business Roles  14:53 Communication Strategies for Family Businesses  19:50 Balancing Family and Business Relationships  Connect with Andrea Carpenter and Your Next Gen Friend: Website: https://yournextgenfriend.com/ Your Next Gen Friend on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yournextgenfriend/ Your Next Gen Friend on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournextgenfriend Andrea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreashaver/ Subscribe to "Your Next Gen Friend" on your favorite podcast player: Spotify:...

    27 min
  4. Sibling Dynamics in Family Business: Intentional Relationships (Part 1)

    JUN 19

    Sibling Dynamics in Family Business: Intentional Relationships (Part 1)

    This is the first episode of a three-part series on sibling dynamics in family businesses, featuring three thoughtful leaders with vastly different experiences - from 12 siblings in a farming operation to passing a business to the next generation of siblings. Andrea Carpenter hosts an honest conversation about the good stuff, hard stuff, and unexpected challenges of growing, leading, and staying in relationship with siblings in family business. Show Notes In this candid first episode of a three-part series, Andrea Carpenter sits down with three family business leaders to explore the real dynamics of working with siblings. From Shannon's experience as one of 12 kids in a farming operation, to Andrew's intentional succession planning approach, to Mark's unique situation of having a brother the same age as his eldest son, this conversation covers the full spectrum of sibling relationships in business. Shannon Schottler represents Gen 2 in a large farming operation built from nothing to 4,000 acres, navigating the complexities of being "one of the chosen ones" among 12 siblings. Andrew Salmon, Gen 3 at Salmon Health Retirement, shares how he and his brother created clear paths for succession while maintaining family harmony. Mark Mendes discusses preparing his two sons for leadership while managing the interesting dynamic of his younger brother being part of the next generation. Key topics covered include: How personal growth intersects with role assignment in family businessThe myth that family business is "handed down" and the real pressures involvedNavigating leadership transitions during times of crisis and uncertaintyThe importance of communication and collaboration skills for next-generation leaders Preparing children for business roles while maintaining family relationshipsThe tension between being "chosen ones" and maintaining sibling harmonyWhy succession planning requires both intentional processes and family values The episode emphasizes that while each family's journey is unique, the common thread is the importance of relationships, communication, and starting succession conversations early from a position of strength rather than necessity.  Chapters in this episode:  00:00 Introduction to Sibling Dynamics in Family Businesses  07:00 Personal Growth and Role Assignment in Family Businesses  13:52 Navigating Leadership Transitions and Family Dynamics  20:00 Preparing the Next Generation for Business Roles  25:55 Looking Ahead: The Future of Family Businesses  Connect with Andrea Carpenter and Your Next Gen Friend: Website: https://yournextgenfriend.com/ Your Next Gen Friend on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yournextgenfriend/ Your Next Gen Friend on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournextgenfriend Andrea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreashaver/ Subscribe to "Your Next Gen Friend" on your favorite podcast player: Spotify: https://yournextgenfriend.com/open-spotify Apple Podcasts: https://yournextgenfriend.com/apple-podcast   Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm.

    27 min
  5. Introducing Your Next Gen Friend: Where Legacy Meets Leadership

    JUN 12

    Introducing Your Next Gen Friend: Where Legacy Meets Leadership

    Hey friend, I'm Andrea Carpenter, and I get it — that feeling of being caught between what's been built and what's next for you.  Your Next Gen Friend is where we have the honest conversations about family business succession that don't always happen out loud. Whether you're wondering if you even want this path or you do but don't feel ready, you're not alone.  I've been navigating my own transition into leadership, and through working with rising leaders like you, I've learned that you don't need all the answers right now. You just need a friend who understands the journey.  That's what we're doing here — figuring it out together, one conversation at a time.

    1 min

Trailer

About

Your Next Gen Friend is the podcast for successors—whether you’re stepping into a family business, a privately held company, or simply the expectations tied to someone else’s legacy. I’m Andrea: G2, a successor in a privately owned business, and a guide for the next generation navigating identity, pressure, and purpose inside family systems. This show is for those of us in the in-between... honoring what came before while trying to build something that’s truly our own. Whether you’re blood family or the trusted non-family leader stepping in, this is your space for real conversations about what it actually means to succeed, on your terms. You’re not alone in this. And I hope that makes all the difference.

Information

  • Creator
    Andrea Carpenter
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Andrea Carpenter
  • Show Website
    Your Next Gen Friend Podcast

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