In this episode of Safe Space, host Franco Lombardo speaks with Gillian Stein, former CEO of Henry's, Canada’s largest independent digital imaging retailer, about her emotional journey of selling her family business. Gillian shares her experience of identity loss, the grieving process, and the challenges of transitioning from operations to ownership. The conversation highlights the importance of self-reflection, finding new passions, and the emotional complexities involved in succession planning. Gillian emphasizes the need for flexibility and an open mind in navigating the unpredictable nature of family business dynamics.

Connect with me here:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/

• https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice

• https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational

• https://veritage.ca

Veritage CEO Franco Lombardo was recently a guest on the "Smart Wealth™ with Thane Stenner" podcast where they covered a number of pertinent topics from the emotional side of family business. Franco explains that by asking his clients the questions they’ve been avoiding asking themselves, they can begin to better understand their relationship to money, why they behave the way they do with it and how they can then choose their behavior. The discussion then covers why the human capital asset class should be the next investment focus of business families in order to prepare all generations for a smooth wealth transition.

Connect with Francesco here:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/

• https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice

• https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational

• https://veritage.ca

In this very special episode of Safe Space, our Founder and CEO, Franco Lombardo is in the hot seat in conversation with Veritage’s Chief Operating Officer, Thomas Clark. They cover a number of different topics including why Franco created Veritage, emotional security beyond financial wealth, turning investment strategies towards Human Capital, and offers some practical tools and key insights to help you navigate the complex family dynamics associated with being a business family.

Connect with me here:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/

• https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice

• https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational

• https://veritage.ca

In this episode, Claudia Gomez of Trusted Family joins Francesco to discuss the challenges faced by family businesses and the importance of having difficult conversations. She highlights the tendency of families to avoid conflict and the consequences of not addressing hard topics and suggests greater vulnerability and self-awareness is needed in order to initiate these conversations and build trust within the family. She also explores the role of the next generation in driving change and finding their own path within the family business.

Connect with me here:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/

• https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice

• https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational

• https://veritage.ca

What you say to yourself is as important as what you say to others, because communication begins with ourselves. The way we communicate with others is often based on our own thoughts, and is why this episode of Safe Space highlights the importance of questioning and challenging our thinking. Francesco Lombardo and BJ Radomski also discuss the challenges that arise when there is a lack of clear communication within families and offer some practical advice to overcome them.

Connect with me here:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/
• https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice
• https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational
• https://veritage.ca

With almost 20 years of working with families as the executive director of the Loyola University Chicago Family Business Center and in his private consulting practice, there’s not much that Andrew Keyt hasn’t come across. But it is his personal journey of overcoming challenges as a next-generation business leader that makes his perspective so unique.

In this episode Francesco and Andrew discuss many of the unspoken issues that exist within family business relationships, such as the importance of vulnerability, the need to address mental health issues and how generations can learn valuable lessons from one another.

Connect with me here:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/
• https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice
• https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational
• https://veritage.ca

REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE ON YOUR FAVOURITE PODCAST PLATFORM TO NOT MISS ANY FUTURE EPISODES!

Like so many of my guests, Don Phin has led an extraordinary life. Growing up in the Bronx, his journey has taken him from being a former trial lawyer to starting a HR company to now coaching CEOs. Don has gone on to use the lessons he learnt in the courtroom and specifically draws on his experience of how different versions of the ‘truth’ can cause a breakdown in communication. As a recently trained Veritage coach, Don works with a preventative approach and believes that listening and encouragement are critical to engaging the next generation and to building healthy lasting relationships.

Connect with me here:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/

• https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice

• https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational

• https://veritage.ca

BJ (Brian) Radomski, is executive coach and facilitator, who takes a holistic approach to coaching, by combining science and psychology with personal experience and real-life scenarios.

In this episode of Safe Space, BJ shares insights he gained from his extensive career and experience in a multitude of organizations, and explains why the key to successful leadership is grounded in open and transparent communication.

Connect with me here:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/
• https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice
• https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational
• https://veritage.ca