What happens when the people who built a successful family business are no longer the ones running it?

In Episode 29 of C2 Biz Growth, John Hale III sits down with Victoria Sassine, Co-Founder and CEO of Scale Smarter Partners, public company board director, business advisor, investor, and SEC financial expert, for a powerful conversation about one of the most important challenges facing family-owned and middle-market businesses: succession.

Victoria draws on decades of experience working with growth-stage companies, Fortune 100 organizations, public and private boards, and thousands of entrepreneurs to explain why succession can become a wealth destruction event rather than a wealth creation opportunity. 

The conversation explores why so many family businesses struggle to successfully transition from one generation to the next, including founders who aren't ready to step away, successors who may not want to take over, and families that avoid difficult conversations until it is too late.

John and Victoria discuss the importance of starting succession planning early, establishing clear timelines, preparing the next generation, building strong governance, and bringing independent advisors and board members into the conversation. They also explore how outside perspectives can challenge assumptions, identify opportunities, improve profitability, and help businesses navigate major inflection points. 

From founder identity and family dynamics to management buyouts, professional management, advisory boards, and the future of generational wealth, this episode offers practical insight for business owners thinking about what comes next.

If you are a founder, family business owner, CEO, or leader responsible for the future of your organization, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.

The goal of succession shouldn't simply be to hand over a business. It should be to create a stronger, more sustainable organization that can continue creating wealth, opportunity, and impact for generations to come.

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