There’s a place in New York that has been serving up some of the city’s best pasta for the past 117 years. Raffetto’s has been supplying New York’s restaurants and home cooks with freshly spun pasta since 1906, and remains a solely family owned business. I spoke with Sarah Raffetto, part of the 4th generation of Raffettos, who as the company’s Chief Operating Officer is responsible for ensuring the restaurant continues for the next 100 years. Sarah believes that the business’s success is largely...
Jun 11, 2024•21 min•Season 6Ep. 5
“How do I find my purpose?” This is one of the questions I am most often asked by those I work with, and is why my conversation with Leadership Expert and Executive Coach James Laughlin is so insightful. James’ extensive experience spans working with elite performers and leading organizations, including professional athletes, influential CEOs, and multinational corporations. But James is also a musician, marked by seven world championship titles, showcasing his exceptional ability to foster tale...
May 28, 2024•32 min•Season 6Ep. 4
James Laughlin is a 7x World Champion and leadership expert, whose incredible journey has taken him from a small town in Northern Ireland to becoming a world solo drumming champion by the age of fourteen. Spending much of his twenties feeling lost, James eventually landed in New Zealand, and although he set up a successful education and retail company, he became frustrated with the 9-5 and instead decided to transform his skills into his purpose, to become a much sought-after leadership coach. I...
May 14, 2024•28 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Nancy Bruns is a seventh-generation member and current Chairman of the Board for a 210-year-old family business in West Virginia. In today’s episode of Safe Space, Nancy explains how she learned to cope with her unexpected inheritance following the death of her father, and how she became an advocate for transparency, open dialogue. Nancy’s passion for change and her belief in the importance of fostering a deep sense of connection and shared purpose, is testament to the longevity and continued su...
Apr 30, 2024•28 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Paul Hutchinson has dedicated his entire life to creating a world where every child can experience safety, freedom and hope. As an entrepreneur, philanthropist and anti-child trafficking advocate, Paul’s work is underpinned by helping victims to heal from their trauma so that they can go on and live as healthy, functional and emotionally rich adults. Paul's work extends beyond rescuing trafficked children to helping adults heal their inner child, ultimately liberating humanity from the cycle of ...
Apr 16, 2024•32 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Felicia Heng, founder and managing director of Wise Purpose, a boutique consulting firm specializing in family wealth advisory, leadership coaching, and next-generation succession. Felicia shares her diverse expertise in psychology, investments, and family governance, and sheds light on her work with families and the next generation, specifically focusing on the emotional aspects of inheritance and succession. The conversation ...
Aug 08, 2023•26 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Julie Charlestein, a fourth-generation President and CEO with Premier Dental. Julie shares the inspiring journey of the business, which started with her grandfather, Julius Charlestein, who was a dental instrument sharpener and eventually evolved into a global leader in developing and manufacturing innovative dental consumables. Julie and Francesco discuss the importance of having governance structures and a board of directors ...
Aug 01, 2023•14 min
On this week's episode of Safe Space, Francesco Lombardo is joined by Chris Larson, a fourth-generation shareholder of a 107-year-old family-owned and operated business, IDEAL INDUSTRIES. In this episode, Franco and Chris discuss the emotional side of transitioning family businesses. Chris emphasizes the importance of addressing the emotional aspects of letting go of control and passing it on to the next generation, not just the intellectual aspects. Highlighting how emotional preparation is cru...
May 09, 2023•25 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Stefanie Kyles, a fourth-generation family business member, and former CEO. Stefanie discusses financial insecurity that is common in family businesses and how family businesses need accountability and transparency to succeed. She shares her experience negotiating with family members to understand their personal sensitivities around risk, financial security, and lifestyle, and emphasizes the importance of separating emotions fr...
May 02, 2023•26 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Philip McKeown, a fifth-generation family business owner from Ireland. Philip discusses family governance and succession planning, as well as his book, Successors Voice, which emphasizes the importance of understanding one's value and role in a family business and the emotional complexities of family dynamics. He also stresses the need to nurture family talent in order to sustain family businesses. Overall, the goal is to prepa...
Apr 04, 2023•32 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Cecily McGuckin the CEO and managing director of Queensland Steel and Sheet, in Brisbane, Australia. Cecily talks about the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry and the difficulties of succession planning in a family business. Stressing the importance of being prepared for the worst-case scenario and making the business sustainable for future generations, she highlights the need for a clear roadmap to prepar...
Mar 28, 2023•28 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space episode where he interviews NK Chaudhary, the founder of Jaipur Rugs, who established the company 44 years ago with a vision of uplifting society by enabling everyone to reach their full potential. NK discusses the importance of business purpose and its connection to personal life, and the importance of emotional safety in families, and how to create it. He also shares his personal purpose, knowing himself through the business and improving hims...
Mar 21, 2023•17 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Torri Hawley, one of five next generation members in a successful 7th generation family enterprise. Internal credibility is about ensuring that one's actions align with their values, while external credibility involves earning the trust and respect of others. For next-generation family members, establishing external credibility can be challenging, as they must prove themselves to be worthy of the business and navigate generatio...
Mar 07, 2023•29 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Pasquale Marinelli, a 27th generation owner with Pontificia Fonderia e Museo di Campane, the second oldest family business in the world. With many companies struggling to carry on over just a couple of generations, what is the secret of a successful business that has existed since before 1339? How does the younger generation working right alongside the older generation create the knowledge and respect needed to continue the bus...
Feb 28, 2023•42 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Christine Blondel, expert Family Business Advisor and Adjunct Professor of Family Business at INSEAD. Creating a successful family business is more than just being good at operating the business. Where in the scope of family governance do outsiders come in? Why is it important for family members to become independent for responsible ownership? How is experiencing ordeals going to help both generations grow? Each of these import...
Feb 21, 2023•28 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Wendy Craft, a lawyer by trade, who “fell” into Family Office about 20 years ago. She is currently Chief Of Staff at Fulcrum Equities, LLC in New York City. In this episode, Wendy & Francesco talk about how keeping up appearances will not make you more successful or happier in the family office. It took many years for Wendy to realize that trying to fit into the perceived family office professional mold wasn’t really about ...
Jan 31, 2023•27 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Ramia El Agamy, second generation CEO at Orbis Terra Media, editor-in-chief of Tharawat Magazine, and host of The Family Business Voice and Women in Family Business podcasts. Why does traditional governance need to evolve for family business to be successful? How have topics and concerns within family business changed? Ramia’s one piece of advice to the Senior and NxtGen…forever is the most dangerous word in the family enterpri...
Nov 29, 2022•38 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Charlie Rhomberg, 4th generation member of the Schmid family, Crescent Electric Supply Company. Founded in 1919, Crescent Electric Supply has grown significantly over the decades. The 3rd generation of owners realized there needed to be more structure in place for the future generations to keep the business going strong. Now with over 130 family members, how exactly was this accomplished? How is the family keeping the business ...
Oct 18, 2022•25 min
On this week’s Safe Space, Francesco Lombardo is joined by Aubrey Shapiro Ginn, third-generation family business member with Shapiro & Duncan, Inc. where they discuss business succession planning, and how to set up the NxtGen to be successful business owners. In the second-generation of Shapiro & Duncan, the company grew exponentially. As third-generation business members, how do Audrey and the rest of the NxtGen fit into the equation of the continuation of this success? Aubrey’s one pie...
Oct 04, 2022•17 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Zale Tabakman, first generation owner of Local Grown Salad and his son, Tzvi. Many family businesses make the mistake of mixing work life with personal life. This creates constant conflict, stress and often the demise of the business. In this episode, the group discusses how having clear expectations, setting boundaries, showing respect and learning to trust each other can make all the difference. Tzvi’s advice to the Senior Ge...
Sep 27, 2022•32 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Marisa Zabalak, Educational Psychologist, TEDx & Keynote Speaker and Author. Conflict should be constructive, but it is difficult for many to see it this way. How can family members understand triggers and reactions, and then find the tools and skills to interact with others in order to move forward positively? How can emotions be used as data to give us feedback on interacting with others without using those emotions to ma...
Sep 20, 2022•25 min
Moe Vela joins this week's episode with Francesco Lombardo to discuss the power of identity, and how self-expression leads to purpose in family business. Coming from a family of legacy, a family of pioneers, and growing up in the midst of expectation and responsibility, Moe shares with us his journey as a NxtGen living through trauma and moving towards a journey of healing. Moe's advice to all NxtGen listeners is, "you can either live your life based on what others want you to do, or you can mar...
Sep 13, 2022•25 min
Stephen Hecht returns to the Safe Space podcast to speak with Francesco Lombardo about Nonflict Resolution within the family business. How can families find the tools to resolve conflicts in relationships and within the family business? How does focusing on the NxtGen of the family help us learn and grow? How can families stop the disrespect between generations in the family business? Stephen’s one piece of advice to the Senior and NxtGen…conflict can be positive. We need conflict. We need const...
Sep 06, 2022•27 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Jenny Dinnen and Katie Rucker, second-generation co-owners and co-presidents of Mackenzie Corp. How is being vulnerable an important piece of making a family business successful? What is the narrative you want for yourself and your family business? Katie & Jenny’s one piece of advice to the Senior and NxtGen…be vulnerable and open, but get to know yourself first. If you would like to keep up to date with all our insights, l...
Aug 30, 2022•39 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Sunil Soni, Family Business Advisor with Indian Family Business Network. Many Indian family businesses are still first generation, or beginning to think about the transition to the second generation. Most don’t recognize there are or will be challenges, not knowing what to do about them, and continue to unintentionally “push everything under the carpet”. How can families change this for the better? Sunil’s one piece of advice t...
Aug 23, 2022•25 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Author, Speaker and Facilitator, Unni Turrettini from Oslo, Norway. Anyone can feel lonely surrounded by family, friends and colleagues, a successful job or business they love. In fact, many do. What can be done in order to feel a connection? In order to break away from loneliness? It comes down to four elements, beginning with self-worth. Unni’s one piece of advice to the Senior and NxtGen…Prioritize connection in your busines...
Aug 16, 2022•29 min
In Part 2 of Francesco’s conversation with Dr. Paul Jenkins, the discussion revolves around values before valuables, people before problems and relationships before rules. Everyone goes through their own stuff. What matters most to you? What feeling makes your life GOOD? Dr. Paul’s piece of advice to the Senior and NxtGen…heard from a 93 year old neighbour, don’t be too quick to believe everything you think. If you would like to keep up to date with all our insights, latest research and stories,...
Aug 09, 2022•23 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Dr. Paul Jenkins, professional Psychologist. Why do people shy away from talking about their mental health? Why do wealthy families get stuck? Dr. Paul’s one piece of advice to the Senior and NxtGen…learn to operate the equipment of your own mind. You don’t need to change a THING, you need to change a THINK. When you learn to operate that equipment, everything else falls into place.
Aug 02, 2022•22 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Bruce Tyrrell and 4th generation family business owner from the Hunter Valley wine region of Australia. When Bruce took over the family business in the 1960’s his father’s only advice was “go and grow the business”. What did that mean to Bruce? How has the vineyard adapted over the years to a people focused, sustainable and successful business? Bruce’s one piece of advice to the Senior and NxtGen actually comes from his son…kee...
Jul 26, 2022•28 min
Join Francesco Lombardo for this week's Safe Space as he speaks with Nike Anani, a second generation business owner. In Nigeria, 90% of businesses are family businesses, but statistically only 2% of them survive into the next generation. Why is this happening? It is important for the Senior and NxtGen to have conversations about both the operational AND relational parts of the family business, but where does this start? How will working together on a shared purpose and shared future make busines...
Jul 19, 2022•20 min
