Sessions
Plenary Panels
View From the Next Generation: Change We Can Believe In
Facilitator:
Peter Jaskiewicz, Telfer School of Management
Panelists:
John McFall, Burnbrae Farms
Jennifer Brookman, WCD
Wangbohai Wu, Dacheng Construction Group
Description:
Ready, willing and interested? There’s a young crop of capable family enterprise bosses-in-waiting. Do they need the final blessing of the senior generation before they assume the mantle of their family legacies?
Your Family Enterprise: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Facilitator:
Michelle Osry, Deloitte Canada
Panelists:
Veronica Maldonado Degwitz, Generation6 Family Enterprise Advisors
Arjan Stephens, Nature's Path Organic Food
Graham Lee, GSL Group Management
Description:
Love, humility, and gratitude are essential components of family and business cultures strategies. Our panel of family enterprise leaders will share their experience of how these virtues have informed their choices as a family and business and contributed to the success of their family enterprise.
Succeeding at Succession: Taking a Stake
Facilitator:
David C. Bentall, Next Step Advisors Inc.
Panelists:
Tyler Moriguchi, Uwajimaya
Jon Brandt, Summit Brooke Construction
Mary-Jo Payeur, Bannister Investment Group
Description:
Family, business and ownership - All three can grow or change dramatically. Yet, come transition time, what is “fair” when charting the futures of loved ones and their stakes in the family business?
People, Culture, Talent: A Future Perspective
Facilitator:
Gerry Meyer, Meyer Advisory Group
Panelists:
Anthony Ariganello, CPHR
Rasheena Atkins, TPD
Gavin Marshall, Roper Greyell LLP
Description:
With the impact of COVID still echoing through every aspect of employment — from more remote work to the “great resignation” and from rebalancing work/life dynamics to navigating the new realities of engaging employees — the future of work looks very different than it did just a few years ago. Through a panel discussion, we’ll hear from a diverse group of people from the legal, human resources and consultancies on what the future of work looks like, what employees are expecting, and how businesses can respond. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and gain relevant insight in to where things are going as it relates to the employment relationship.
Succession Planning: Tackling Tomorrow Today
Facilitator:
Wendy Sage-Hayward, The Family Business Consulting Group
Panelists:
Aaron Gillespie, COBS Bread
Margaret-Jean Mannix, Viridian Family Office
Rod Senft, Tricor Pacific Capital
Description:
As we know, achieving successful multi-generational transition in a family enterprise is a complex process that requires hard work and intention. Each stage of transition has its own unique challenges and opportunities. During this session, we will review a newly developed intergenerational succession map and illuminate each stage of succession with real life examples. Three panelists from three families and different stages of transition will come together to share their intergenerational succession journey, highlighting lessons learned and keys to their success so far.
Reimagining Legacy
Facilitator:
Jeff Melanson, Lansberg-Gersick & Associates
Panelists:
Lisa Wolverton, Wolverton Foundation
Sach Chandaria, Family Enterprise Foundation
Description:
An exploration of how successful enterprising families can develop meaningful approaches to co-design and co-creation across generations. Families that embrace effective communications and compelling education initiatives will be better equipped to advance a shared vision for purpose, longevity and succession. Weaving together in-depth data and specific family examples, this session will delve into best practices for cohesive family ecosystem planning and the roles and responsibilities required for successful implementation.
Building a Better Tomorrow
Facilitator:
Craig Ryan, BDC
Panelist:
Jyoti Stephens, Nature's Path Organic Foods
David Yochlowitz, ABC Recycling
Description:
The Family Business Sustainable Development Committee is pleased to share their progress and insights under the guidance of Talsom. We will hear from two companies that have prioritized sustainability within their organizations, and explore the benefits and challenges.
Community Discussions
Embracing the Now Generation: Leading Together in the 21st Century
Facilitator:
Holly Simmons, Golden Lasso Business Consulting
Panelist:
Naim Ali, SM2 Capital Partners
Description:
When does “Next” become “Now”, and what impact does the shift in language have on how we relate to family members? Together we’ll unpack what it means to embrace the idea of the Now Generation — multiple generations leading collaboratively, each respected for the value they bring to the table. We’ll discuss how the Now Generation alliance influences business success, family relationships, and business succession planning.
Leadership Transitions: Bringing an Outside CEO Into the Family
Facilitator:
Barb Schimnowsky, WATSON Inc.
Panelist:
Jesse Brotz, Scotia Investments Limited
Description:
It’s expected that more than 60% of family enterprises will be changing hands over the next ten years, of which many will require hiring a non-family member CEO. Join us as we share the journey from the perspective of this third generation family member on how they experienced a variety of family leadership transitions before bringing in their first external CEO, and how that’s played out across their businesses and with the family.
Sustainability 101: A Practical, Simple Approach to Managing Your Sustainability Journey
Facilitators:
Carla Heim, BDC
Craig Ryan, BDC
Description:
Sustainability can seem daunting and intangible, but it can be a company’s most valuable asset. This discussion will review a few complimentary tools that will help you understand sustainability, review your current state and help you set reasonable priorities to benefit your business.
Family Discussions
Transitions: Owner Impact
Facilitator:
Richa Arora, KPMG Family Office
Panelists:
Karen Bichin, ABC Recycling
Max Fortmuller, Vesta Wealth Partners
Description:
Owners have mastery over their enterprises, and they often have children to carry on the family legacy. Come succession time, what happens if generations have diverging views on ownership and the enterprise?
Transitions: Business Impact
Facilitator:
David C. Bentall, Next Step Advisors Inc.
Panelists:
Ellisha Mott, Mott Electric
Kim Collins, Katpal Investments
Description:
Family holds the business together or is it the other way around? Succession is emotional, especially when ownership is at play. At transition, what’s more vulnerable: the business or owners navigating change?
Transitions: Family Impact
Facilitator:
Ambreen Bhaloo, Ambreen Bhaloo Coaching
Panelist:
Allen S. Taylor, Taylor Walraven
Victoria Brown, Legacy Family Business
Drew Ratcliffe, Arpeg Group of Companies
Description:
The family, the business and ownership are intrinsically linked in a family enterprise. Transitions come in many guises. Good or bad, change marks family first. Where does that leave business and ownership?
FEA Discussions
Managing Personal and Professional Bias
Facilitator:
Lianne Ulin, M Bacal Group
Description:
We all bring bias to the table, but it is recognizing and managing your bias that is important. In this discussion, we will explore key questions around bias and how personal and professional bias can impact your work, and the advice you give your clients.
Hosted by Krista Han, Grant Thornton LLP
Working ON Your Practice, Not Just IN Your Practice
Facilitator:
Chris Reichert, Reichert Family Enterprise Advisors
Panelist:
Karen Macdonald, Viewpoint Group
David R. Smith, Smith Advisory Services
David Emond, Cidel Asset Management
Description:
How can you leverage your FEA designation to build true purpose into your work and support the families you serve? As a peer group, we will share ways to enhance your profession of origin, model the behaviours we hope for and expect of our clients, discuss the role of FEA as “quarterback” and more. We will touch on personal growth and professional development through inclusion and transparency, leadership skills, vulnerability to build trust and collaboration.
Hosted by Jeff Noble, BDO Canada
Leveraging Good Governance to Support Transitions
Facilitator:
Deena Chochinov, Deena Chochinov Consulting, Coaching, Counselling
Description:
This exploratory conversation for FEAs will focus on defining good governance and exploring how to practice it in support of your family business clients. Business families need and want to 'up their governance game,' this session will equip FEAs with additional knowledge to help their clients narrow the knowing to doing gap.