NxG Series: The Power of Authenticity Part 2
January 28 @ 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm EST
Open to NxG Members — For rising leaders in our NxG Community, one of the most persistent challenges is learning how to navigate identity, family expectations and enterprise opportunity all at once. This session opens that conversation with candour, structure and practical insight.
Wealth advisor and philanthropic strategist Serena Hak will be joined by Shauna Trainor, Partner at AO Partners and a leading advisor to family enterprises across Canada. Together, they will explore what it means to build an authentic leadership path within a multigenerational system and how values, communication and decision-making frameworks can strengthen both your confidence and your family’s long term continuity.
Drawing on their joint session in Halifax in May 2025, Serena and Shauna will share the patterns they see every day in their work with NextGen leaders. These include the tension between independence and stewardship, the desire for clarity around roles and the need for grounded, generationally aware conversations within families and their advisory teams.
Together, we'll discuss:
- How to understand and sustain your identity while engaging in your family enterprise.
- Practical frameworks that support aligned decisions and healthier communication.
- How personal clarity can strengthen governance, relationships and continuity.
This is a grounded, human and practical session designed to help you step into leadership with confidence, and on your own terms. Register today to save your seat.
Speaking
Serena Hak, CIM, MFA-P
Wealth Advisor, CI Private Wealth
Serena Hak is a Wealth Advisor at CI Private Wealth. Recently named one of the AMEX Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada, she helps multi generational families align wealth with values, navigate succession and prepare the next generation for confident leadership.
She is the Chair of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, serves on the Board of Benefaction Foundation and sits on the National Ballet of Canada’s Development Committee, SickKids Foundation’s Professional Advisors Network and the Advisory Board of WellFunded.ca. Serena is a national speaker; known for bringing clarity, structure and humanity to complex family enterprise conversations and for guiding families through transitions with confidence and purpose.
You can learn more about Serena and the Canadian Association of Gift Planners at CAGP-ACPDP.org.
Shauna Trainor, FEA, MACP
Partner, AO Partners
Shauna Trainor is a Partner at AO Partners, where she helps family enterprises build alignment, resilience and clarity across generations. Her work focuses on strengthening decision making capacity, improving communication and navigating the interpersonal dynamics that influence continuity and leadership.
Shauna brings a grounded, systems based approach that blends governance expertise with deep insight into family behaviour. She supports rising gen leaders in understanding their role within the enterprise, communicating with confidence and participating in meaningful conversations about legacy and leadership. Her work is trusted by families across Canada who want to grow, transition and sustain their enterprises with intention.
Learn more about Shauna Trainor here.