The Secret Thoughts of CEO's Podcast

• Succession Beyond the Transition: Gaining confidence while strengthening leadership and family relationships with Kristi Baxter

  Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 137 Succession Beyond the Transition: Gaining confidence while strengthening leadership and family relationships with Kristi Baxter In this masterclass-style episode, Chris Yonker and Kristi Baxter deliver a powerful, holistic perspective on the complex realities of succession planning. With decades of experience working with privately held and family-owned businesses—from $1M operations to $10B enterprises—Chris and Kristi unpack the emotional, strategic, and structural dimensions of continuity planning. This session goes far beyond strategy and legal frameworks; it ventures into the inner work required for a successful transition across generations. Whether you're preparing to step back, step in, or steward a legacy across generations, this episode offers the roadmap—and reflection prompts—you need now. Timestamps 01:45 - Meet Kristi Baxter and Chris Yonker: their backgrounds in family business, coaching, and enterprise leadership 08:30 - The story of Jeff: when life changes the plan and succession gets real 13:10 - Why succession is not an event, but a journey 16:30 - The top concerns facing family businesses today 21:00 - Common succession mistakes: replacing ourselves, unequal contribution, and CEOs who won’t let go 29:45 - Should we sell or keep the business? The family-first lens on exit decisions 33:15 - Why traditional advisors aren’t enough and how to build a holistic team 38:10 - Chris & Kristi’s five-part succession methodology 43:00 - Diving deeper: self-awareness, readiness, and leadership development 49:00 - Governance, continuity, and what makes a transition successful 54:10 - Blind spots that derail transitions and how to name them 59:45 - The importance of facilitating difficult conversations in family systems 1:05:30 - Where to begin: tools, surveys, and one powerful question   Quotes ·       "Succession isn't an event, it's a journey of stewardship. And the journey starts now." [13:10] ·       "You can't build the future with the emotional weight of the past running the show." [53:45] ·       "Your organization is only as strong as the people in it. You are in the people business first." [43:15]   Websites: fambizforum.com. www.chrisyonker.com Contact Kristi: [email protected] Take the Succession Survey    

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• What if growth isn't the goal?

  Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 136 What if growth isn't the goal? with Perrin DesPortes   In this deeply reflective and energizing episode, Chris Yonker and Perrin DesPortes engage in a rare bidirectional dialogue, unpacking the hidden costs of ambition, the personal reckoning that comes with burnout, and the awakening that’s possible when business success is aligned with inner fulfillment. Perrin, founder of The Next Level Executive, shares his evolution from a high-powered career in dental distribution and M&A to building a purpose-driven coaching practice for healthcare entrepreneurs. Together, they explore the illusions of success, the cultural shifts shaping dentistry and family business today, and how to create a life, and business, you actually want to live in. This is a conversation about course correction, conscious entrepreneurship, and building legacy from the inside out.   Timestamps   02:00 - Meet Perrin DesPortes and his journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship 08:45 - Chris shares his path out of 3M and into legacy-centered coaching 16:15 - Why many entrepreneurs wake up inside a life they don’t want 22:50 - Burnout, overwork, and boredom: what triggers the desire for change 29:40 - Dentistry’s consolidation, private equity, and chasing someone else’s dream 38:10 - The power of clarity: asking “What do I really want?” 44:55 - Family business succession, ego, identity, and the real work of letting go 52:35 - The sacred role of the advisor: holding discomfort and navigating emotional fire 58:00 - Partnerships, misalignment, and the silent cost of avoidance 1:04:20 - Entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be lonely: the value of coaching and counsel 1:09:00 - Resources, next steps, and how to work with Perrin or Chris   Quotes ·       "Bored people make bad business decisions because they start chasing a dream that’s not even their own."[22:50] ·       "Wherever you go, you take yourself with you."[41:35] ·       "Entrepreneurship can be a very lonely road - but it doesn’t have to be."[1:04:20]   Websites: fambizforum.com. www.chrisyonker.com The Next Level Executive https://www.facebook.com/PerrinDesPortesNLE https://www.youtube.com/@PerrinDesPortes https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetperrin/ Perrin DesPortes is the Founder of The Next Level Executive.  He is a Washington & Lee University graduate and earned his MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.  Perrin has over 25 years of experience in the business side of dentistry, having run three different business units for Patterson Dental Supply over a 15-year career.  For the last decade, he has built and exited two very successful start-ups in TUSK Partners and Polaris Healthcare Partners, both of which focus in the Group Practice Consulting and Transactional space.  Perrin is happily married with an 11 year-old daughter at home.  In his spare time, he is an avid cyclist; enjoys cooking and reading; and loves good red wine and strong coffee.   The Next Level Executive combines Perrin’s decades of experience working in Corporate America and consulting directly with healthcare entrepreneurs on their growth journey all distilled into actionable content and practical wisdom.  Next Level Executives have: ·       clarity in understanding how their business truly fits together ·       confidence in their ability to lead from a position of strength ·       an edge to make the right decisions at the right time If you’ve mastered practice ownership and are wanting to evolve from “a Clinician who owns a Practice to an Entrepreneur who leads a Business,” then you need to focus on your own professional development to become a more effective executive – and becoming a more effective executive is what The Next Level Executive is all about…  

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• Legacy in Limbo: Why So Many Leaders Avoid Succession Planning

  Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 135 Legacy in Limbo: Why So Many Leaders Avoid Succession Planning with Dr. Mohanakrishnan Raman   In this eye-opening episode, host Chris Yonker speaks with Dr. Mohanakrishnan Raman, an organizational psychologist and international expert on family business dynamics. With decades of experience consulting Indian family enterprises, Dr. Raman shares how cultural norms, succession planning, and next-gen development intersect in often overlooked ways. The conversation touches on Indian traditions, evolving gender roles, leadership readiness, and the emotional complexity of legacy handoffs. Whether you're in a family-run business or leading succession elsewhere, this episode is packed with deeply human—and highly strategic—insights.   Timestamps 02:00 – Meet Dr. Mohanakrishnan Raman 07:35 – Realizing the influence of family systems in OD work 11:55 – Cultural inheritance, COVID’s impact, and India's family business awakening 18:10 – Gender, legal reforms, and complexities in succession structures 24:00 – Case studies: sibling tension, conflicting interests, and decentralizing roles 37:15 – The 3 Capitals: Financial, Knowledge, and Social – and why they matter 42:40 – Creating learning journeys through values, mentorship, and exposure 54:10 – The tension between honoring legacy vs. pursuing personal calling   Quotes ·       "To win the relay race, you have to hand over at the right spot, at the right time, and at the right speed."[59:30] ·       "The current generation is coming from abundance. The previous one came from scarcity. Their motivations—and expectations—are fundamentally different."[53:00] ·       "When designing a succession plan, you're not just training for business. You're transferring values, identity, and a legacy of relationships."[39:50]    Websites: fambizforum.com. www.chrisyonker.com.    Resources & Links: ·       Connect with Dr. Raman on LinkedIn: Mohanakrishnan Raman      

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• Navigating Change: Insights for Family Business Leaders with Dr. Barrett C. Brown

  Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 134 Navigating Change: Insights for Family Business Leaders with Dr. Barrett C. Brown   In this powerful episode, Chris Yonker is joined by global executive advisor and developmental strategist, Dr. Barrett Brown, for a profound and eye-opening conversation about what it really takes to lead in today’s ever-accelerating world. With experience working across six continents and coaching C-suite executives through high-stakes transformation, Dr. Brown brings hard-earned wisdom about the inner capacities required for high-impact, conscious leadership. Together, Chris and Barrett explore:   Timestamps   ·       08:21 Navigating Complex Leadership Challenges ·       20:58 Decision Making in Complex Environments ·       39:50 Balancing Work and Life in Family Businesses ·       46:42 Navigating Succession with Competing Visions ·       49:46 The Empowerment Dynamic and Low Drama Culture ·       52:34 Masculine Compassion in the Workplace ·       54:07 Coaching and Developing the Younger Generation   Quotes ·       "Life is like a grindstone—it either grinds you into dust or polishes you into a diamond."[13:45] ·       "The world is never going to be a psychologically safe environment where we can just fully show up without any threat… The superpower is to be deeply at peace in the midst of intensity.” [24:12] ·       "Every time I get triggered or frustrated or irritated or judgmental—that is 100% my own inner game. That’s where I have the greatest power."[1:16:35]    Websites: fambizforum.com. www.chrisyonker.com.    Resources & Links: Dr. Barrett Brown’s Work: https://apheno.com Recommended Reading: The Future of Leadership for Conscious Capitalism by Barrett Brown  Dr. Barrett C. Brown Bio   Dr. Barrett C. Brown is a global expert on how to develop leaders to successfully navigate complex challenges and rapid change. Barrett works across six continents with C-suite executives and teams from Fortune 500 companies and international non-profits. He has lived in The Netherlands, Brazil and throughout the US, and has worked and traveled in nearly 40 countries.   Barrett is a regular advisor and senior faculty for a global tech company as well as the largest environmental NGO in the world. With them, he focuses on how leaders can better manage complexity and drive transformational change. He also serves as the executive coach for a select group of senior leaders. He has delivered dozens of keynotes and leadership programs for 5000+ CEOs, organizational leaders, and government officials. He has co-designed and delivered executive development, team development and/or strategic alignment programs for some of the largest technology, engineering, healthcare, sportswear, and consumer goods companies in the world - as well as for major environmental and social NGOs. Barrett holds a PhD in Human and Organizational Systems and also has over a decade experience advising on and leading strategic visioning, execution, and change initiatives for US, Dutch, British, and Brazilian companies and institutions.   Barrett’s award-winning research on the future of leadership has been used in executive education programs worldwide, including the Yale MBA. He produced an award-winning business case study on a large-scale market transformation program he helped lead - in partnership with Unilever and Rainforest Alliance - that is used in business schools globally. Barrett’s writings on leadership and sustainability have been translated into 6 languages, have been used in the United Nations system, and have been included in half a dozen mainstream leadership books.   Barrett served on the selection committee of the Katerva Awards - considered the Nobel Prize for sustainability - and has held consultancy status to the United Nations. He has delivered leadership briefings and presentations at global tech companies, the Conscious Capitalism CEO Summit, the Society for Organizational Learning European Summit, Esalen Institute, the National Bioneers Conference, the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development, the US Department of State, the Inter-American Development Bank and UNDP headquarters. Originally from the Green Mountains of Vermont, Barrett lives near a 300,000 year old volcanic crater in Hawaii.

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• Navigating Legacy and Wealth in Family Business with Jason Smith

  Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 133 Navigating Legacy and Wealth in Family Business with Jason Smith   In this powerful episode, host Chris Yonker sits down with Jason L Smith, founder of JL Smith Group, author of The Bucket Plan, and a nationally recognized financial advisor. Jason opens up about being fired by his own father, building a purpose-driven business from the ground up, and the holistic philosophy that now guides his wealth management firm—which oversees more than $4 billion in assets. Jason also shares deeply personal stories about resilience, raising grounded kids, and how intentional structure and values shape both his legacy and his clients’.   Timestamps   03:30 – Jason’s origin story: Fired by his dad, starting from scratch 14:20 – "Everything’s fine" vs. proactive planning: health + financial parallels 22:45 – The biggest tax mistake business owners make 34:00 – Educating next-gens: Financial stewardship in action 41:45 – The Bucket Plan: Now, Soon, Later framework 53:15 – Self-worth after financial collapse and bouncing back   Quotes ·       “I’m actually the youngest of 11 and, um, it was a mixed marriage like my mom and dad, you know, both had kids came together and had me kinda like the Brady Bunch and I was like, uh, Alice or the dog.”[03:24] ·       “Yeah, I. I. I feel like unfortunately our educational system is pretty broken in, in, in regards to teaching basic, you know, financial literacy, right?” [27:32] ·       “And my top five are the top five most important things to me, like my true north in life. And you know, my top five is number one is health. Mind, body, and soul. Number two is Holly, my wife. Number three is my kids. Number four is my family and friends. And number five is leading and learning.” [48:45]   Websites: fambizforum.com. www.chrisyonker.com. jlsmithgroup.com Buy “The Bucket Plan” book Bucket-Plan® Facebook: @JLSmithGroup Instagram: @jl_smith_holistic_wealth LinkedIn: @JLSmithGroup          

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