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]

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