KENNESAW, Ga. | Nov 10, 2025

Andrea Carpenter, The Transition Strategists

As someone who's both a consultant working with next-gen leaders AND a successor navigating my own transition, I hear this question constantly: "When should I bring my kids into the conversation?"

Here's the truth: Earlier than you think… but not in the way you think.

Most families wait until they have everything figured out. Parents work with advisors to build "the plan" in a vacuum, then announce it when it's done. By then, the next generation feels blindsided and unprepared.

Here's what actually works: Meaningful involvement doesn't begin with titles or shares. It begins with trust, conversation, and connection.

Start with the why. Not the logistics of who gets what, but why you're doing this at all. What do you really want your next chapter to look like? What does the next generation want theirs to be?

When families explore their why together (really explore it, not just assume they know), everything else starts falling into place. Elizabeth Ledoux, founder of The Transition Strategists, calls this work "magical," and I've seen why. This approach works whether one child wants to lead, all of them do, or none of them do—because it starts with understanding what everyone actually wants.

Another essential tool is the timeline. When things are unclear, your successor is left guessing: Am I doing what you want me to be doing? Is this the right pace? Am I ready yet, or do I still have time to develop? What happens next?

That confusion creates anxiety. The anxiety creates hesitation. And suddenly your successor isn't showing up as the leader they want to be. Timelines are gifts that eliminate uncertainty.

A clear timeline shows everyone where you are, where you're headed, and what you're working on right now. Not a rigid plan that can't change, but a roadmap that brings clarity without pressure.

Transition isn't an event. It's a journey. And you don't have to take it alone.

Last month, the Family Enterprise Center at KSU hosted a panel discussion titled “Next In Line: Candid Conversations on Succession.” Each panelist represented a different stage of his transition into leadership, yet one common theme emerged: the importance of support from the previous generation.

Grant Kennedy recently joined his family’s business, Alpha & Omega Automotive, in the last couple years after building a career in the film industry. He recognized the need to be more present with his wife and young daughters and was welcomed into the business by his parents, Lori and Billy Kennedy. Grant admitted, “I feel like I’m drinking out of the fire hydrant almost every day,” but expressed gratitude for learning directly from his parents about what dedication and success looks like in their industry.

Joseph Meadows entered David Douglas Diamonds & Jewelry in 2008 out of financial necessity, stepping in to help save the four-generation business. Even though ownership wasn’t part of his original plan, he has been deeply supported by his father, Doug. They talk daily, each serving the company "in our own lanes." Over the past decade, Doug has encouraged Joseph’s ideas and helped him shift from thinking like an employee to leading with the mindset of an owner—an evolution that requires both trust and patience across generations.

Jason Pendley operates Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home - Macland Chapel. Jason shared that he never intended to become a funeral director—his heart was set on a career in music ministry. But when his father, Terry, encouraged him to join the family business 25 years ago to provide stability for his growing family, Jason quickly realized that walking alongside people during their hardest moments is a ministry.

Transitions in family businesses are rarely simple. They carry identity, legacy, responsibility, and emotion. What this conversation illuminated is that successful succession is not just about timing or technical planning. It’s about guidance, encouragement, and genuine belief in the next generation’s potential.

Want to learn more? Preparing the Next Generation for Family Business Ownership and Leadership

When you're in business with your family, the lines between “work” and “home” can blur without us even realizing it. Holiday gatherings can become unofficial board meetings, and a joyful table can quickly turn into an impromptu strategy session.

While that’s a natural part of life in a family enterprise, it’s equally important to make space to simply be together—to laugh, reconnect, and remember the people behind the business. This season offers a chance to step back, savor time with one another, and strengthen the relationships that make the work possible in the first place.

Here are some fun conversation prompts to help steer the table talk away from business and toward connection:

• What food or smell instantly reminds you of home?
• What’s a song that always puts you in a good mood?
• What book, show, or movie would you recommend to everyone at the table right now?
• What’s the best thing that happened to you this past year that wasn’t related to work?
• If you could only eat one thing from the Thanksgiving dinner table for the rest of your life, what would it be?
• If your life were made into a movie, who would play your mother?
• If animals could talk, which one would be the funniest to have a conversation with?
• What’s something you’re looking forward to in the coming year?

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season!