Navigating Ownership Challenges in Family Businesses

In our 65th episode, Aileen Miziolek sits down with ownership expert and co-author of Own It!: How to Develop a Family Enterprise Owner's Mindset at Every Age, Barbara Dartt, to ask her how she started and grew her career in the family business consulting world, what being an owner of a family enterprise can mean and the different roles that owners often have to navigate in their ownership journey.

All views, information, and opinions expressed during this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Family Enterprise Canada.

Guest bio

Barbara Dartt has more than 20 years’ experience helping individuals and family groups grapple with the joys and challenges that are a natural part of families owning and managing businesses together. As a principal consultant for FBCG, Barb helps families get aligned, anticipate and prevent future challenges, and communicate effectively to grow their businesses.

Growing up, Barb watched her grandfather and father provide educational extension services to family-owned farms. Her interest in serving farm families led her to study veterinary medicine, receiving her doctoral degree from Michigan State University in 1996. In 1998, Barb earned a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics at MSU where she worked as a graduate research assistant, and then as a Farm Business Management Specialist.

You can learn more about Barbara Dartt on the Family Business Consulting Group website.

Key Takeaways

[0:26] Aileen Miziolek welcomes Barbara Dartt and asks her to share how she came to a career in the family business consulting world.

[4:49] Regardless of the industry, the need for ownership development tends to sneak up on families; Barbara explains how that evolution can take place.

[9:40] Both operating and non-operating ownership can become complex and challenging, but non-operating ownership is not for everyone.

[11:12] Highly expert industries can evolve beyond their owners’ knowledge base so creating a team for strategic ownership is critical. Barbara explains a good perspective and a few non-negotiables to guide ownership development.

[17:00] Patient capital as a quantifiable way to measure the return on time and energy.

[18:45] The owners’ mindset, beliefs, and behaviors chart is one of the many tools provided in the book; Barbara shares her favorite.

[24:42] Barbara breaks down the common symptoms of underdeveloped ownership and what to do to prevent it.

[27:56] Generation friction can also be an issue when it comes to ownership, Barbara shares her experience with intergenerational cohorts and how their different perspectives affect what feels important to them.

[30:24] Barabara offers what advisory structure she would provide for proper ownership development.

[33:20] Aileen Miziolek thanks Barbara Dartt for sharing her expertise and closes this episode by reminding listeners to rate and subscribe.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, you can subscribe to Let’s Talk Family Enterprise on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast apps. Please remember to share this episode with family, friends, and colleagues. Share your thoughts with us at fea@familyenterprise.ca.

Mentioned in this episode

The Family Business Symposium 2025: Navigating the Calm and the Storm in Family Business, May 26 to 28 in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Own It!: How to Develop a Family Enterprise Owner's Mindset at Every Age, by Wendy Sage-Hayward, Gaia Marchisio, and Barbara Dartt

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