

Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo
Francesco Lombardo
Safe Space is a podcast for Family Business Leaders and Next Gens exploring the financial, human and social capital of family businesses.
In each episode, trusted advisor Francesco Lombardo, will share a conversation with a diverse range of guests, offering you practical tools and guidance to help you navigate the unique familial relationships within family businesses.
In each episode, trusted advisor Francesco Lombardo, will share a conversation with a diverse range of guests, offering you practical tools and guidance to help you navigate the unique familial relationships within family businesses.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 18, 2025 • 48min
Creating a Meaningful Legacy with Craig Kielburger
In this episode, Francesco Lombardo interviews Craig Kielburger, a renowned social entrepreneur and co-founder of WE Charity. They discuss Craig's journey from starting Free the Children at a young age to his collaboration with Oprah Winfrey, which significantly impacted his work in social impact. The conversation delves into the concept of legacy, exploring how families can create meaningful legacies and the importance of self-reflection and accountability in this process. They also touch on the emotional traditions that families pass down, both positive and negative, and how these affect future generations. In this conversation, Franco and Craig explore the intricate journey of writing a book, the importance of questioning the status quo, and the concept of permacrisis. They discuss the significance of internal peace, connection, and the legacy one leaves behind. The dialogue emphasizes the need for personal growth and the impact of service to others, culminating in advice for future generations on prioritizing meaningful connections and values. A dedicated husband and father of three, Craig Kielburger is a globally recognized social entrepreneur who has spent over 30 years empowering individuals to find their purpose and make a difference. As co-leader of Legacy+, he guides organizations and individuals in building impactful movements and legacy projects. His journey began at age 12 with the founding of Free The Children, a movement that inspired global youth activism and positively impacted over a million lives. The author of 10 books, including "What Is My Legacy?" (co-authored with Martin Luther King III), he also co-hosts the "My Legacy Podcast & Syndicated Radio Show" and serves as Chancellor of Legacy College in Kenya. His commitment to youth development continues through his co-founding role at the Dalai Lama Center. His extraordinary contributions have been recognized with The Order of Canada, the Nelson Mandela Freedom Medal, and 15 honorary degrees. Listen to Craig’s podcast on iHeart Learn more about Legacy+ by visiting legacyplus.org Connect with me here: • https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/ • https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice • https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational • https://veritage.ca

Mar 4, 2025 • 29min
Building Trust to Ensure Sibling Unity
In this episode of Safe Space, the Fidanza siblings—Paolo, Adrian, and Carmen—share their journey of navigating the complexities of family dynamics after the sale of their family business, Salerno Dairy. They discuss the identity crisis they faced, the importance of self-discovery, and how they transformed their relationships through trust and emotional intelligence. The siblings emphasize the significance of changing their mindsets about money and the value of investing in themselves as individuals and as a family unit. They offer insights and advice for others in similar situations, highlighting the importance of open communication and personal growth within family businesses. Connect with me here: • https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/ • https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice • https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational • https://veritage.ca

Feb 18, 2025 • 30min
The Power of Vulnerability in Personal Growth
In this episode of Safe Space, host Francesco Lombardo speaks with personal coach, therapist, and healer, Ashley Best. Ashley shares her journey from being a CPA to embracing her true self and helping others do the same. The conversation delves into the importance of listening to one's internal compass, the courage to be vulnerable, and the significance of self-love. They discuss the shift in family offices towards recognizing human capital and the impact of shame on personal and familial relationships. The episode concludes with practical advice for the next generation on embracing change and leading with the heart. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ashley Best is a former CPA who chose to follow her heart and internal compass, embarking on a journey to discover her true identity beyond family systems and societal programming. With over 15 years of experience, she has evolved into a therapist and intuitive healer, blending analytical expertise with a deep understanding of human potential. As the founder of Mindset Capital, Ashley’s work stems from a passion for developing mindset and human capital. She partners with next-generation leaders and family offices to cultivate personal growth and financial alignment through strategic insight, mindfulness, and healing modalities. Ashley empowers her clients to make confident, purpose-driven decisions by helping them tap into their intuition and access their authentic potential to create lasting impact in their lives and businesses. Listen to Ashley’s Podcast on Spotify Veritage Promo: With three sessions, we create space to feel grounded, develop trust, and unlock clarity. Regular Price: $675 for 3 sessions ($225 each)Special Offer: $500 for 3 sessions (save $175) Click Here to Book Your 3-Session Package Now ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Connect with me here: • https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/ • https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice • https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational • https://veritage.ca

19 snips
Feb 4, 2025 • 30min
You Can’t Read The Label of the Jar You Are In
Francesco speaks with Russ Haworth, a family business advisor and co-author of The Quest for Legitimacy, known for helping families navigate complexities in business relationships. They dive into the significance of understanding family dynamics and emotional needs, particularly during succession planning. Russ highlights the emotional journeys of the rising generation as they seek identity and purpose. The conversation also touches on balancing self-worth with external validation, emphasizing the importance of connection and resilience within family businesses.

Jan 21, 2025 • 28min
Nourishing Traditions: The Link Between Food, Family, and Health with Agathe Holowatinc
In this episode of Safe Space, host Francesco Lombardo engages with Agathe Holowatinc, Founder of FUELLED, to explore the significance of nutritional traditions and their impact on health and behavior. They discuss practical steps for making healthier food choices, the rise of food allergies, and the importance of understanding food values. Agatha shares insights on how to empower oneself to make better dietary decisions and offers advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle while honoring family traditions. Connect with me here: • https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/ • https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice • https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational • https://veritage.ca Guest Bio: Agathe Regina Holowatinc, BA, MLIS, INHC (she/her) (pronounced Agatha) Agathe Holowatinc is Founder and Director at FUELLED Ultimate Health & Nutrition Ltd., a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach & Consultant, professional researcher, published author, former private chef, healthy cooking masterclass instructor & Ayurveda enthusiast. She is on a mission to get high performance professionals energized and optimised so that they can bring their absolute best presence, productivity and performance to the companies they work for and also bring the best of themselves to all other aspects of their lives. Agathe is obsessed with human potential and performance and specialises in high-impact, nutrient-loaded, high performance nutrition, preventative health, "Food as Medicine,” cellular health and holistic (“Whole Life”) approaches to elevating your life! Agathe truly believes that vibrant health is our BIRTHRIGHT and she has dedicated her life to helping people achieve just that. Her nutrition coaching and consulting services are ideal for high performance professionals (men and women) who want to enhance their energy and feel powered up and limitless, day in and day out. She brings bold and innovative workplace wellness sessions to companies and also works 1:1 with private clients from around the world. Website: www.fuelledlife.com Connect with Agathe on Linkedin (most active): https://www.linkedin.com/in/agathe-regina-holowatinc-3a886814 and https://www.linkedin.com/company/fuelledultimatehealthandnutrition/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/fuelledultimatenutrition/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/fuelledultimatenutrition YouTube (more coming soon!): @fuelledtv https://www.youtube.com/@fuelledtv

Jan 7, 2025 • 33min
The Journey of Marrying into Wealth
In this episode of Safe Space, host Francesco Lombardo speaks with John Michael Elder, a third-generation family business member, about the complexities of navigating family dynamics, wealth, and emotional intelligence within a family business. John Michael shares his journey of marrying into a business family, the challenges of understanding wealth, and the importance of emotional intelligence in fostering a supportive family culture. The conversation emphasizes the need for open communication, introspection, and the balance between leveraging wealth and addressing feelings of inadequacy. Connect with me here: • https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/ • https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice • https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational • https://veritage.ca

Dec 30, 2024 • 48min
All Relationships are BY Agreement with Renuka Baron
ORIGINALLY AIRED OCTOBER 8, 2020 We had the pleasure of hosting Renuka Baron, an internationally renowned executive coach and expert in personal and professional transformation on the Safe Space podcast back in October 2020. To this day it remains one of our top episodes. Renuka shared how she empowers individuals and organizations to embrace authentic, soul-driven leadership. Her insights on overcoming limiting beliefs and unlocking true potential were truly inspiring. Don't miss this episode! Connect with me here: • https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/ • https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice • https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational • https://veritage.ca

Dec 3, 2024 • 30min
The Art of Trust: Cultivating Serendipity in Life
In this episode, Christian Busch, author of The Serendipity Mindeset, explains the concept of serendipity and its importance in personal and professional contexts. He shares his journey from a troubled youth to a successful author and academic, emphasizing the role of connecting ideas and people. The conversation explores how to cultivate serendipity through trust, psychological safety, and vulnerability, particularly in family businesses. Busch provides practical advice on overcoming self-limiting beliefs and fostering meaningful connections, ultimately advocating for a mindset that embraces uncertainty as a source of joy and opportunity. Connect with me here: • https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/ • https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice • https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational • https://veritage.ca

20 snips
Nov 26, 2024 • 31min
The Key to Clear Communication - Manage Yourself Before Managing Others
BJ Radomski, a Veritage coach specializing in communication and emotional intelligence, shares insights on improving interpersonal communication. The discussion highlights the importance of self-awareness in understanding others, particularly within family businesses. Radomski emphasizes how personal biases affect conversations and introduces tools for fostering clear dialogue. By focusing on emotional awareness, he illustrates how constructive communication can strengthen relationships and promote shared values, ultimately preventing misunderstandings and conflicts.

20 snips
Nov 12, 2024 • 26min
Finding New Purpose After Business Ownership
In this episode of Safe Space, host Franco Lombardo speaks with Gillian Stein, former CEO of Henry's, Canada’s largest independent digital imaging retailer, about her emotional journey of selling her family business. Gillian shares her experience of identity loss, the grieving process, and the challenges of transitioning from operations to ownership. The conversation highlights the importance of self-reflection, finding new passions, and the emotional complexities involved in succession planning. Gillian emphasizes the need for flexibility and an open mind in navigating the unpredictable nature of family business dynamics. Connect with me here: • https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/ • https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice • https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational • https://veritage.ca