Safe Space with Francesco Lombardo

In this conversation, I speak with Armen Alajian, the owner of ARTO, Southern California's artisanal brick and tile manufacturer. Armen and his brother Vod took over the business after their father Arto died in 2014, and in this moving conversation Armen shares how he navigated the emotional and practical difficulties he faced. If you are interested in learning more about how to create a healthy family culture and why investing in the people in the business is the key to success, then this episode is for you. 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  

Despite the recent progress in gender equality, many women still face obstacles in securing senior leadership positions within their family business. In this episode, Family Business owner, Eva Fischer emphasizes the importance of belief in oneself and urges women to avoid falling into the trap of emulating their male counterparts. Eva's insights and experiences offer valuable perspectives and strategies for women entrepreneurs in family businesses on how to cultivate personal fulfillment. 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    

It was 1986 and Jonathan Goldhill had just witnessed the closure of his family’s company, which was also the country’s largest men’s suit manufacturer. Not wanting other entrepreneurs and family businesses to follow the same fate, Jonathan decided to use his experience to help families navigate a smooth transition. In this intimate conversation, Jonathan shares why our early childhood experiences can shape our adult lives, and how through the discovery of emotional safety, we can all find our true meaning and purpose. 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    

The role that advisors play in helping family businesses to fulfill their goals cannot be underestimated and is why my guest this week is Heather Falcone. A second-generation family business member and CEO of Thermal Vac Technology, Heather has more than 20 years of experience, centered in business concepts and is passionate about helping companies and individuals be outspokenly different. Together Francesco and Heather discuss the components of a successful relationship between the family and advisor and discuss how advisors can serve as a valuable bridge between the founder and the next generation. 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    

Working with family enterprises and business owners, Chris Yonker helps them navigate the intricate and unique aspects of both being related and owning a business. Combining his own personal experience and professional work with entrepreneurs, executives, athletes, and celebrities, Chris has created a process inspired by eastern philosophy to preserve continuity.  In this episode, Chris offers his advice for both next-gen and senior-gen family business leaders on how to create a safe space to effectively communicate with one another. He also discusses the impact of childhood trauma and why progress is never linear, highlighting that it begins with an internal evaluation of who we really are, why we are here and what we want to do in the world.  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  

Kent Johnson, is the CEO of the company that his great-grandparents founded in 1946. In a little two-room office above a car dealership, Highlights magazine was born and today it remains as true to its core as ever. A magazine encouraging children to discover their creativity and imagination, Kent explains why he believes that childhood is the critical foundation for developing happy and healthy children.  A company that has embraced the concept of a Chief Purpose Officer, Kent shares why and how inclusion helps to connect everyone in the company to the mission and purpose. This episode is for anyone looking for the tools and techniques to unlock the power of curiosity and humor, so that their business can continue for generations to come. 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    

There’s a place in New York that has been serving up some of the city’s best pasta for the past 117 years. Raffetto’s has been supplying New York’s restaurants and home cooks with freshly spun pasta since 1906, and remains a solely family owned business. I spoke with Sarah Raffetto, part of the 4th generation of Raffettos, who as the company’s Chief Operating Officer is responsible for ensuring the restaurant continues for the next 100 years. Sarah believes that the business’s success is largely due to each generation’s commitment to maintain their family traditions whilst being willing to expand and evolve. Connect with me here: • https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/ • https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice • https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternationalhttps://veritage.ca

“How do I find my purpose?” This is one of the questions I am most often asked by those I work with, and is why my conversation with Leadership Expert and Executive Coach James Laughlin is so insightful.  James’ extensive experience spans working with elite performers and leading organizations, including professional athletes, influential CEOs, and multinational corporations. But James is also a musician, marked by seven world championship titles, showcasing his exceptional ability to foster talent and cultivate winning mindsets.  According to James, purpose is not about self, but about others. Purpose is something that inspires those around you to want to join and work with you to build your vision. The clearer the vision, the easier it is to achieve it and to inspire others. James says that when we heighten our awareness and focus our attention to where we want to go in life, then our purpose is revealed. This episode is for anyone struggling to find their place in the world and will help you to look beyond yourself in order to find your true meaning. 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

James Laughlin is a 7x World Champion and leadership expert, whose incredible journey has taken him from a small town in Northern Ireland to becoming a world solo drumming champion by the age of fourteen. Spending much of his twenties feeling lost, James eventually landed in New Zealand, and although he set up a successful education and retail company, he became frustrated with the 9-5 and instead decided to transform his skills into his purpose, to become a much sought-after leadership coach.   In this conversation James highlights the importance of both self-evaluation and self-reflection in leadership and why creating space for thinking and reconnecting with feelings and emotions is a critical component. James also gives us an insight into the unique framework he uses with CEOs, Professional Sports Teams and leaders to create high-performing teams.    Connect with me here: https://veritage.ca/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/ https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational

Nancy Bruns is a seventh-generation member and current Chairman of the Board for a 210-year-old family business in West Virginia. In today’s episode of Safe Space, Nancy explains how she learned to cope with her unexpected inheritance following the death of her father, and how she became an advocate for transparency, open dialogue. Nancy’s passion for change and her belief in the importance of fostering a deep sense of connection and shared purpose, is testament to the longevity and continued success of her family business. Nancy provides valuable insights and strategies for family business owners on how and why strengthening family relationships is critical to the health and wealth of the family business. You can learn more about Nancy and J.Q. Dickinson Salt-Works by visiting:  https://www.jqdsalt.com/   Connect with me here: https://veritage.ca/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesco-lombardo-fea-496a7966/ https://www.facebook.com/VeritageFamilyOffice https://www.youtube.com/@VeritageInternational