Shows
The SuccessionReady PodcastValues-based Legacy PlanningIn this episode, co-hosts Ashka Wirk and James Grieve are joined by Sandy Pollack, founder of Trimaran Advisory Group and author of Don’t Leave a Mess. With more than 25 years of experience advising entrepreneurial families, Sandy takes a deeply values-based approach to legacy, helping clients protect their wealth while creating meaningful plans for the future. She explains why effective succession and estate planning must begin with values and strategy, and how uncovering the human side of wealth brings clarity, reduces conflict, and builds legacies with purpose.
2025-09-1126 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastOpen-Book Leadership: Building Trust, Alignment, and Legacy in Family and Founder-Led BusinessesIn this episode, co-hosts James Grieve and Ashka Wirk are joined by Ryan Markewich, an advocate for open-book cultures and transparent leadership. Ryan discusses how open-book leadership builds trust, drives alignment, and prepares family and founder-led businesses for long-term success and smooth succession. He shares strategies for overcoming founder resistance to transparency,connecting open-book practices to succession readiness, and using openness as a performance multiplier. Through real-world examples, Ryan highlights how transparency encourages employees to think like owners, strengthens alignment between family goals and business results, and reduces founder dependency.
2025-09-1128 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastGovernance as the Catalyst for being SuccessionReadyIn this episode, co-hosts Ashka Wirk and James Grieve are joined by Barb Schimnowsky, CMC, FEA, Partner at Watson Advisors Inc. Barb shares how governance, director recruitment, and leadership dynamics can help family andfounder-led businesses thrive and transition successfully. She explains why governance matters even in early growth stages, how to build effective boards or advisory councils, and the importance of recruiting directors who align withfamily values while bringing independent strategic thinking. Through real-world examples, Barb illustrates how governance supports leadership transitions,balances family priorities with business performance, and acts as a performance multiplier by shifting decision-making from reactive...
2025-09-1027 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastWhat Can You Expect from Working with SuccessionReady?James Grieve and Ashka Wirk, co-founders of SuccessionReady, talk through what you, as a founder-led business, can expect from working with SuccessionReady.
2025-09-1007 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastTalent is the Bridge – How a People Strategy Enhances Succession PlanningIn this episode, co-hosts James Grieve and Ashka Wirk are joined by David Litherland, Partner at Summit Search Group. David shares why recruitment is a critical part of succession planning, the importance of planning across all levels of an organization, and how organizations can take a proactive approach to future leadership.
2025-07-1026 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastA New Path to Succession – How Employee Ownership Can Protect Your LegacyIn this episode, SuccessionReady co-creators James Grieve and Ashka Wirk are joined by Michael Ras, CEO of Employee Ownership Canada. Michael explains employee ownership and why it offers a compelling succession path that keeps jobs local and preserves a founder’s legacy.
2025-07-1038 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastThe Co-op Advantage – A New Model for Business SuccessionIn this episode, SuccessionReady co-creators James Grieve and Ashka Wirk are joined by Kyle White, Director of Education at Co-operatives First. Kyle breaks down how co-operatives work, shares real-world success stories, and explores how the co-op model can offer a powerful path to succession.
2025-07-1038 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastSuccessionReady – The Client ExperienceIn this episode, co-hosts James Grieve and Ashka Wirk are joined by Halee Fried. Halee is the founder of a family-owned business, Farmstrong Cider Company, located in Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada. Halee and her family were early adopter clients of the SuccessionReady approach to succession planning. Halee shares her experience with founding and growing Farmstrong, her succession planning experience with SuccessionReady, and her advice to other founders thinking about succession planning for their businesses.
2025-07-1025 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastSuccession Planning in the Collision Repair IndustryTrevor Jones, Area Manager of Operations – Prairie Region with CarStar Canada, shares his personal succession journey and the importance of succession planning at CarStar, North America’s largest Multi-Shop Operator Network of independently owned collision repair facilities.
2025-04-2331 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastLife Insurance and Succession PlanningMike Kuzma, Client Solutions Manager at The Targeted Strategies Group, shares how life insurance can be a powerful tool in succession planning and long-term wealth preservation.
2025-04-2323 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastPreparing the Next Generation in Family EnterprisesJudi Cunningham, founder of Trella Advisory Group, explores one of the most challenging aspects of transition in family enterprises – preparing the next generation. She shares what she has learned about working with senior generations to build the knowledge and skills in the next generation for effective succession.
2025-04-2334 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastWhat is SuccessionReady?In this episode, James Grieve and Ashka Wirk, co-founders of SuccessionReady, introduce you to succession planning and why it’s important, walk you through the SuccessionReady approach, and provide guidance on next steps.
2025-04-2309 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastEffective Communication in Family BusinessJames Grieve and Ashka Wirk have a conversation with Patti Durand, Principal of Brightrack Consulting, about her work guiding family businesses from complex urgency to results-oriented action.
2024-11-1528 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastBusiness Valuation and Succession PlanningMichael Smith, President of Smith Business Valuations, shares advice and guidance for founders thinking of a business valuation as part of their succession planning process – what to expect, how to prepare, what can get in the way, and how to set you and your business up for a smooth process and outcome.
2024-11-1525 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastBecoming SuccessionReady from the VIEA State of the Island Economic Summit 2024In this episode, taped during the VIEA State of the Island Economic Summit 2024, SuccessionReady co-creator Ashka Wirk moderates a panel of experts – Ehren Lee of Urban Systems, Joshua Ludgate of Small Business BC, and Kyle White of Co-operatives First. Together, they share their insights, experiences, and innovative approaches for small and medium-sized businesses, and especially founder-led businesses, to navigate and thrive through succession planning.
2024-11-1556 min
Legacy Builders: Strategies for Building Successful Family EnterprisesBeyond the Vision: Leveraging a Thinking Partner to Identify Blind SpotsIn our latest episode, we welcome James Grieve, Founder & Principal Strategic Advisor at Catalyst Strategies Consulting and Past President of the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of British Columbia. Join us as we discuss the significance of humility, curiosity, and a purposeful process in uncovering blind spots, fostering alignment, and preparing businesses for successful transitions. James stresses the power of a strong strategic foundation, effective change management, and the vital role of the community in enabling leaders to leave a lasting legacy. James' approach to developing purposeful strategies and managing change underscores the importance of having a t...
2024-07-0543 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastSuccession Planning for Farm BusinessesLiz Robertson, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors, shares what she’s noticing about the needs of farmers and farm businesses from a succession planning perspective.
2024-06-0723 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastFemale Founders and Succession PlanningJames Grieve and Ashka Wirk have a conversation with Danica Dutt, the President of Kelowna Women in Business, about her insights, experiences, and stories of female founders and their approaches to succession planning.
2024-06-0726 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastSuccession Planning and LegacyLee Vanderlaan, the CEO of the Vanderlaan Family Office, shares her story of the series of successions in her family business, as well as the set up of the Vanderlaan Family Office, whose purpose is to ensure the lasting impact, contributions, and achievements attributed by her family enterprise through generations.
2024-06-0734 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastSuccession Planning for Economic DevelopmentIn this episode, SuccessionReady co-creators James Grieve and Ashka Wirk discuss the insights they learned from economic development professionals about the challenges facing their communities regarding succession planning for local businesses during the SuccessionReady session at the 2024 BC Economic Summit, hosted by the BC Economic Development Association.
2024-06-0716 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastHave You Considered an Employee Share Ownership Plan?Our guest for this episode is Martin Bell, the CEO of Urban Systems. Martin talks to us about his company’s unique employee ownership model – to spark insights for you as a founder-led business considering succession options.
2024-01-0934 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastThe Ins and Outs of InsuranceAustin Dunn, an Account Executive with Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services, provides advice to founder-led businesses about recognizing and managing the risks that may impact their businesses – today and as they prepare for succeeding their businesses in the future.
2024-01-0926 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastDigital Transformation Considerations for Founder-Led BusinessesJean-Eric Plamondon, Principal of Winnipeg-based Growth Strategy Consulting, provides his insights about how business owners can build sustainable processes and systems to increase the predictability of their business while simplifying the need to be involved in the day to day tasks – using technology as a tool.
2024-01-0933 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastWhat is SuccessionReady?In this episode, James Grieve and Ashka Wirk, co-founders of SuccessionReady, introduce you to succession planning and why it’s important, walk you through the SuccessionReady approach, and provide guidance on the next steps.
2024-01-0909 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastProcess Mapping, Design, and Redesign – Why Is It Important and How Do You Do It?Michael Rosen, a process improvement practitioner, shares his experience about the importance of analyzing, mapping, and improving processes by eliminating waste, automating process steps, and performing system enhancements – to help your founder-led business today and set it up for succession planning into the future.
2023-09-1428 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastHow Your Local Economic Development Organization Can Help You as a Founder-Led BusinessKate Watson, the Marketing and Business Support Coordinator for the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society, talks about how organizations like hers help founder-led businesses through the full life cycle of a business – from start up, to scaling, to succession.
2023-09-1431 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastAre You Thinking of Selling Your Business?Steve Harvey, a Commercial Realtor, Certified Business Broker, and founder and President of Business Finders Canada engages in a discussion about what founder-led businesses need to consider as you prepare your business for sale.
2023-09-1428 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastWhat Can You Expect from Working with SuccessionReady?James Grieve CMC, CCXP, CSP, CEPA, MBA and Ashka Wirk, co-founders of SuccessionReady, talk through what you, as a founder-led business, can expect from working with SuccessionReady.
2023-09-1407 min
Passion for ImpactEmpowering Communities and Transforming Businesses with James GrieveJoin us as we explore the realm of impact leadership with James Grieves, a Certified Management Consultant and customer experience professional. James brings his extensive experience in working with First Nations communities, cooperatives, economic development, and empowerment initiatives to our discussion. He shares insights on the importance of understanding who is in your community and building relationships with them. That's IMPACT in action.
He passionately talks about his journey in nurturing community and providing mentorship. Listen in as he gives valuable tips on becoming a connector of people (he's one of the best!) James’ passion for helping sma...
2023-08-3135 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastHave You Thought about a Co-operative?In this episode, James Grieve and Ashka Wirk speak to Heather Hallgrimson. Heather is the former Director of Entrepreneurship for Co-operatives First, a non-profit organization that provides co-op start-up resources, such as feasibility studies, business plans, online courses, and incorporation support to rural and Indigenous entrepreneurs across western Canada. Their goal is to help leaders in these communities build new businesses, grow local economies, and support community development. Heather tells us about what a co-operative is – the benefits and the drawbacks, provides examples of founder-led businesses that have successfully transitioned their business to a co-operative model, and gives her adv...
2023-06-3033 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastSuccession Planning – The Marketing AngleIn this episode, co-creators of SuccessionReady – James Grieve and Ashka Wirk -- are joined by Rob Cupello, VP of Business Development of NowMedia Group. Rob brings two decades of strategic planning and marketing for crown corporations, the tourism industry and a broad variety of small and medium sized businesses. His passion is to help brands build their business and always look outside the traditional approach to ensure every marketing dollar spent sees a return on investment. Rob shares his insights about the top things founders need to think through from a marketing and brand strategy perspective as they consider suc...
2023-06-3028 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastSuccessionReady – The Client ExperienceIn this episode, co-hosts James Grieve and Ashka Wirk are joined by Halee Fried. Halee is the founder of a family-owned business, Farmstrong Cider Company, located in Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada. Halee and her family were early adopter clients of the SuccessionReady approach to succession planning. Halee shares her experience with founding and growing Farmstrong, her succession planning experience with SuccessionReady, and her advice to other founders thinking about succession planning for their businesses.
2023-06-3025 minThe SuccessionReady PodcastWhat is SuccessionReady?In this episode, James Grieve and Ashka Wirk, co-founders of SuccessionReady, introduce you to succession planning and why it’s important, walk you through the SuccessionReady approach, and provide guidance on next steps.
2023-06-2309 min