The Architecture of Ownership: How Families Build Structures That Last

The Architecture of Ownership: How Families Build Structures That Last

In this episode of Legacy Builders Live, Cory Gagnon is joined by Cindy Radu and Leah Tolton to explore what it truly takes to build ownership structures that last. Together, they move beyond the technical aspects of trusts and shareholder agreements, highlighting how structure without shared understanding often falls short. They dive into the difference between preparing owners versus managers, why clarity around what’s owned (and how) matters, and how evolving governance builds resilience across generations. Throughout the conversation, a common thread emerges: enduring ownership isn't achieved through checklists or one-time planning. It's cultivated through intentional education, open dialogue, and collaborative advisor support. Whether you're navigating a leadership transition, aligning multigenerational interests, or rethinking how your family makes decisions, this episode offers timely insight into how families can move forward together, and on purpose. About Cindy Radu Cindy Radu is a family wealth transition advisor with over 30 years of global experience guiding families through complex succession, governance, and education strategies. Her multidisciplinary expertise in law, accounting, trusts, and governance allows her to support families in building effective ownership frameworks, strengthening intergenerational communication, and preparing rising generations for confident stewardship. Cindy works collaboratively with advisors to translate complex structures into clear, actionable steps tailored to each family’s unique needs. A champion of financial literacy and cross-generational education, Cindy serves as Chief Learning Officer (Canada) for Tamarind Learning and is actively involved in the global STEP community. Her work is grounded in clarity, empathy, and trust, shaped by her passion for mental health advocacy and her lived experience navigating the challenges of the Sandwich Generation. With every engagement, she helps families align values and vision, turning transition into opportunity. Contact Cindy Radu | Cindy Radu Advisory Ltd.:  * Website: cindyradu.com [http://cindyradu.com/] * LinkedIn: Cindy Radu [https://www.linkedin.com/in/raducindy/] * Twitter: @radu_cindy [https://twitter.com/raducindy?lang=en] * Email: connect@cindyradu.com [connect@cindyradu.com] * Phone: (403) 465-1926 About Leah Tolton Leah has practiced corporate law for 30 years, with extensive experience advising family-owned businesses, lending clients, and real estate clients on a broad range of matters including business agreements, tax planning, equipment leasing, mergers and acquisitions, real estate joint ventures, business structuring, and reorganizations. Her practice emphasizes serving ultra-high-net-worth families and their companies across critical areas such as corporate governance, succession planning, reorganizations, strategic planning, risk management, and navigating mergers, acquisitions, and sales transactions. Additionally, Leah negotiates and drafts commercial contracts, advises on private financing and syndicated lending arrangements, earned the Family Enterprise Advisor designation in 2023, and sits on the Board of Advisors of the Alberta Business Family Institute. This wide-ranging expertise and dedication to serving family enterprises equips Leah to provide tailored legal advice and counsel to family businesses seeking to establish continuity across generations. Contact Leah Tolton | Bennett Jones:  * Website: bennettjones.com/ToltonLeah [https://www.bennettjones.com/ToltonLeah] * LinkedIn: Leah Tolton [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahtolton] * Email: toltonl@bennettjones.com * Phone: (780) 917-4272  We're bringing together leading experts to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing family businesses today—from succession planning and governance structures to preparing the next generation for leadership roles. You'll walk away with actionable strategies and fresh perspectives on building resilient family enterprises. Haven't caught one of our webcasts yet? No problem. All previous sessions are archived and ready to stream whenever you're ready to dive in. Simply head over to legacybuilderswebcast.com [http://legacybuilderswebcast.com/] to register for our upcoming session or explore our growing library of past conversations. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Next Chair: Governing Tomorrow, Next Generation Leadership in Family Enterprises

In this special panel episode of Legacy Builders, Cory Gagnon is joined by Barb Schimnowsky and James Grieve for a focused conversation on how family enterprises can prepare for next-generation leadership. Drawing from their work in executive search, governance, succession planning, strategy, and family enterprise advising, Barb and James examine what leadership readiness looks like beyond age, title, or family position. They discuss how governance can clarify roles and decision-making, why succession conversations are often delayed, and what families can do before the transition becomes urgent. The conversation also looks at the balance between promoting from within and bringing in external leadership, the value of objective assessments, and the role mentorship, advisory boards, and structured development can play in preparing future leaders. Cory, Barb, and James also consider the importance of supporting founders as they step into new roles and adapt to a changing place within the enterprise. ABOUT BARB SCHIMNOWSKY Barb Schimnowsky is a partner at Watson and the leader of the firm’s board director and executive search practice. With more than 25 years of experience in executive search and human resources, she brings deep expertise in leadership selection, governance, and succession planning. Barb holds both the Certified Management Consultant and Family Enterprise Advisor designations, and is known for her ability to understand client needs and align them with exceptional leadership talent. She has led hundreds of successful placements across sectors and has twice been recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Abbotsford. CONTACT BARB SCHIMNOWSKY | WATSON BOARD ADVISORS Website: https://www.watsoninc.ca/ [https://www.watsoninc.ca/] | westviewsearch.ca [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ewestviewsearch%2Eca&urlhash=zUFR&isSdui=true] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/barbschimnowsky [https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbschimnowsky/] Email: barb@watsoninc.ca Phone: 604 859 8002 ABOUT JAMES GRIEVE James Grieve is founder and principal at Catalyst Strategies Consulting and co-creator of Succession Ready, a practical approach to succession planning for founder-led businesses. He holds the Certified Management Consultant, Family Enterprise Advisor, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor designations. James works with organizations to uncover blind spots, reduce risk, and build long-term value, with a particular focus on family enterprises and Indigenous-owned businesses. His approach blends strategy, systems thinking, and customer service to help families and businesses navigate transition with greater clarity and purpose. CONTACT JAMES GRIEVE | CATALYST STRATEGIES CONSULTING Website: catalyst-strategies.com [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecatalyst-strategies%2Ecom%2F&urlhash=A-jF&isSdui=true] | valuedriver.ca [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvaluedriver%2Eca%2F&urlhash=S4c1&isSdui=true] LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jamesnsgrieve [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesnsgrieve/] Email: james@catalyst-strategies.com [james@catalyst-strategies.com] Phone: 17782146010 Resources discussed in this episode: * Succession Ready [https://successionready.ca/] * 360-degree feedback [https://www.explorance.com/resources/what-is-360-degree-feedback/] Contact Cory Gagnon | Beacon Family Office at CI Assante Financial Management Ltd.:  * Website: BeaconFamilyOffice.com [http://beaconfamilyoffice.com] * LinkedIn: Cory Gagnon [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corygagnon/] * LinkedIn Page: Beacon Family Office [https://www.linkedin.com/company/beaconfamilyoffice/] * Email: beaconfamilyoffice@assante.com [beaconfamilyoffice@assante.com] We're bringing together leading experts to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing family businesses today—from succession planning and governance structures to preparing the next generation for leadership roles. You'll walk away with actionable strategies and fresh perspectives on building resilient family enterprises. Haven't caught one of our webcasts yet? No problem. All previous sessions are archived and ready to stream whenever you're ready to dive in. Simply head over to legacybuilderswebcast.com [http://legacybuilderswebcast.com/] to register for our upcoming session or explore our growing library of past conversations. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Designing for the Life Ahead: How Homes Can Support Every Stage of Family Life

In this episode, we’re joined by Sarah Walker, founder and principal designer of Nuance Interior Design, where she creates deeply personalized, wellness-centred estates for families and family offices. With more than 20 years of experience and over 50 multimillion-dollar estates and compounds completed, Sarah brings a rare blend of sophisticated global taste, technical fluency, and systems thinking to her work. Her approach treats the home as a long-term operating system for health, relationships, recovery, focus, and multigenerational well-being. Our conversation explores what it means for a home to feel like a sanctuary while still supporting the full rhythm of everyday life.  We talk about how the spaces families live in can influence connection, rest, privacy, hosting, movement, and the way people feel when they walk through the door. Sarah reminds us that when a home is designed with care, it becomes a place that helps a family exhale, feel supported, and return to what matters most. About Sarah Walker Today, we’re joined by Sarah Walker, Founder and Principal Designer of Nuance Interior Design. Sarah creates deeply personalized, wellness-centred estates for families and family offices, homes designed not just to impress, but to restore, connect, and support real life. With more than 20 years of experience and over 50 multimillion-dollar estates and compounds completed, Sarah brings a rare blend of global design, sophisticated taste, technical fluency, and systems thinking. Her work treats the home as a long-term operating system for health, relationships, and multigenerational well- [https://www.instagram.com/nuanceinteriors/]being. Contact Cory Gagnon | Beacon Family Office at CI Assante Wealth Management Ltd.  * Website: BeaconFamilyOffice.com [https://beaconfamilyoffice.com] * LinkedIn: Cory Gagnon [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corygagnon/] * LinkedIn: Beacon Family Office [https://www.linkedin.com/company/beaconfamilyoffice/] * Email: beaconfamilyoffice@assante.com [beaconfamilyoffice@assante.com] Contact Sarah Walker | Nuance Interior Design:  * Website: nuanceinteriors.com [https://nuanceinteriors.com/] * Instagram: @nuanceinteriors [https://www.instagram.com/nuanceinteriors/] * YouTube: @nuanceinteriors [https://www.youtube.com/@nuanceinteriors] * LinkedIn: Sarah Walker [http://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahplattwalker] * Email: sarah@nuanceinteriors.com [sarah@nuanceinteriors.com] * Phone: (425) 459-4029 We're bringing together leading experts to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing family businesses today—from succession planning and governance structures to preparing the next generation for leadership roles. You'll walk away with actionable strategies and fresh perspectives on building resilient family enterprises. Haven't caught one of our webcasts yet? No problem. All previous sessions are archived and ready to stream whenever you're ready to dive in. Simply head over to legacybuilderswebcast.com [http://legacybuilderswebcast.com/] to register for our upcoming session or explore our growing library of past conversations. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Where Wealth Meets Identity: Finding Voice Inside the Family Legacy

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Shay Harris-Pierre, Senior Consultant with Continuity Family Business Consulting, where she works at the intersection of family relationships, wealth, and identity. A clinically trained consultant and therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Certified Financial Therapist, Shay brings nearly fifteen years of experience helping individuals, couples, and families navigate the emotional dimensions of money. Through her work in family enterprise consulting, she supports multigenerational families as they move through questions of succession, governance, identity, and the relational complexities that wealth can create across generations. Our conversation explores how families can better understand the personal stories and inherited expectations shaping the way wealth is experienced, discussed, and shared. We talk about the space between belonging to a family system and becoming more fully oneself, especially when identity, autonomy, culture, and legacy are all in motion. We also look at what can happen when inherited expectations meet individual growth, and how curiosity, honest reflection, and openness across generations can help families find shared direction while making room for each person to understand who they are, where they belong, and how they contribute. About Dr. Shay Harris-Pierre Dr. Shay Harris-Pierre is a clinically trained consultant and therapist working at the intersection of family relationships, wealth, and identity. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Financial Therapist with nearly fifteen years of clinical experience helping individuals, couples, and families navigate the emotional and relational dimensions of their financial identities.  She also holds a certificate in Family Business Leadership and training in Her work is grounded in a single observation: what looks like a financial problem is almost always also a relational and identity problem. She brings that lens into family enterprise consulting, financial planning partnerships, and wealth advisory spaces, helping multigenerational families navigate succession, governance, and the relational complexity that wealth creates across generations. Resources discussed in this episode: * Irving Allam - The Gift of Therapy [https://www.readings.com.au/product/9780749923730/the-gift-of-therapy--irvin-yalom--2003--9780749923730] * Bowenian Concept [https://www.verywellmind.com/bowenian-family-therapy-definition-and-techniques-5214558] * Murray Bowen [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray_Bowen] * Strangers in Paradise [https://www.amazon.com/Strangers-Paradise-Families-Wealth-Generations/dp/0615894356] * Blair Tripp - Progenitor's Dilemma [https://www.first.bank/Business/Plan/Center-for-Family-Owned-Businesses/Family-Business-Resource-Center/November-2023/The-Progenitor-s-Dilemma-Avoiding-Entitlement-When] Contact Cory Gagnon | Beacon Family Office at CI Assante Financial Management Ltd.  * Website: BeaconFamilyOffice.com [https://beaconfamilyoffice.com] * LinkedIn: Cory Gagnon [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corygagnon/] * LinkedIn: Beacon Family Office [https://www.linkedin.com/company/beaconfamilyoffice/] * Email: beaconfamilyoffice@assante.com [beaconfamilyoffice@assante.com] Contact Shay Harris-Pierre | Continuity Family Business Consulting:  * Website: harrispierreconsulting.com [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=www%2Eharrispierreconsulting%2Ecom&urlhash=yzSI&mt=gzyt-OP88QvItFTJDkhAXsmdQVreoYD4F7nj8E5j8st7Q1LwBU85Nxf7jxtxlL7Mjcf854HnxthT9o6jlvvwQc_w5A&isSdui=true] * LinkedIn: Dr. Shay Harris-Pierre [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharris-pierre/] * Email: shaywanna.harris@yahoo.com  [shaywanna.harris@yahoo.com] We're bringing together leading experts to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing family businesses today—from succession planning and governance structures to preparing the next generation for leadership roles. You'll walk away with actionable strategies and fresh perspectives on building resilient family enterprises. Haven't caught one of our webcasts yet? No problem. All previous sessions are archived and ready to stream whenever you're ready to dive in. Simply head over to legacybuilderswebcast.com [http://legacybuilderswebcast.com/] to register for our upcoming session or explore our growing library of past conversations. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Reflection Over Reaction: How Families Improve Decision-Making in Family Enterprises

In this episode, we’re joined by Aileen Miziolek, consultant with The Family Business Consulting Group, where she works with business-owning families to design strategies and processes that support both enterprise success and healthy relationships across generations. With more than 20 years of experience in complex financial and estate planning, along with designations in financial planning, family enterprise advising, and systems coaching, Aileen brings both professional depth and lived understanding to her work. Her roots in a farming family, experience as an entrepreneur, and work as co-author of Inspired Wealth: Financial Leadership for the 21st Century all shape the way she supports families through questions of wealth, ownership, legacy, and change. Our conversation explores what can happen when families slow down long enough to notice the patterns shaping their decisions. We talk about the space between what has been inherited and what can still be chosen, especially when legacy, ownership, and relationships are all in motion. We also look at why families sometimes need to pause before they can move forward and how honest reflection, careful listening, and openness to new ways of thinking can create more room for trust, learning, and better decisions across generations. About Aileen Miziolek  Aileen is a consultant with The Family Business Consulting Group, where she helps business-owning families navigate the complexities of continuity, succession, estate planning, and intergenerational wealth transfer. With more than 20 years of experience in complex financial and estate planning, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her work as a Certified Financial Planner, Family Enterprise Advisor, Certified Coach, and Organization and Relationship Systems Coach. What makes Aileen’s perspective unique is that she understands family enterprise from both a professional and personal lens. Her family business roots began in farming, and as a young entrepreneur, she launched her first start-up at age 25 before selling her first business a few years later. Contact Cory Gagnon | Beacon Family Office at Assante Financial Management Ltd.  * Website: BeaconFamilyOffice.com [https://beaconfamilyoffice.com] * LinkedIn: Cory Gagnon [https://www.linkedin.com/in/corygagnon/] * LinkedIn: Beacon Family Office [https://www.linkedin.com/company/beaconfamilyoffice/] * Email: beaconfamilyoffice@assante.com [beaconfamilyoffice@assante.com] Contact Aileen Miziolek | The Family Business Consulting Group Inc. * Website: aileenmiziolek.com [http://aileenmiziolek.com] * Instagram: @aileenmiziolek [https://www.instagram.com/aileenmiziolek/] * LinkedIn: Aileen Miziolek [https://www.linkedin.com/in/aileenmiziolek/] * Email: miziolek@thefbcg.com [miziolek@thefbcg.com] We're bringing together leading experts to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing family businesses today—from succession planning and governance structures to preparing the next generation for leadership roles. You'll walk away with actionable strategies and fresh perspectives on building resilient family enterprises. Haven't caught one of our webcasts yet? No problem. All previous sessions are archived and ready to stream whenever you're ready to dive in. Simply head over to legacybuilderswebcast.com [http://legacybuilderswebcast.com/] to register for our upcoming session or explore our growing library of past conversations. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.