The SuccessionReady Podcast
Episodes
Values-based Legacy Planning
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 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 Me...
Open-Book Leadership: Building Trust, Alignment, and Legacy in Family and Founder-Led Businesses
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, co-hosts James Grieve and Ashka Wirk are joined by Ryan Markewich, an advocate for open-book cultures and transparent leadership. Rya...
Governance as the Catalyst for being SuccessionReady
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, co-hosts Ashka Wirk and James Grieve are joined by Barb Schimnowsky, CMC, FEA, Partner at Watson Advisors Inc. Barb shares how govern...
What Can You Expect from Working with SuccessionReady?
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
James Grieve and Ashka Wirk, co-founders of SuccessionReady, talk through what you, as a founder-led business, can expect from working with Succession...
Talent is the Bridge – How a People Strategy Enhances Succession Planning
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 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 New Path to Succession – How Employee Ownership Can Protect Your Legacy
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, SuccessionReady co-creators James Grieve and Ashka Wirk are joined by Michael Ras, CEO of Employee Ownership Canada. Michael explains...
The Co-op Advantage – A New Model for Business Succession
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, SuccessionReady co-creators James Grieve and Ashka Wirk are joined by Kyle White, Director of Education at Co-operatives First. Kyle ...
SuccessionReady – The Client Experience
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 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 Com...
Succession Planning in the Collision Repair Industry
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trevor Jones, Area Manager of Operations – Prairie Region with CarStar Canada, shares his personal succession journey and the importance of successi...
Life Insurance and Succession Planning
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Kuzma, Client Solutions Manager at The Targeted Strategies Group, shares how life insurance can be a powerful tool in succession planning and lon...
Preparing the Next Generation in Family Enterprises
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Judi Cunningham, founder of Trella Advisory Group, explores one of the most challenging aspects of transition in family enterprises – preparing the ...
What is SuccessionReady?
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, James Grieve and Ashka Wirk, co-founders of SuccessionReady, introduce you to succession planning and why it’s important, walk you ...
Effective Communication in Family Business
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
James Grieve and Ashka Wirk have a conversation with Patti Durand, Principal of Brightrack Consulting, about her work guiding family businesses from c...
Business Valuation and Succession Planning
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Smith, President of Smith Business Valuations, shares advice and guidance for founders thinking of a business valuation as part of their succe...
Becoming SuccessionReady from the VIEA State of the Island Economic Summit 2024
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, taped during the VIEA State of the Island Economic Summit 2024, SuccessionReady co-creator Ashka Wirk moderates a panel of experts –...
Succession Planning for Farm Businesses
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Liz Robertson, Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Farm Advisors, shares what she’s noticing about the needs of farmers and farm busin...
Female Founders and Succession Planning
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
James Grieve and Ashka Wirk have a conversation with Danica Dutt, the President of Kelowna Women in Business, about her insights, experiences, and sto...
Succession Planning and Legacy
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lee 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 o...
Succession Planning for Economic Development
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, SuccessionReady co-creators James Grieve and Ashka Wirk discuss the insights they learned from economic development professionals abo...
Have You Considered an Employee Share Ownership Plan?
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
The Ins and Outs of Insurance
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Austin Dunn, an Account Executive with Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services, provides advice to founder-led businesses about recognizing and managing the...
Digital Transformation Considerations for Founder-Led Businesses
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jean-Eric Plamondon, Principal of Winnipeg-based Growth Strategy Consulting, provides his insights about how business owners can build sustainable pro...
What is SuccessionReady?
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, James Grieve and Ashka Wirk, co-founders of SuccessionReady, introduce you to succession planning and why it’s important, walk you ...
Process Mapping, Design, and Redesign – Why Is It Important and How Do You Do It?
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Rosen, a process improvement practitioner, shares his experience about the importance of analyzing, mapping, and improving processes by elimin...
How Your Local Economic Development Organization Can Help You as a Founder-Led Business
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kate Watson, the Marketing and Business Support Coordinator for the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society, talks about how organizations like hers...
Are You Thinking of Selling Your Business?
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Harvey, a Commercial Realtor, Certified Business Broker, and founder and President of Business Finders Canada engages in a discussion about what...
What Can You Expect from Working with SuccessionReady?
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Have You Thought about a Co-operative?
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, James Grieve and Ashka Wirk speak to Heather Hallgrimson. Heather is the former Director of Entrepreneurship for Co-operatives First...
Succession Planning – The Marketing Angle
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, co-creators of SuccessionReady – James Grieve and Ashka Wirk -- are joined by Rob Cupello, VP of Business Development of NowMedia G...
SuccessionReady – The Client Experience
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 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 Com...
What is SuccessionReady?
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, James Grieve and Ashka Wirk, co-founders of SuccessionReady, introduce you to succession planning and why it’s important, walk you ...