When You're Next: Navigating the Weight of Succession

Your Next Gen Friend: A Successor's Guide to Business Transition

Andrea tackles one of the most loaded phrases in family business: "You're next." Whether it's taking over the family business, stepping into leadership alongside siblings, or inheriting family wealth responsibilities, being told you're next rarely comes with the clarity successors actually need.

In this vulnerable and practical episode, Andrea shares her own experience of first hearing about her role in her family's estate planning and how it felt both like a compliment and an overwhelming responsibility. She explores why "being next" often feels heavy and unclear, and what successors can do to take control of their own transition journey.

Key topics covered:

• Why "you're next" rarely comes with clarity or a roadmap
• Debunking succession myths and defining what you actually want
• The difference between inheriting a business and inheriting a leadership manual
• How to initiate transition conversations without seeming entitled

Key takeaways:

• Authenticity in leadership means being yourself, not a clone of who came before
• Successors can drive conversations about transition timelines and roadmaps
• You don't need permission to start planning your future

Connect with Andrea Carpenter and Your Next Gen Friend:

• Website: https://yournextgenfriend.com/
• Your Next Gen Friend on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yournextgenfriend/
• Your Next Gen Friend on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournextgenfriend
• Andrea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreashaver/

Subscribe to "Your Next Gen Friend" on your favorite podcast player:

• Spotify: https://yournextgenfriend.com/open-spotify
• Apple Podcasts: https://yournextgenfriend.com/apple-podcast

Chapters:

00:00 Understanding the 'You're Next' Concept

04:45 Defining Personal Goals and Values

09:21 Taking Charge of Your Future

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm