How do you know when your successor is ready to take over?

Katie Ittenbach, President & CEO of SMARI Research, and SMARI founder Jim Ittenbach join Scott Eckart to talk about how their family business successfully transitioned from one generation to the next. For over a decade, Katie climbed the corporate ladder and showed her value to the company, until Jim knew she was ready to lead.

Katie and Jim share pivotal moments from their story, such as Katie’s shift from biochem to business and Jim’s decision to accelerate her path to leadership. You’ll hear about the skills that Katie had to develop on her way to the top, how Jim learned to let go and trust his daughter’s leadership, and how to maintain a professional relationship with family in the workplace.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to identify when your successor is ready, even if they’re your own child
• What it looks like to lead in a new way without losing the founder’s legacy
• How taking on a leadership role starts with small decisions

Things to listen for:

(01:19) Meet Katie and Jim Ittenbach

(03:17) Why joining the family business wasn’t Katie’s original plan

(10:27) The moment Jim decided to go all-in on SMARI

(15:14) How to spot talent and drive

(16:45) How Katie earned clients’ trust without using her last name

(21:10) The moment Jim knew Katie was ready to lead

(23:30) How Katie and Jim set professional boundaries

(27:14) Making decisions for the company before becoming CEO
(31:36) The importance of collaborating with a group
(42:57) The secret to an effective succession plan

Resources:

Katie Ittenbach’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieittenbach/

SMARI LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategic-marketing-&-research-inc-/

SMARI website: https://smari.com/