In this deeply resonant episode of The Family Biz Show, Michael Palumbos sits down with Mike Young, fourth-generation family business leader and author of The Farmer’s Code. From a humble start farming rice in the Californian desert to exiting a vast family farmland portfolio, Mike offers a masterclass on pivoting, stewardship, and enduring family cohesion.

Key Themes:

Roots in the Soil (00:00–06:30)
Mike recounts the origins of Wegis & Young—his great-grandfather's immigration, renaming, and pioneering efforts in California's Central Valley. Their early crops, including rice and sugar beets, were nourished by water captured in sloughs, laying the groundwork for some of the most productive farmland in the world.

Scaling Across Generations (06:30–10:00)
Each generation innovated:

• Mike's grandfather focused on water infrastructure and expansion
• His father and uncle introduced higher-return crops like almonds and grapes
• Mike’s generation added vertical integration with alfalfa cubing and tomato processing before exiting those businesses
• From Dirt to Data: The Tech Pivot (10:00–13:00)
• A standout innovation was a water infrastructure monitoring company—proof that the family adapted not only operationally but strategically, leaning into regulatory change as a catalyst for growth.

Exit to Endure (13:00–16:00)
Selling 85% of their farmland wasn’t easy. But with water rights tightening and G5 & G6 in mind, they chose continuity over sentiment. Mike emphasizes that the land still operates—but now from a stewardship mindset.

Legacy is Relational (17:00–20:30)
The spark for Mike’s book The Farmer’s Code was his 99-year-old grandmother. The message: Legacy isn’t what you leave for people—it’s what you leave in them. His book is broken into three parts: Me, Them Now, and Them to Come—mirroring his family's approach to multi-generational values.

Governance Done Right (30:00–36:00)
With a family board of directors, six trusts, and a family council, Wegis & Young model effective governance. Their structure includes even non-active family members and outlaws—communicating, sharing philanthropic decisions, and guiding distribution policies.

Challenges Ahead (41:00–46:00)
Mike’s top challenge? Maintaining cohesion in a generation that won’t work together daily. With 11 next-gen family members ranging from 12 to 24, the family is experimenting with ways to build connection across the branches.

Tangible Takeaways

• Don’t fear the exit—it may be your legacy's best move
• Legacy isn’t inheritance—it’s influence
• Strong governance includes everyone
• Strategic philanthropy is a sandbox for rising leaders
• Always build with the 7th generation in mind

In this episode of The Family Biz Show, host Michael Palumbos sits down with Scott Saslow—entrepreneur, author, and founder of One World Investments. Together, they explore the overlooked complexities of what comes after the liquidity event. From defining a family office to uncovering its entrepreneurial DNA, this episode is a must-listen for legacy-minded leaders preparing for the next stage.

Key Themes:

• What Is a Family Office, Really?
  Scott demystifies the term “family office” for founders and next-gen leaders. It’s not just an investment vehicle—it’s an infrastructure. And it often starts embedded within the family business itself.

📍 [02:00]: From family company to global sale—Scott’s personal story of transitioning into the family office world.

• Treating Wealth Like a Business
  Saslow challenges the assumption that post-exit wealth “manages itself.” In fact, a family office is a new company, with all the complexities of talent, mission, and operations.

📍 [10:00]: “Making money and keeping money are two different things.”

• Talent Management = Risk Management
  One of the biggest blind spots post-liquidity? Keeping the same advisors you trusted before the wealth explosion. Saslow emphasizes the need to rethink loyalty and performance.

📍 [13:45]: Apply “Good to Great” thinking to your wealth ecosystem.

• Mission as an Anchor
  A clear mission not only helps unify the family—it helps attract top-tier talent and service providers. Saslow argues that purpose is a powerful (and often neglected) wealth multiplier.

📍 [26:00]: Examples of impact investing from Saslow’s own venture fund.

• Preparing for Next Gen Involvement
  Whether or not your children will take the reins, your family office should be built to last—with or without them.

📍 [37:00]: “Hope for the best, plan for independence.”

Tangible Takeaways:

• Don’t wait for liquidity to plan your structure.
• Reassess all advisor relationships post-exit.
• Build your family office with the same rigor as your business.
• Purpose can (and should) drive strategy.
• Start the conversation with your heirs—now.

In this episode of The Family Biz Show, host Michael Palumbos welcomes Brent Robertson, founder of Be Generative, to discuss transformative leadership and the power of generative listening. Brent shares how shifting from controlling leadership to generative listening can radically improve communication, foster innovation, and create a future-ready organization. This conversation is especially relevant for family business leaders aiming to empower the next generation and ensure a lasting legacy.

The Power of Generative Listening:
Generative listening goes beyond active listening by creating a space for innovation and new ideas. Brent describes it as a leadership skill that goes deeper than merely hearing words.

Timestamps:

00:00: Introduction and welcoming Brent Robertson
00:51: Changing your mindset to change your future
09:19: The power of generative listening in leadership
19:47: Breaking the habit of repeating old patterns
24:16: Moving from linear to transformative change
38:54: Rethinking succession as a growth strategy
41:13: Moving from control to mentorship
44:42: Building a future-ready organization

Takeaways:

• Transform leadership through generative listening.
• Shift from reactive succession planning to intentional growth strategies.
• Foster a culture of open communication to drive innovation.
• Let go of control and become a mentor for the next generation.
• Embrace visionary thinking to stay ahead of the curve.