Building Unbreakable Brands

Welcome to Building Unbreakable Brands, the podcast for business leaders with a generational mindset, hosted by Meghan Lynch. Meghan, a brand strategist and advisor to generational family businesses, interviews the stewards of enduring brands to uncover what makes the difference between fleeting success and a lasting legacy.

In this episode, Meghan welcomes Matt Nielsen, a fifth-generation steward of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas. Matt sees his role as a caretaker of the family business, ensuring its prosperity not only for the current generation but for future ones as well. They delve into the importance of stewardship versus ownership, emphasizing the long-term care and sustainability of the business, and a "6th generation" mindset and strategy.

Matt shares how Nielsen-Massey has implemented unique governance structures, such as an independent board of directors and a non-family CEO, to bring in external perspectives and challenge the status quo. This approach helps the company avoid complacency and maintain a dynamic, forward-thinking strategy. He also discusses the critical lesson of articulating a distinct shareholder vision that aligns yet remains separate from the corporate vision.

The conversation touches on diversifying beyond a reliance on vanilla while maintaining strategic guardrails on diversification efforts. Matt talks about learning from other family businesses and his interest in creating a structured program for onboarding the next generation.

In a special segment, Meghan's son Henry asks Matt about working with siblings in the business... and about his favorite recipes to highlight vanilla!

Tune in to hear Matt's insights on stewardship, governance, professionalization, diversification, and preparing the next generation.

Key Points Discussed:

• The distinction between stewardship and ownership in a family business.
• The benefits of an independent board and non-family CEO in bringing fresh perspectives.
• Articulating a distinct shareholder vision separate from the corporate vision.
• Strategies for diversification while maintaining focus.
• The importance of learning from other family businesses and developing next-generation leaders.
• The dynamics of working with siblings.

Learn more about Nielsen-Massey Vanillas
Follow on Instagram: @nielsenmassey
Watch on YouTube: @NielsenMassey
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattnielsen/

Building Unbreakable Brands is hosted by Meghan Lynch
Produced by Six-Point Creative

In this episode, we talk with Avi Siegel, the dynamic CEO of Vital Signs, who entered a family business that his mother-in-law founded as an administrative assistant, but she had ideas that he would become her succession plan. Avi's story exudes passion and unwavering dedication, as he built legitimacy along with the growing company an industry that could easily consider him an outsider. We learn how Avi fell in love with ASL, and made it his own mission to continue his mother-in-law's legacy to increase accessibility for the Deaf community and people who are heard of hearing.

Like every generational family business, at Vital Signs, there has been a push and pull between tradition and innovation. Avi opens up about the complexities of transitioning leadership in Vital Signs, where ethics are prized above profit. He shares the art of aligning interpreters with assignments that resonate with their expertise, cultivating trust and value in every client interaction. Avi discusses his venture into consulting, seeking to amplify his impact by aiding others in sales and client acquisition.

The finale of our episode brings a delightful twist as we hear from Avi's son Pace and Meghan's son, Henry. Henry interviews Pace to learn whether he might be a third generation leader of Vital Signs, and what the most challenging parts of spending time in a family business might be. (It's not what you might think!) Henry and Pace's conversation reminds us that the legacy of family enterprise is as much about the journey as it is about the destination.

Learn more about ASL interpretation and transcription from Vital Signs

Connect with Avi Siegel on LinkedIn

When Andrea Bordenca took the reigns of her parents' medical equipment repair business decades ago, she assumed that she needed to be the same kind of leader they were, with the same style and structure. She never expected doing so would hurt her relationships and undermine her legitimacy with her team. Now Andrea has embraced her own unique leadership style as CEO of DESCO, and helps other women and nonbinary leaders do the same as an executive coach. She joins Building Unbreakable Brands to talk with Meghan about her journey as a second-generation leader, and share the wisdom she has gained along the way. She provides some tips to be more in tune with the messages our body is sending us, including some great ideas on how to overcome anxiety about speaking in front of groups. She also answers Henry's questions about how DESCO has changed over the decades, and how to deal with bullies in the workplace.

Andrea's book recommendation: The Creative ACT: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

Get in touch with Andrea:
AndreaBordenca.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreabordenca/
https://www.instagram.com/andreabordenca/

Building Unbreakable Brands is hosted by Meghan Lynch
Produced by Six-Point Creative

Growing up, Sally Ekus had a unique childhood—one that simmered with the legacy of culinary media. Yet, when it came time to take over the family business, she found herself navigating a path she hadn't originally planned to follow. In our conversation with Sally, she shares her personal story of transition, revealing how she embraced leadership and infused the company with a vision for the future. We discuss the blend of tradition and innovation, how the Ekus Group has stayed true to its roots in a rapidly changing media landscape, and the essential ingredients for maintaining a brand deeply connected to the culinary arts.

Mentorship is often the hidden spice in the recipe for successful succession planning. Sally's tale is no exception, as she recounts the invaluable lessons and guidance from the founder of the Ekus Group, her mother, Lisa, which paved the way for a smooth changeover. We uncover the tactics that made this transition seamless, including the early inclusion in business operations and a clear, open dialogue that gave both clients and Sally confidence during the shift in leadership. The art of passing the torch within a family business is both art and science, and our discussion with Sally offers an insider look at this process, peppered with personal anecdotes and advice for other next gens.

As the episode progresses, we turn the page to the subject of legacy and how strategic decisions in book publishing can reinforce a brand's identity. Sally and Meghan discuss the importance of choosing the right book projects, the role of literary agents with a keen publicist's eye, and the recent merger with JVNLA that promises to enrich the company's literary legacy. Whether discussing favorite reads or how books can build unbreakable brands, Sally's insights provide a rich perspective on the importance of storytelling in the world of business. Tune in for an episode that combines the flavors of family, leadership, and evolution in the business of culinary media.

Sally's book recommendation: Pretend Soup by Molly Katzen

Get in touch with Sally:
[email protected]
Instagram: @sallyekus
The Ekus Group

Building Unbreakable Brands is hosted by Meghan Lynch
Produced by Six-Point Creative

It seems like everyone is starting a business (and a podcast!) these days. But starting is the easy part. Sustaining that business so that it truly endures is much more difficult.

Welcome to Building Unbreakable Brands, a podcast for leaders with a generational mindset. Your hosts, Meghan Lynch (Co-Founder and CEO of Six-Point) and Henry Lynch (her inquisitive 8-year-old son) will talk to people who consider themselves "brand stewards." These are business leaders who are taking care of the reputation and evolution of companies in a way that respects the past while moving toward a bright future for generations to come. We want to learn from them about how they have moved through difficult moments to keep their brands alive and thriving.to find out what it takes to keep a brand relevant, strong, and sustainable.

We hope that you will be able to draw your own lessons from these stories that will help you shape your own enduring, unbreakable brand legacy.