our
clients
executives and
entrepreneurs
Firsthand experience with the challenges and opportunities that entrepreneurs and executives face when starting, growing and transitioning their businesses. Highly effective at empowering business leaders; bringing out the best in communication, performance and satisfaction.
Allison has made a difference with hundreds of executives and their teams in various industries including: professional services, manufacturing, retail, construction, energy, food & beverage and others, many of which are family owned.
Family Business Owners
and Couples in Business
Added to the usual challenges that business owners already face, is the additional complexity of running a business with their life partner or family member.
Couples and family members that work together are a unique team that may have shared goals, dreams and ideals. Often, they aspire to create a meaningful and lucrative business together. However, they may find themselves experiencing tension in and out of the workplace over issues such as boundaries, conflicts, roles and responsibilities, equity, balancing personal needs, as well as time and financial pressures. If these issues are ignored or addressed in an unproductive way, it can obstruct business decisions and ultimately compromise the success of the business and relationship.
Family owned businesses face additional challenges beyond those inherent for any business. In addition to ensuring that they have healthy communication and business practices in place, family owned business must also constructively address any family dynamics, equitable roles and responsibilities, performance, succession planning and resource diversification.
Blending her firsthand experience, highly effective tools and relevant resources, Allison assists and empowers Family Business Owners and Couples In Business.
Complementing her relevant experience and skills, Allison has an outstanding network of highly qualified, experienced professionals to collaborate with on issues relevant to closely held businesses. Included are exit strategists, attorneys, HR Consultants, financial advisors and others.
What Does Sports Have To Do With Family Business Teams?
Years ago, Allison met Jack Clark, the Nation’s Top College Champion Cal Rugby Coach, who led Cal to 22 Championships, she asked Jack what he attributed the success of his team year after year and what lessons could be applied to business teams. One thing he shared was that “many businesses consider themselves to be a family, yet most families are dysfunctional”. Rather than being a “family” he fosters a “highly-functioning team” and everyone knows exactly what role they play in their team’s success.
Jack’s analogy can be applied both to family businesses as well as businesses that consider themselves like family. The important take-away is while every business deserves to have a highly functioning team, family dynamics real or perceived can get in the way of success. Do you have a highly functioning team?