by ABFI
Table Talk with ABFI Host: Matt Knight, Executive Director of Alberta Business Family Institute Dive into the world of family businesses with "Table Talk with ABFI." Hosted by Matt Knight, this unscripted podcast spotlights Alberta's entrepreneurial families and we'll talk about many aspects including: -Origins & Evolution: Discover the foundation of family enterprises and their transformative journeys. -Personal Triumphs: Hear heartfelt stories of individual ambition and resilience. -Family Dynamics: Navigate the intricate interplay of relationships, transitions, and generational handovers. -Growth & Motivation: Uncover breakthrough moments and strategies propelling these businesses forward. Join the conversation and be inspired by tales of tenacity, innovation, and family legacy.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
9/14/2023
Email Addresses
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April 15, 2025
<p>In this enlightening episode of ABFI Table Talk, host Matt Knight sits down with Angela Santiago, co-founder and CEO of the Little Potato Company, to explore her remarkable journey from a small family venture to a North American agricultural powerhouse.</p><p>Angela shares the surprising origin story of how, fresh out of university and with no agricultural background, she reluctantly agreed to help her father plant a one-acre test plot of small potatoes in 1996. What began as washing potatoes in a bathtub and selling them to local delis has grown into a company that manages 14,000 acres and distributes to 20,000 stores across North America.</p><p>Throughout the conversation, three key themes emerge:<strong> </strong></p><ol><li><strong>Family Values as a Business Foundation</strong>: Angela reveals how the company's five core values—with "family" being central—guide everything from hiring decisions to strategic expansion. These values have fostered a culture where product quality and people take precedence over profits, embodying the unique strengths of family businesses. <p></p></li><li><strong>Innovation as an Entrepreneurial Spirit</strong>: From advocating for smaller potato packaging to creative product development stemming from "mistakes and laziness," Angela demonstrates how innovation permeates every aspect of the business. Her willingness to embrace new ideas—whether in automation, AI, or product lines—has kept the Little Potato Company thriving in a declining category.<strong> <br></strong><br></li><li><strong>Next-Generation Leadership Development</strong>: Perhaps most fascinating is Angela's thoughtful approach to involving her children in the business. By establishing clear ground rules—"enter where you enter," "no exceptions"—and focusing on teaching them to be "good owners" regardless of their career choices, she's creating a legacy that extends beyond the balance sheet.</li></ol><p>This episode offers invaluable insights for family business leaders navigating the complex interplay of family dynamics and business growth. Angela's experiences balancing her "life buckets"—work, family, self, and marriage—while scaling internationally provide a masterclass in entrepreneurial business family leadership.</p><p>Learn more about ABFI at<a href="https://abfi.ca/"> https://abfi.ca/</a>, connect with Matt Knight at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or LinkedIn<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattknight/"> https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattknight/</a> </p><p>Learn more about The Little Potato Company at<a href="https://www.littlepotatoes.com/"> https://www.littlepotatoes.com/</a></p><p><br>This video podcast series is proudly produced by the team at Road 55 - located in Edmonton, Alberta. For more information, please visit: <a href="https://road55.ca/">www.road55.ca</a> </p>
April 2, 2025
<p>In this insightful episode of ABFI Table Talk, host Matt Knight speaks with Franco Lombardo, founder of Veritage, about his transformative journey from financial advisor to emotional governance coach for business families. Franco shares how an ABFI event many years ago sparked his interest in family businesses, leading him to discover that even financially successful families often struggle with emotional safety within their relationships.</p><p>The conversation explores several key themes that are essential for family business success:</p><ul><li><strong>Emotional Governance</strong>: Franco explains how traditional governance documents alone cannot manage family dynamics; families need emotional governance systems that help members feel safe, respected, and included in decision-making.</li><li><strong>Safe Space Creation</strong>: Through his coaching approach, Franco helps family members understand their behaviors, identify emotional triggers, and create environments where authentic communication can flourish.</li><li><strong>Next Generation Preparation</strong>: The discussion highlights the delicate balance between supporting children and allowing them to face challenges, with practical examples of how parents can avoid enabling entitlement.</li><li><strong>Legacy Beyond Finances</strong>: Franco emphasizes that a family's most valuable asset is its human capital, suggesting that the greatest legacy is raising responsible, contributing children rather than simply transferring wealth.</li></ul><p>This episode offers valuable insights for family business leaders struggling with succession planning, family dynamics, or raising next-generation leaders who will steward the business responsibly. Franco's frameworks provide practical tools for addressing the emotional underpinnings that often determine whether a family business thrives across generations.</p><p>Listen to the full episode to discover how implementing emotional governance practices can transform your family business relationships and create a foundation for sustainable success.</p><p><br>Learn more about ABFI at <a href="https://abfi.ca/">https://abfi.ca/</a>, connect with Matt Knight at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattknight/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattknight/</a> or Twitter @mattaknight<a href="https://www.servicemasterofedm.ca/"><br></a><br>Learn more about Veritage at <a href="https://veritage.ca/">https://veritage.ca</a>, connect with Veritage at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p><p>This series is proudly produced by the team at Road 55 - located in Edmonton, Alberta. For more information, please visit: <a href="https://road55.ca/">www.road55.ca</a> </p>
March 8, 2025
<p>Join us for an engaging episode of ABFI Table Talk featuring Kevin and Jason Miller of ServiceMASTER Restore of Edmonton. When catastrophic events strike – from the Fort McMurray fires to the recent Jasper wildfires – these brothers lead and support a dynamic organization that scales from 100 to 1,400 employees virtually overnight to meet community needs.</p><p>In this episode, discover how the Miller brothers have built on the foundation their father Grant established 22 years ago after transitioning from insurance claims management to restoration services. With complementary skills – Kevin's engineering precision and Jason's business development mindset – they've created a leadership approach that respects their different strengths while maintaining family harmony and building on Grant’s strong foundation.</p><p>The conversation explores critical family enterprise themes including:</p><ul><li>The structured ownership buy-in process their father implemented and why it matters</li><li>How they navigate decision-making with a committee approach that includes three non-family partners</li><li>The brothers' candid reflections on joining the family business while maintaining separate reporting structures</li><li>Their commitment to community involvement, with a goal to donate $1 million to children's charities</li></ul><p>Whether you're navigating sibling partnerships, building business resilience, or planning family business transitions, this episode offers practical insights from a family that's made "treating people how you want to be treated" one of their guiding principle. Kevin and Jason emphasize the importance of creating an environment where family members - and everyone receives "no special treatment" and must earn their place in the organization.</p><p>Tune in to ABFI Table Talk for an authentic discussion about disaster response, franchise relationships, and how the Miller brothers are building on their father's legacy while charting their own course forward.</p><p>Learn more about ABFI at <a href="https://abfi.ca/">https://abfi.ca/</a>, connect with Matt Knight at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattknight/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattknight/</a> or Twitter @mattaknight</p><p>Learn more about ServiceMASTER Restore of Edmonton at <a href="https://www.servicemasterofedm.ca/">https://www.servicemasterofedm.ca/<br></a><br>This series is proudly produced by the team at Road 55 - located in Edmonton, Alberta. For more information, please visit: <a href="https://road55.ca/">www.road55.ca</a> </p><p><br></p>
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