March 17, 2025

Building a Legacy: Succession & the Future of Family Businesses

In this episode of One Pour Problems, Sal Marino sits down with Jill Mayer, CEO of Bead Industries, to discuss her experience taking over the family manufacturing business. Jill opens up about the smoother transition she had with her father compared to generations before, the value of tribal knowledge from long-term employees, and how succession planning is more than just handing over the keys.

She shares insights on balancing family dynamics with business operations, why board involvement shaped her growth, and how letting go of a business—at the right time—is a powerful act of leadership. Whether you're in a family business or navigating leadership development, this episode delivers actionable wisdom.

Perfect for listeners interested in:
Succession planning, family business leadership, preserving company culture, leadership development, manufacturing industry, and strategic growth planning.

Sal sits down with Jill Mayer, CEO of Bead Industries, to discuss her journey in leading her family’s manufacturing business. She shares how her transition with her father was smoother than his own, the role of long-term employees in succession planning, and the tight-knit nature of the industry. Jill additionally highlights the importance of setting work-family boundaries, preserving tribal knowledge as older employees retire, and having a strong board of directors. Her father had encouraged her to serve on boards as well, to open doors and reinforce her passion for helping others. Jill also explores the challenges of letting go of a business and how programs like Vistage support leadership growth.

English (auto-generated)