What does it mean to be Generation 1.5—old enough to remember the drywall dust, young enough to build the next playbook?

At just 20 years old, JR runs leasing at Victory Real Estate Group, sits at city council meetings for development projects, and co-founded NextGenX—a peer group for successors who know legacy is about people, not just money. He also launched Retail Equity, introducing capital raising to a business his father built without outside capital.

This episode dives into succession in motion, the courage to pitch innovation to the founder, and why “relational, not transactional” might be the most important mindset for the next generation.

You’ll hear:

• JR’s father’s rags-to-riches story and why it fuels his work ethic.
• Why weekends on job sites shaped JR’s identity as Generation 1.5.
• The early succession moves at Victory: bringing in a CFO and COO.
• How JR pitched capital raising to his dad—and why it stuck.
• Why curated peer groups are the future of successor learning.

Connect with Jahan “JR” Ramji:

Victory Real Estate Group: victoryrealestategroup.com

NextGenX: thenextgenx.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jahanramji

For Victory Group & Retail Equity inquiries, I can be reached at jr@vg-re.com

For NextGenX inquiries, I can be reached at jr@thenextgenx.com

Connect with Andrea Carpenter and Your Next Gen Friend:

Website: https://yournextgenfriend.com/

Your Next Gen Friend on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yournextgenfriend/

Your Next Gen Friend on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournextgenfriend

Andrea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreashaver/

Subscribe to "Your Next Gen Friend" on your favorite podcast player:

Spotify: https://yournextgenfriend.com/open-spotify

Apple Podcasts: https://yournextgenfriend.com/apple-podcast

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm.

Ever felt like the transition timeline is moving impossibly slow—while your career clock is

ticking fast?

AJ Treleven (EVP, Sprague Pest Solutions) walks us through the governance backbone of a century-old family enterprise: outside directors to buffer family from operations, a two-meeting cadence that separates fiduciary work from family dynamics, and a long-view philosophy that treats roles as stewarded “seats,” not permanent thrones. We dig into next-gen readiness, why “happiness is dictated by expectation,” and the underrated power of choosing to be in the business—rather than feeling forced.

You’ll learn:

• How family governance (annual family meetings + owner education) pairs with business governance (outside board, comp committee) to reduce friction.
• The two-meeting system: unit holder (fiduciary) vs. family meeting (relationships/learning).
• Why stewardship > ownership: leave the seat better, and measure leaders by the people they promote.
• The “nose in, fingers out” model for elder generations (grandparent the business).
• The mindset shift: choose to be there; align expectations or expect resentment.
• Personal growth math: if the business grows 10%, grow yourself 11%.
• 
  

Connect with AJ Treleven:

Sprague Pest Solutions — https://www.spraguepest.com/

Pacific Family Business Institute — https://www.pacificfamilybusiness.com/

Connect with Andrea Carpenter and Your NextGen Friend:

Website: https://yournextgenfriend.com/

Your Next Gen Friend on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yournextgenfriend/

Your Next Gen Friend on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournextgenfriend

Andrea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreashaver/

Subscribe to "Your Next Gen Friend" on your favorite podcast player:

Spotify: https://yournextgenfriend.com/open-spotify

Apple Podcasts: https://yournextgenfriend.com/apple-podcast

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm.

This solo episode is a little different. Andrea shares her personal answers to the three reflective questions she now asks every guest on the podcast—designed to move us through past, present, and future.

✨ Questions explored in this episode:

1. What have I chosen not to inherit?
2. What’s a part of my story that I’m learning to honor right now?
3. In one word, what am I the first of in my family?

Andrea opens up about letting go of the belief that success requires sacrificing family time, redefining what it means to be entrepreneurial, and stepping into the vulnerable role of being the “first” to go public about family, identity, and legacy.

If you’re a next gen navigating the tension of privilege, pressure, and possibility—this episode is for you.

👉 Leave a review, share this episode with a friend, and join Andrea on LinkedIn or Instagram (@yournextgenfriend) to keep the conversation going.

Connect with Andrea Carpenter and Your Next Gen Friend:

• Website: https://yournextgenfriend.com/
• Your Next Gen Friend on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yournextgenfriend/
• Your Next Gen Friend on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yournextgenfriend
• Andrea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreashaver/

Subscribe to "Your Next Gen Friend" on your favorite podcast player:

• Spotify: https://yournextgenfriend.com/open-spotify
• Apple Podcasts: https://yournextgenfriend.com/apple-podcast

Podcast theme music by Transistor.fm.