What does it take to build something that lasts—not just for years, but across generations? In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli is joined by Alfredo De Massis, a globally recognized expert on family enterprise and author of The Family Business Book: A Roadmap for Entrepreneurial Families to Prosper Across Generations. As one of the most cited scholars in the field and a trusted advisor to multi-generational family businesses around the world, De Massis offers a rare combination of academic rigor and real-world relevance.

But don’t expect a conversation limited to family-owned companies. This episode is about how all leaders—especially those responsible for long-term value—can rethink legacy, leadership, and innovation. De Massis argues that great leaders don’t just pass down businesses; they design systems that outlast them. From ownership mindsets to innovation strategy and governance architecture, the conversation provides a blueprint for building organizations that remain relevant and resilient across time.

A central theme of the discussion is the distinction between succession planning and legacy design. De Massis challenges the outdated belief that continuity depends on finding the next version of the current leader. Instead, he introduces the concept of the "family galaxy"—a flexible, multi-entity model that allows different generations to thrive in different ways, based on their talents and motivations. He also breaks down the three layers of governance essential for long-term success: business governance, family governance, and the often-overlooked interface between them.

For CEOs, board members, and senior executives thinking beyond quarterly results, this conversation delivers both intellectual depth and actionable insight. It’s a masterclass in how to lead with intention—not just for today, but for the future you won’t be around to control.

Actionable Takeaways

• You’ll learn why the best leaders don’t plan succession—they design systems for continued relevance.
  
  
  
• Hear how to reframe ownership as a responsibility to be developed, not a status to be inherited.
  
  
  
• Explore the “family galaxy” model—and how to structure a system where multiple generations can create value.
  
  
  
• Understand how great organizations govern at three levels—and why ignoring the “interface” layer can derail everything.
  
  
  
• Discover why tradition can be a strategic asset when leaders know how to reinterpret—not resist—it.
  
  
  
• Learn how emotional dynamics influence strategic decisions in family and legacy enterprises.
  
  
  
• Find out why leadership earned through credibility—not entitlement—is key to generational success.
  
  
  
• Get practical insights into how to align governance, ownership, and innovation around shared purpose.
  
  
  
• Take away powerful questions to evaluate whether your legacy is built to evolve—or simply to endure.
  
  
  

Connect with Alfredo De Massis

Alfredo De Massis LinkedIn

Alfredo De Massis IMD

The Family Business Book

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website

What if the greatest risk to your organization isn't economic uncertainty, market volatility, or disruptive technology—but the decisions being made in your own boardroom?

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Didier Cossin, IMD professor and global expert in board governance, whose book High Performance Boards has become a must-read for senior leaders looking to elevate board effectiveness. Drawing from decades of research, real-world consulting, and cross-disciplinary experience—including economics, risk management, and even poetry—Cossin brings a powerful lens to what leadership at the top should really look like.

Cossin argues that governance has been misunderstood by many organizations as a compliance function, rather than what it truly is: a system that shapes the quality of executive decisions. He challenges CEOs and board members to rethink how they engage with one another, what information they rely on, and who actually owns governance performance. The result is a compelling case for boards as enablers of transformation—not just overseers of risk.

Throughout the conversation, Cossin shares examples and frameworks that translate theory into practice. He offers clarity on how boards can evolve to meet the complexity of today’s environment while helping CEOs make better, faster, and more strategic decisions. From the role of the chair to the structure of board packs to the power of informal intelligence, every element of this conversation is designed to elevate how boards contribute to long-term success.

If you are a CEO, board member, or executive leader committed to high-performance leadership and long-term impact, this episode offers both insight and challenge to help you lead more effectively—starting at the top.

Actionable Takeaways

• Hear how Didier Cossin reframes governance as a driver of decision quality—not just risk oversight or compliance.
  
  
  
• Learn why the chair, not the CEO, is ultimately responsible for board performance—and why that distinction matters.
  
  
  
• Discover how most boards are overwhelmed with information but still lack the intelligence needed for high-quality decisions.
  
  
  
• Understand the four levers of board performance—people, information, structure, and culture—and how each one shapes outcomes.
  
  
  
• Explore how the CEO-chair relationship must be intentionally designed, not assumed, for true alignment and accountability.
  
  
  
• Find out why board materials should be curated like an executive dashboard—and how overstuffed board books hinder strategic conversations.
  
  
  
• Learn how boards should evolve from approving strategy to actively shaping it—especially in complex and fast-moving environments.
  
  
  
• Reflect on how strong governance creates the organizational capacity to adapt, lead, and perform over the long term.
  
  
  

Connect with Didier Cossin

Didier Cossin at IMD

Didier Cossin LinkedIn

High Performance Boards

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Greg Bennick, keynote speaker, humanitarian, and author of Reclaim the Moment: Seven Strategies to Build a Better Now. Greg shares how his upbringing in a small Connecticut town with nontraditional parents helped shape his views on purpose, disruption, and transformation. Through vivid personal stories—including a near-death experience involving a truck crashing into a bookstore—Greg explores the chaos of modern life, the influence of technology, and the power of reclaiming presence and humanity.

Together, Mahan and Greg dive deep into themes of self-awareness, leadership, kindness, and the role of meaningful relationships in navigating an increasingly noisy and fast-paced world. With humor and humility, Greg invites listeners to rethink success, stay grounded, and embrace possibility—both in life and leadership.

Highlights from the Conversation

• Why noise and chaos dominate our lives—and who benefits from it
• How modern technology hijacks our attention and focus
• Reclaiming the now in a world driven by spectacle and distraction
• The near-death bookstore experience that led Greg to rediscover purpose
• Believing in the possibility of kindness to escape the trap of pessimism
• Why leaders must stop assuming the worst and start cultivating trust
• The importance of emotional buy-in and meaningful work connections
• Reverberation vs. ripple effect in leadership and idea-sharing
• Critique of traditional self-help and Greg’s human-first philosophy
• Daily practices that help Greg stay authentic and focused
• The role of relationships in countering isolation and building purpose
• Asking whether we are using technology—or being used by it

Connect with Greg Bennick:

Greg Bennick on LinkedIn

Greg Bennick's Official Website

"Reclaim the Moment: Seven Strategies to Build a Better Now"

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn

Partnering Leadership Website