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Directorship Magazine

Why Family Business Succession Planning Is Urgent

By Suzanna de Baca

12/12/2025

Family Business Directorship Magazine Member-Only

While public companies often have robust emergency plans, family-owned businesses face a unique labyrinth of legacy, kinship, and informal governance. A significant majority of these vital economic cornerstones operate without formal succession strategies, relying instead on unwritten assumptions that can lead to profound instability. This oversight can unravel even the most resilient family businesses when leadership transitions inevitably occur.

Discover why proactive engagement with both immediate contingency and long-term development strategies is paramount for safeguarding a family's legacy and securing future leadership. This article explores how to navigate these complex waters, ensuring the enterprise is prepared for any eventuality.

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Suzanna de Baca

 

Suzanna de Baca, NACD.DC®, is an experienced CEO, director, advisor, and author. She is CEO of Story Board Advisors, a firm dedicated to empowering CEOs, boards, and family businesses, and a faculty member with Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business.

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