How do you know when your successor is ready to take over?
Katie Ittenbach, President & CEO of
SMARI Research, and SMARI founder Jim Ittenbach join Scott Eckart to talk about how their family business successfully transitioned from one generation to the next. For over a decade, Katie climbed the corporate ladder and showed her value to the company, until Jim knew she was ready to lead.
Katie and Jim share pivotal moments from their story, such as Katie’s shift from biochem to business and Jim’s decision to accelerate her path to leadership. You’ll hear about the skills that Katie had to develop on her way to the top, how Jim learned to let go and trust his daughter’s leadership, and how to maintain a professional relationship with family in the workplace.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to identify when your successor is ready, even if they’re your own child
- What it looks like to lead in a new way without losing the founder’s legacy
- How taking on a leadership role starts with small decisions
Things to listen for:
(
01:19) Meet Katie and Jim Ittenbach
(
03:17) Why joining the family business wasn’t Katie’s original plan
(
10:27) The moment Jim decided to go all-in on SMARI
(
15:14) How to spot talent and drive
(
16:45) How Katie earned clients’ trust without using her last name
(
21:10) The moment Jim knew Katie was ready to lead
(
23:30) How Katie and Jim set professional boundaries
(
27:14) Making decisions for the company before becoming CEO
(
31:36) The importance of collaborating with a group
(
42:57) The secret to an effective succession plan
Resources:
What is Future Proof?
The biggest shifts in a business often come from decisions no one else sees.
Future Proof is a show for business owners facing the pressure to grow and the weight of legacy, often at the same time.
Hosted by Scott Eckart, each episode features honest conversations with leaders who’ve made bold moves, stepped into succession, or redefined success altogether. You’ll hear what they were up against, what they chose, and what they’d do differently now.
If you're thinking about what's next and want to build a business that lasts, this is the show for you.