Episodios

  • Stop Leading on Autopilot: Mastering Conscious Communication with Chuck Wisner

    Stop Leading on Autopilot: Mastering Conscious Communication with Chuck Wisner
    Sep 22 2025

    Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 143

    Stop Leading on Autopilot: Mastering Conscious Communication.

    With Chuck Wisner

    In this episode, Chris Yonker dives into the family business world and effective communication strategies, with this week’s guest, Chuck Wisner. Chuck is a seasoned advisor and coach in communication and leadership. Together, they discuss Chuck’s book The Art of Conscious Conversations. The discussion explores themes such as the importance of examining hidden thoughts and stories that influence our communication patterns, the process of improving listening and communication skills, and strategies for facilitating effective conversations in high-stakes environments. Chuck shares insights on the value of awareness, vulnerability, and intention in transforming how we talk, listen, and interact, both in family settings and professional teams.

    · 01:31 The Importance of Conscious Conversations

    · 04:27 Understanding Conversational Patterns

    · 09:44 The Power of Stories in Communication

    · 14:29 Navigating Communication Challenges

    · 17:45 Improving Listening and Understanding

    · 20:36 The Practice of Managing Triggers

    · 23:27 Building Better Conversations

    · 25:19 The Power of Open-Handed Communication

    · 28:02 Navigating Hostility in Teams and Families

    · 28:58 Facilitation Techniques for Effective Dialogue

    · 30:16 The Importance of Listening and Perspective Sharing

    · 33:05 Leadership and the Power of Influence

    · 41:09 Self-Awareness and Changing Behavioral

    Quotes

    ·  ” I think we never were taught the ABCs of conversations, it's like, your notion about the fish and water. I use a similar quote all the time. We're like humans in conversation, not aware of the water we're swimming in, you know, we're just in it, because it's so habitual [07:58]

    ·  ” It’s this ego thing of holding onto your position tightly, having the answer. Rather than saying, can I learn something, Can I be a little humble? [26:11]

    · “My basic theory is the bigger the gap between what I'm seeing out loud and what I'm thinking, the more stress we live in.’ [39:33]

    Websites:

    · fambizforum.com.

    · www.chrisyonker.com

    · The Art of Conscious Conversations by Chuck Wisner

    · Chuckwisner.com

    · Facebook: Chuck Wisner

    · LinkedIn: Chuck Wisner
    Más Menos
    48 m
  • The Art of Transitions, Maintaining Harmony, and Heritage with Scott Anderson

    The Art of Transitions, Maintaining Harmony, and Heritage with Scott Anderson
    Sep 8 2025

    Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 142

    The Art of Transitions, Maintaining Harmony, and Heritage

    with Scott Anderson

    In this deeply revealing episode, Chris Yonker sits down with Scott Anderson, founder and CEO of Doubledare Executive Coaching and a licensed mental health therapist, to unpack the silent epidemic of burnout among entrepreneurs and executives. With personal experience as a serial entrepreneur and trauma-informed therapist, Scott shares the real definition of burnout, why high performers are most susceptible to it, and how to reverse it—quickly and permanently.

    They explore the psychology behind overworking, the nervous system’s role in stress addiction, and the cultural myths that keep us in cycles of burnout. Scott outlines a practical path to healing and freedom, including how to neutralize the stories that drive compulsive behavior, how to regulate stress in real-time, and what life looks like on the other side of burnout.

    • 02:00 - What is burnout and how do we define it
    • 04:20 - Scott’s personal story: serial entrepreneurship and collapse
    • 06:40 - The official definition and symptoms of burnout
    • 08:30 - When rest doesn’t help: signs it’s not “just stress”
    • 10:15 - The dangerous story behind entrepreneurial drive
    • 14:00 - How childhood trauma contributes to burnout patterns
    • 18:30 - Somatic stress recovery vs. “figuring it out” in your head
    • 22:00 - R&R technique for real-time stress release
    • 26:30 - What life after burnout looks like
    • 32:00 - How to neutralize your most toxic stories

    Quotes

    · “Working harder and worrying more works - until it doesn’t.”
    [09:10]

    · “The most dangerous part is that burnout actually predicts financial success. That’s what makes it so insidious.”
    [37:20]

    · “Life beyond burnout is not a compromise. It’s a profound upgrade.”
    [39:30]

    Websites:

    · fambizforum.com.

    · www.chrisyonker.com

    · doubledareyou.us

    · BurnoutBreakthrough.com – Learn more about Scott’s programs and book

    · FastFixCall.com – Schedule a free 15-minute triage call

    · Burnout Breakthrough – Available through Scott’s site

    Scott’s Bio:

    Scott Anderson is the founder and CEO of Doubledare Executive Coaching and Consulting, and
    is a licensed mental health therapist. He has been featured in both Forbes and Entrepreneur
    Magazines, and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and high-performance executives break
    through painful plateaus and achieve even higher levels of success and fulfillment at work and
    at home.
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    42 m
  • Balancing Boardrooms and Bedrooms - When You and Your Spouse are in a Family Business Together

    Balancing Boardrooms and Bedrooms - When You and Your Spouse are in a Family Business Together
    Aug 25 2025

    Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 141

    Balancing Boardrooms and Bedrooms - When You and Your Spouse are in a Family Business Together With Gabriela Embon

    In this powerful and practical episode, Chris Yonker is joined by transformational coach and author Gabriela Embon to explore what it really takes to sustain a legendary marriage—especially when love and business intertwine. Gabriela shares insights from her journey from engineer to relationship strategist and introduces the Four Pillars of Legendary Marriage from her book Becoming a Power Couple.

    Together, they dive into boundaries, communication, conflict repair, intimacy, self-awareness, co-leadership, and how couples can integrate their personal and professional lives with more grace, connection, and fulfillment. Whether you and your partner work together or not, this episode is packed with real-life tools to deepen your bond while still pursuing ambitious goals.

    • 02:14 – Why relationships fall apart when home gets the “leftovers”
    • 07:00 – “Your spouse comes first” - navigating loyalty and family friction
    • 13:00 – Creating new identities when becoming a spouse and parent
    • 16:00 – When both partners are drained - how disconnection begins
    • 18:30 – Presence over performance: love is not about taking
    • 24:00 – Operational vs. connection rituals to run a marriage well
    • 26:30 – The power of “communication on demand” and weekly planning
    • 28:00 – Physical intimacy as a foundation for emotional intimacy
    • 30:00 – Couples working together: blending romance with strategy
    • 35:30 – How affairs and breakdowns begin: the warning signs
    • 38:00 – The bedroom is the sanctuary: why sleeping apart is a red flag
    • 41:00 – Resentment, indifference, and relationship repair
    • 44:25 – About Gabriela’s book and where to learn more

    Quotes

    · “Your spouse comes first—even before your children, your parents, your business partners. Nothing should come between you.”[07:32]

    · “When one partner feels like they’re getting the leftovers, it’s often because they’ve abandoned the co-creation of the relationship.”[16:07]

    · “Love is beautiful—but it’s not a strategy. Commitment is. Rituals are. Showing up even when you don’t feel like it is.”[28:30]

    Websites:

    · fambizforum.com.

    · www.chrisyonker.com

    • GabrielaEmbon.com
    • Gabriela’s Book: Becoming a Power Couple
    • Gabriela's LinkedIn
    • Gabriela's Facebook
    • Own Your Choices Own Your Life: The Four Pillars of a Power Couple with Gabriela Embon
    • Own Your Creativity: Uncovering Truth in Conflict Gabriela Embon
    • Forgive and Thrive: 179 | Essential Tools For Building A Lasting relationship with Gabriela Embon
    Más Menos
    46 m
  • Succession without Sabotage: How to Pass the Baton and Protect Your Culture with Andy Busser

    Succession without Sabotage: How to Pass the Baton and Protect Your Culture with Andy Busser
    Aug 11 2025
    Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 140 Succession without Sabotage: How to Pass the Baton and Protect Your Culture with Andy Busser In this high-level conversation, Chris Yonker interviews Andy Busser, President and CEO of Pitcairn, a multi-family office with a deep legacy of serving ultra-wealthy families. Together, they unpack what it means to lead a family-owned enterprise, especially as a non-family CEO, and how modern governance, culture, and communication influence business longevity. Andy shares strategic insights and lived experience from both inside and outside the boardroom, including best practices for building fiduciary boards, designing family councils, developing rising generations, and aligning leadership around shared values. From employment policies to emotional landmines, this episode offers a rare look into the psychology, strategy, and heart of enduring family enterprises. Timestamps 02:00 - Meet Andy Busser: from consulting and PE to Pitcairn’s CEO 07:15 - Working with wealthy families: early client relationships that changed everything 11:10 - Educating the next generation: where and how to start the conversation 15:45 - Aligning values, interests, and business literacy in rising generations 20:00 - Family employment policies and why billion-dollar firms still lack them 24:10 - Hiring non-family CEOs and building fiduciary boards 28:40 - How to handle founder resistance, power transitions, and board pushback 32:20 - Addressing accountability and culture as primary family values 36:00 - Philanthropy: how separate pools can create clarity and harmony 39:30 - The importance of conflict, clarity, and governance documentation 45:15 - Trends in family business: what’s changing, and what’s still missing 50:30 - Why family retreats matter—and how to design them well 55:00 - Decision-making frameworks, role clarity, and culture building 1:00:00 - Andy’s perspective on culture, hiring, and leadership assessments 1:04:15 - Where to learn more about Pitcairn and connect with Andy Quotes · "If you want to own the business for generations, P&L has to come last. It’s not unimportant, it’s a byproduct of vision, people, and strategy."[31:30] · "Problems age like milk, not wine. If you let them fester, they only get worse."[48:10] · "We’re very intentional about the culture we want. Then we hire people who are great carriers of that culture."[60:45] Websites: · fambizforum.com. · www.chrisyonker.com · Pitcairn.com Andy Busser President & Chief Executive Officer Bio: As CEO, Andy is responsible for guiding the firm’s client-centric culture and overseeing all of Pitcairn’s operations. His vision for the company is to continually evolve the Pitcairn client experience by enhancing the firm’s integrated approach to sophisticated family office services for multi-generational families. Andy has a passion for solving complex problems. He also has a gift for establishing meaningful, lasting professional relationships. These traits were instrumental over the past decade as he spearheaded efforts to make Pitcairn’s client experience a standard of excellence for family office service. His enthusiasm and curiosity inspire the entire Pitcairn team toward an unwavering focus on integration, innovation, and lifelong learning. Though known for his commitment to objective analysis, Andy sees Pitcairn as a driver of growth for both wealth and family relationships. His key priorities for Pitcairn are delivering an outstanding client experience, investing in talent, and leveraging technology. Andy’s previous professional positions positioned him to acquire the knowledge, proficiency, and insight needed to steer a 100-year-old family office into its next century. Before becoming CEO in 2023, he served as Pitcairn’s President of Family Office, where he led the firm’s team of relationship managers, analysts, and client communications professionals. Prior to joining Pitcairn in 2015, Andy was a partner at Symphony Capital, a healthcare-focused investment manager of private equity and hedge funds, and a management consultant at The Wilkerson Group/Wilkerson Partners. A steadfast advocate for the importance of helping families become successful stewards of wealth, Andy is an in-demand public speaker and frequently presents at events hosted by industry organizations, such as Family Wealth Alliance, Family Office Exchange, and Family Business Magazine’s Transitions and Family Business Legacy conferences. He is also sought out for his industry perspective by the business media and has been quoted in Barron’s, Bloomberg, Crain Currency, NPR, Family Business Magazine, and elsewhere. He is also a regular contributor to Forbes where he writes a column about issues relevant to family office operations. Andy is a member of the Wigmore Association, a global collaboration of chief ...
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    47 m
  • Leadership Evolution & Strategy with Nicole Van Valen

    Leadership Evolution & Strategy with Nicole Van Valen
    Jul 28 2025
    Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 139 Leadership Evolution & Strategy with Nicole Van Valen In this inspiring and energizing conversation, Chris Yonker sits down with resilience strategist, author, and former NFL and NBA dancer Nicole Van Valen to explore the real ingredients behind sustainable leadership. From burnout recovery to joyful performance, Nicole shares how leaders can build emotional and strategic resilience in today’s fast-paced business world. They also dive into generational shifts in the workplace, the role of joy in high-performance leadership, and how managers can meet employees with empathy while maintaining accountability. Nicole’s therapeutic background and executive coaching experience combine to deliver a masterclass on modern leadership for anyone navigating stress, change, or challenge. Timestamps 02:10 – Introducing Nicole Van Valen: therapist, resilience strategist, former pro dancer 05:45 – From corporate burnout to joyful leadership 07:00 – Joy as a resilience resource: how dance kept Nicole grounded 10:45 – Should we do what we’re good at or what we love? 13:10 – Defining resilience: the basketball metaphor for bouncing forward 16:05 – The razor’s edge: individual pathways through adversity 19:45 – Resilience lessons from COVID and beyond 22:15 – Empathy vs. accountability: navigating messy leadership moments 28:30 – Cross-generational workplace friction and expectations 30:55 – Sick pets, hot days, and what’s really going on with your team 33:45 – Coaching your team without becoming their therapist 36:45 – A surprising example of values-based leadership in action 39:00 – Nicole’s top tip: put joy on your calendar 41:00 – Dessert first: the value of doing what lights you up 42:45 – Nicole’s book, assessment tool, and free resources Quotes · “If you tap into the joys of your life, you’re more energized to go into your organization and deliver.” - Nicole Van Valen [06:50] · “Resilience is about bouncing forward. It’s having a goal in mind—and a plan for when the stressors come.” - Nicole Van Valen [13:15] · “Empathy doesn’t mean we stop holding people accountable. It means we understand where they’re coming from.” - Nicole Van Valen [24:45] Websites: · fambizforum.com. · www.chrisyonker.com · KeenInsights.com · KeenInsights.com/book – The Joyful Leader · Free Sphere of Resilience Assessment – Take Nicole’s 8-domain self-assessment for leaders Nicole Van Valen, M.S., L.M.F.T., SHRM-SCP is an internationally recognized speaker, consultant, and published author of The Joyful Leader. With more than 25 years of experience across healthcare, behavioral health, and entertainment, she helps executives and organizations navigate stress, build resilient cultures, and lead with greater empathy and impact. Nicole is the Founder and CEO of Keane Insights, where she merges neuroscience, mental health, and leadership strategy to create high-performing, inclusive workplaces. A former Miami Dolphins Cheerleader and Miami HEAT Dancer, she brings unmatched energy and authenticity to her work—championing transformation through joy.
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    45 m
  • Self Awareness & Emotional Intelligence with Stephanie Chung

    Self Awareness & Emotional Intelligence with Stephanie Chung
    Jul 15 2025

    Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 138

    Self Awareness & Emotional Intelligence with Stephanie Chung

    In this electric and eye-opening episode, Chris Yonker sits down with aviation pioneer and leadership strategist Stephanie Chung to unpack what it truly takes to lead in today’s world of diverse teams, generational differences, and ever-shifting business landscapes. Stephanie, the first African American president of a private aviation company in the U.S. and former CGO of Wheels Up, blends boardroom brilliance with neuroscience-backed leadership insight.

    From building trust through body language to unlocking innovation by embracing difference, Stephanie shares stories from her jet-fueled career and her newest book Ally Leadership. Whether you're a CEO, a team leader, or a parent navigating complex human dynamics, this episode will stretch your perspective on influence, equity, and modern leadership.

    Timestamps

    • 01:45 - Meet Kristi Baxter and Chris Yonker: their backgrounds in family business, coaching, 01:45 – Introduction to Stephanie Chung and her aviation leadership journey
    • 05:10 – Why we default to leading and selling in our own style - and why it limits us
    • 07:15 – Six generations in the workforce: a communication and leadership wake-up call
    • 09:45 – How the brain evaluates trust - and the power of facial expressions
    • 13:00 – Ask, Listen, Learn, Act: the “ALLY” leadership model and its impact
    • 19:00 – Dropping preconceived notions: how bias forms and how to meet people where they are
    • 23:00 – Finding business in unlikely places: a story of jet sales and chicken farms
    • 29:30 – Navigating generational differences around work-life values
    • 33:00 – Meeting dynamics and how to create true psychological safety
    • 35:00 – E.A.R.N. Model: How to truly earn allyship as a leader
    • 39:00 – Why every team member should walk a mile in another’s shoes
    • 44:45 – One question every leader should ask to connect personally and meaningfully
    • 46:30 – Where to learn more from Stephanie and access her leadership resources

    Quotes

    · “It’s not about how you communicate. It’s about how they prefer to be communicated with.” [08:25]

    · “Bias isn’t always bad. But we must be aware of it - especially when we’re leading people who aren’t like us.” [19:30]

    · “Employees want leaders who are better communicators. Not just with words, but with presence and action.” [44:50]

    Websites:

    · fambizforum.com.

    · www.chrisyonker.com

    · StephanieChung.com

    · YourAllyInLeadership.com - Sign up for Stephanie’s neuroscience-backed leadership newsletter

    Stephanie is not just an #1 international best-selling author; she's a force of strategic innovation, a beacon of change, and a titan in the world of business growth and human capital management. With over 30 years of experience, Stephanie has cultivated a reputation for turning challenges into opportunities and transforming growing businesses into thriving hubs of success. In her book, Ally Leadership: How to Lead People Who Are Not Like You, Stephanie Chung provides practical strategies for leaders willing to admit they don’t have all the answers, accept that their perspective isn’t the only one, and commit to learning about people different from themselves.
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    48 m
  • Succession Beyond the Transition: Gaining confidence while strengthening leadership and family relationships with Kristi Baxter

    Succession Beyond the Transition: Gaining confidence while strengthening leadership and family relationships with Kristi Baxter
    Jun 30 2025

    Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 137

    Succession Beyond the Transition: Gaining confidence while strengthening leadership and family relationships with Kristi Baxter

    In this masterclass-style episode, Chris Yonker and Kristi Baxter deliver a powerful, holistic perspective on the complex realities of succession planning. With decades of experience working with privately held and family-owned businesses—from $1M operations to $10B enterprises—Chris and Kristi unpack the emotional, strategic, and structural dimensions of continuity planning.

    This session goes far beyond strategy and legal frameworks; it ventures into the inner work required for a successful transition across generations. Whether you're preparing to step back, step in, or steward a legacy across generations, this episode offers the roadmap—and reflection prompts—you need now.

    Timestamps

    • 01:45 - Meet Kristi Baxter and Chris Yonker: their backgrounds in family business, coaching, and enterprise leadership
    • 08:30 - The story of Jeff: when life changes the plan and succession gets real
    • 13:10 - Why succession is not an event, but a journey
    • 16:30 - The top concerns facing family businesses today
    • 21:00 - Common succession mistakes: replacing ourselves, unequal contribution, and CEOs who won’t let go
    • 29:45 - Should we sell or keep the business? The family-first lens on exit decisions
    • 33:15 - Why traditional advisors aren’t enough and how to build a holistic team
    • 38:10 - Chris & Kristi’s five-part succession methodology
    • 43:00 - Diving deeper: self-awareness, readiness, and leadership development
    • 49:00 - Governance, continuity, and what makes a transition successful
    • 54:10 - Blind spots that derail transitions and how to name them
    • 59:45 - The importance of facilitating difficult conversations in family systems
    • 1:05:30 - Where to begin: tools, surveys, and one powerful question

    Quotes

    · "Succession isn't an event, it's a journey of stewardship. And the journey starts now." [13:10]

    · "You can't build the future with the emotional weight of the past running the show." [53:45]

    · "Your organization is only as strong as the people in it. You are in the people business first." [43:15]

    Websites:

    fambizforum.com.

    www.chrisyonker.com

    Contact Kristi: kristi@chrisyonker.com

    Take the Succession Survey

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    1 h y 2 m
  • What if growth isn't the goal?

    What if growth isn't the goal?
    Jun 17 2025
    Secret Thoughts of CEOS Ep. 136 What if growth isn't the goal? with Perrin DesPortes In this deeply reflective and energizing episode, Chris Yonker and Perrin DesPortes engage in a rare bidirectional dialogue, unpacking the hidden costs of ambition, the personal reckoning that comes with burnout, and the awakening that’s possible when business success is aligned with inner fulfillment. Perrin, founder of The Next Level Executive, shares his evolution from a high-powered career in dental distribution and M&A to building a purpose-driven coaching practice for healthcare entrepreneurs. Together, they explore the illusions of success, the cultural shifts shaping dentistry and family business today, and how to create a life, and business, you actually want to live in. This is a conversation about course correction, conscious entrepreneurship, and building legacy from the inside out. Timestamps 02:00 - Meet Perrin DesPortes and his journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship 08:45 - Chris shares his path out of 3M and into legacy-centered coaching 16:15 - Why many entrepreneurs wake up inside a life they don’t want 22:50 - Burnout, overwork, and boredom: what triggers the desire for change 29:40 - Dentistry’s consolidation, private equity, and chasing someone else’s dream 38:10 - The power of clarity: asking “What do I really want?” 44:55 - Family business succession, ego, identity, and the real work of letting go 52:35 - The sacred role of the advisor: holding discomfort and navigating emotional fire 58:00 - Partnerships, misalignment, and the silent cost of avoidance 1:04:20 - Entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be lonely: the value of coaching and counsel 1:09:00 - Resources, next steps, and how to work with Perrin or Chris Quotes · "Bored people make bad business decisions because they start chasing a dream that’s not even their own."[22:50] · "Wherever you go, you take yourself with you."[41:35] · "Entrepreneurship can be a very lonely road - but it doesn’t have to be."[1:04:20] Websites: fambizforum.com. www.chrisyonker.com The Next Level Executive https://www.facebook.com/PerrinDesPortesNLE https://www.youtube.com/@PerrinDesPortes https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetperrin/ Perrin DesPortes is the Founder of The Next Level Executive. He is a Washington & Lee University graduate and earned his MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. Perrin has over 25 years of experience in the business side of dentistry, having run three different business units for Patterson Dental Supply over a 15-year career. For the last decade, he has built and exited two very successful start-ups in TUSK Partners and Polaris Healthcare Partners, both of which focus in the Group Practice Consulting and Transactional space. Perrin is happily married with an 11 year-old daughter at home. In his spare time, he is an avid cyclist; enjoys cooking and reading; and loves good red wine and strong coffee. The Next Level Executive combines Perrin’s decades of experience working in Corporate America and consulting directly with healthcare entrepreneurs on their growth journey all distilled into actionable content and practical wisdom. Next Level Executives have: · clarity in understanding how their business truly fits together · confidence in their ability to lead from a position of strength · an edge to make the right decisions at the right time If you’ve mastered practice ownership and are wanting to evolve from “a Clinician who owns a Practice to an Entrepreneur who leads a Business,” then you need to focus on your own professional development to become a more effective executive – and becoming a more effective executive is what The Next Level Executive is all about…
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    54 m