Ep. 11 | Succession Planning, Tragedy & Rebuilding at Any Age | Dr. Diana Monea

What does it take to rebuild your life and your practice after decades of ownership, unexpected loss, and major life transitions — all at the same time?In this episode, we sit down with the remarkable Dr. Diana Monea, optometrist, keynote speaker, consultant, and author with over 40 years of leadership in clinical practice and practice management. Dr. Monea founded and scaled three independent practices, led teams of over 40 staff and five associates, and successfully executed a structured succession plan in 2025 — all while navigating profound personal adversity.In this deeply inspiring conversation, Dr. Monea shares why succession planning is not optional but essential, the concrete steps to begin a structured plan without feeling overwhelmed, how adversity reshaped her leadership and taught her empathy and humanity, why she returned to university in her 60s to complete her Master of Human Resource Management, and how to manage multiple major life transitions at the same time without losing focus.Her definition of legacy says it all: “A ripple of trust, kindness, and vision that we leave behind to improve the lives of others.”Whether you are a practice owner navigating succession, an eye care professional stepping into your next chapter, or simply someone who believes in leading with courage and humanity — this episode is for you.A heartfelt thank you to our media partner Optik for supporting the podcast.Subscribe and follow Eye on the Industry so you never miss a future conversation.