Episode 43: Richard Wolkowitz on Bridging Generational Gaps in Family Business

This week on the The Family Business Audiocast, host R. Adam Smith welcomes back Richard Wolkowitz, founder of Xylogenesis and trusted family enterprise advisor. Wolkowitz breaks down nine critical differences between founder mentality and family mentality that impact family business succession. The conversation explores how governance structures can bridge these differences, the evolution of entrepreneurial thinking across generations, and strategies for empowering next-gen family members. Wolkowitz emphasizes that "healthy generational continuity" requires understanding each family member's unique strengths rather than expecting them to be carbon copies of the founder.