Navigating the Minefield of Competing Visions: Identifying and Cultivating Next-Gen Leaders to Steer Your Family Business into the Future

Join Chris Yonker and Sara Belletete, the successor of her family’s 125-year-old New England business, for a revealing conversation on the real challenges facing family businesses today—beyond just continuity and succession. This session is designed for leaders grappling with the hard questions: “How do we manage competing visions for the future? How do we ensure our next-gen leaders are truly ready?”

This isn’t just a workshop on continuity—this is about identifying the hidden obstacles, both visible and invisible, that can derail your leadership transition. Learn how to engage both family and non-family leaders in the process, fostering collaboration and avoiding the frustrations that can drive key leaders out of your business.

Chris Yonker, an FFI Certified Family Business Advisor, and Sara Belletete, a leader and successor of her family business, will share actionable strategies, mindset shifts, and changes in being to help you  navigate the minefield of competing visions, ensuring a successful leadership transition that respects the needs of both the business and the individuals involved.

This session concluded with an interactive Q&A.

Also learn about the IFOB Next Gen Peer Groups for 2025!

Chris Yonker, CFBA, Certified Family Business Advisor

Chris Yonker specializes in assisting family enterprises as they navigate the complex dynamics of being both related and owning a business. As a Certified Family Business Advisor accredited through The Family Firm Institute, he focuses on conscientiously managing the challenges of succession, leadership transitions, and family conflict, while simultaneously crafting long-term strategies for business continuity.

Dubbed a “Life Journey Sherpa,” Chris adopts a holistic approach in his work, ensuring that each family member is regarded as a vital component of the process. His methodology is unique, blending his expertise as a Neuro-Linguistic practitioner, his academic background in Philosophy and Psychology, and his thought leadership in Personal Performance and Transformation. This approach fuses heart and soul, driving families towards extraordinary results that manifest as lasting changes.

With over 25 years of experience in driving change and leading sales at 3M, coupled with more than a decade in Family Business and Executive Consulting, Chris has developed a special form of alchemy in his consulting process. His strategy enables clients to overcome common obstacles faced by family organizations, leading them to lead deeply fulfilling lives, both individually and collectively. Many of Chris’s clients report experiencing profound healing within their families, leading to deep peace, enhanced relationships, increased happiness, and a thriving business organization.

Chris is a sought-after speaker and has been a special guest at Camden Family Wealth, The Institute for Family-Owned Business, and The Center for Family Enterprise. He has also been a featured contributor to Forbes.

Sara Belletete, VP of Branch Development, Belletetes, Inc. 

Sara is fourth generation with over 25 years of management experience. She is continuously educating herself and enthusiastically promoting shared leadership within the Belletetes organization.
Sara participates on multiple boards and roundtables in the lumber industry. One of particular note is the Next Gen Women’s Roundtable that is geared towards women in senior positions within their family business in the lumber industry.

Although a lover of all animals, she is very particular to cats. She is an avid Bruins fan and enjoy spending time at the ocean. However, her greatest pride and accomplishment are her three amazing children.