Andreas von Specht on LinkedIn: #familybusinesses #familyoffices #succession #thewarfortalent (2025)

And we are off! 🚄 🇳🇱 🇬🇧 🗣 👑 Over the next week I’m doubling down on my passion and commitment to the family business community both globally and nationally.My exciting family business tour starts at the FBN-The Family Business Network Next Gen Summit in the Netherlands from Thursday - Saturday. Not only as event MC with the amazing Monique Prins, where we will both have the absolute honour of introducing Queen Maxine 👑, but also hosting panel and workshop sessions on diversity in family business.With Diversity now front and centre as a core value pillar of FBN - we are going to explore different personal journeys of diversity, the success, the challenges and thoughts for the future. As a Next Gen community we are also going to explore what diversity means to the global next generation of family business owners and leaders. These two sessions are going to be life changing stuff as we engage the NxGen’s on what it means to your true self both at work and as a family business member. If after all this I haven’t lost my voice (that’ll be the day I can hear some of you thinking with your fingers crossed).......Back in soggy London next week I am speaking at the Family Business UK Annual Conference as part of a guest panel on ... yes you guessed it ... Diversity and company culture. With an election only weeks away the pressure is on all business and the FBUK annual conference is the meeting of the UKs best and brightest from the FB world - carving out, celebrating and giving families a voice in the corridors of power. Because, let us not forget in the UK Family Businesses account for 90% of all private firms in the UK, 4.8m businesses! Employing nearly 14m people and generating over £200bn for the public purse 26% of total receipts. Punchy! I personally cannot wait, I get to meet some amazing people, talk about something I am hugely passionate about at a national and global level and even if one family, if one business, takes something from this then the trickle down effect of that in their business will change lives - better company cultures, better ownership and better businesses will evolve.#familybusiness #summit #conference #bennie #diversity

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Join me as I moderate a panel “Navigating Frederick County’s Development Pipeline: Life Science, Industrial and Multifamily” at the Bisnow Exploring Frederick County event - May 29th! These real estate experts will be diving deep into the latest trends and innovations shaping #FrederickCountyMD real estate industry. Stay tuned for insightful and thought provoking ideas! Discount code in post below! #BisnowEvent #RealEstateTrends

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Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire: The Community is Burning Brightly at AssemblyLast night was one of those rare moments where everything just clicked. I had the privilege of attending Assembly, hosted by Carson Hood, Tony Kadillak, Mitch Monson, and the incredible lineup of sponsors below. The evening wasn’t just about gathering a group of talented, creative people in one room—it was about building real, honest connections. And for that, I want to say thank you.There’s something special about an event where the focus isn’t on professional pretense or transactional networking. Last night, we dropped the usual guard and just connected. Conversations were raw, real, and meaningful. That’s the magic of Assembly—it creates a space where people can be authentic, share their stories, and discover new opportunities, not just professionally, but personally.In today's challenged industry, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and lose sight of what really matters—community. The kind of community where we engage deeply with one another, where we build relationships that last beyond the moment. That’s what Assembly brought to the table last night, and it’s a reminder of how important it is to keep showing up for each other.These are the moments where the best ideas are born. My involvement withSocial Departmentis a perfect example. Through many conversations like the ones I had last night, I uncovered a real need in the market that hadn’t been addressed. By staying open to honest, sometimes tough discussions, I discovered an opportunity I might have otherwise missed—leading me to the platform Jonathan Verk and Aaron Adler were building and ultimately to our launch last week. It’s in these genuine exchanges that real opportunities emerge, moving us forward both individually and as a community.So here’s a heartfelt thank you to Carson, Tony, Mitch, and all the sponsors. You’ve created something truly special with Assembly. It’s events like these that remind us of the power of real connection. Looking forward to the next one.Assembly's Amazing Sponsors!BigStarVERSUSSibling RivalryCompadreEliasKing+Country™PILOT CONTENTNathaniel HoweRogerMass FX MediaNorthern Lights

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Shawn Mahoney and Jason Reckamp are the kind of people you want to know. Four months ago, I couldn’t have picked these guys out of a lineup. But thanks to the unpredictable chaos of networking, we crossed paths, and just like that, I met two people who don’t just talk the talk about supporting others—they actually live it.Fast forward to now: we’ve logged countless coffee meetups (or tea—still not judging, Shawn 😉), lunches where the ideas flowed and discussions were memorable. And yesterday? We spent an afternoon at the STL Expo in St. Charles, proving once again that having the right people in your corner makes all the difference. I can’t thank them enough for their unwavering support.Here’s the thing—it’s rare to find people who not only get your hustle but are ready to back it up without needing an invitation. These guys hype me up—even when I’m not there. How do I know? Because their words echo back to me through the grapevine. And yes, I do the same for them. Because that’s how real connections work: you build, you lift, you celebrate together.So, here’s the takeaway: find the people who see the world through a lens that matches yours, who know that lifting each other up isn’t just a feel-good idea—it’s the key to progress. Build relationships with those who not only recognize your value but share your values. People who’ll have your back even when you’re not around to hear it firsthand.To Shawn and Jason: your support isn’t just appreciated—it’s a game changer! 🍻 Here’s to finding those rare, genuine connections that make the grind worth it and remind us all that we’re better when we lift each other up.

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INGEUS 4th the value of lived experience event!So, this week I was planning to start publicly advertising tickets for the next Ingeus Lived Experience Event.However, after sending initial invites out, we have had to open a waiting list already! With just under 4 weeks to go, there is still time for tickets to become available so please use the link to join the waiting list: https://lnkd.in/dNHtHJ4iIngeus will once again be busting myths around employing those in our communities who have lived experience of the criminal justice system.Ingeus have booked Sunderland City Council, City Hall which has a capacity for 200 people.Guests will be able to hear from inspiring speakers, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and connect with like-minded individuals. This in-person event is a unique opportunity to gain insights, share stories, and learn from others' experiences. We are delighted to have Helen Judge, HMPPS Area Executive Director for the North East, chairing one of two panel discussions.We will be sharing more details over the next few weeks as we lead up to the event.Here's what attendees at our three previous events said:"This was definitely a great event setting out to do what it said on the tin with the knowledge and experience of Timpsons, Greggs and Unlock.""Everyone makes mistakes. Allowing second chances promotes a diverse employment strategy for change and inclusion.""More diverse teams make the best teams."Employing someone with a criminal record can provide: "Inspiration. Hope. Empathy. Commitment. Loyalty!""Thanks for inviting me. It was inspirational and eye-opening. A really valuable session.""It was memorable, moving, and inspiring, a real highlight. I loved the fact it was led by the service users themselves and very much focused on their stories. It felt authentic and real, and helped overcome my own misconceptions and dare I say it, judgements. In that sense, it had a profound impact on me". #weareingeus #enablingbetterlives #sunderland #employability

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👉 Houston, something special is happening.Whether you’re a tech startup, an established business, or a brick-and-mortar Cup of Joey®️ Joey Sanchez is coming to Memorial City, offering you a unique opportunity to connect with driven professionals and grow your business.At Cup of Joey, it’s not just about great coffee (though Blacksmith Coffee Company LLC is top-tier). It’s about connections that matter. Meaningful conversations that push your business forward, and a community of people who are just as committed to their vision as you are.Here’s the truth:It’s not about what you do—it’s about 𝐖𝐇𝐘 you do it.This is your chance to share your mission with like-minded individuals who are here to build something bigger. Bring your "𝐰𝐡𝐲" because that’s what makes this experience so powerful.As an 𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 for Cup of Joey, KONECTU's 𝐖𝐇𝐘 is clear:We make 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨𝐩-𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫, eliminating the exhausting hunt and delivering high-quality matches so businesses can scale faster. When you’re focused on growth, not the search for talent, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬.Memorial City is the perfect bridge for connecting professionals with local businesses. Whether you're scaling, building, or innovating, this networking event is for you.If you're in Memorial, the Heights, inside the Loop, and surrounding areas and want to be part of this community, here’s the link to sign up:📌 https://lnkd.in/g2azPVRdShow up. Share your why. 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.

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Let’s recap what happened last week at the Conference! It was an amazing time, and one of the things I love about attending events in our specialization is that no matter where you are in your professional journey, you can teach others AND learn from them as well! We all have something of value to share.I’m sharing these takeaways because one of the things I strongly believe in is being real with people. When we have things that we second guess about ourselves, connections like we make at these kinds of events can often shake us out of our doubts.So, my first take away is that I am on the right path, and that many of my very accomplished peers are using a similar model in the families that they work with. That was very affirming!My second set of takeaways came from “Partners In Time: Consulting to the Multigenerational Family Enterprise” by Mark Serkin. It reaffirmed my efforts in how I frame and understand the family system, business system and owner system; and, how I work with multigenerational family enterprises!It also expanded my understanding of how to work with families around core values, including additional tools to help articulate what can be sometimes difficult to put into words, which is our core values and beliefs, so that families can find ways to move from individual understandings of core values to how those come together to drive the work and philanthropy of the familyMy final key take away, was really around personal vulnerability during the conference. I was able to make deeper connections with people whom I look up to in respect within my profession, and more than ever was able to be comfortable with who I am as my authentic self, and was able to really exist in my full self within this community, and that allowed me to share things with others, that I might not always be open to sharing. I found that within that vulnerability there was a great opportunity for connection to people who I might look up to as role models shared their vulnerability and experience with me, and through those I was able to find not just professional connections, but additional opportunities for mentorship. And over all I was just amazed, and blown away by the generosity and understanding that can happen from just me being my quirky goofy vulnerable me!What about you? When you’re feeling disconnected and full of self doubt, what helps you to make connection?

We just hosted another Club Dinner — this time in Paris! 🗼🥐We had a wide breadth of industries on show last night, with people coming from France, Spain and the US representing pharma, energy, transportation, luxury, insurance, space, consumer goods and internal development. Here are five key takeaways I left the dinner with:1. It’s important to engage with innovators (investment, partnership, acquisition) to build new capabilities and strengthen value prop to clients 🏗️2. AI is an omnipresent co-pilot that needs human expertise. For instance, FounderNest can scout for great companies, but SMEs still need to make decisions. Also, the human element is still important (e.g. getting along with the scouted companies) 🔗3. External facing teams work (and need to work) very closely with the business units (e.g. innovation, CVC, Corp Dev). Any engagement must fit with BU needs or the company's strategic priorities 🎯4. Exploration topics to solve pain points and staying ahead of the pack is becoming more and more specific (and complex). Traditional methods are no longer valid, so AI and solutions like FounderNest are really helping corporations gain a competitive advantage 📈5. 2024 seems to be a transition year from a record low in 2023, with 2025 gearing up to be a year of growth in terms of innovation activity ⏳Great conversations and synergies, and I’m loving how we’re fostering a community contributing to the advancement of local ecosystems. Keep your eyes peeled for the next one!

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August started off a bit 'meh' but ended up being a banger month for Counselwell! Let's take a look at the highs and lows:HIGHS:✅ This one deserves the top spot - we had our highest revenue month in company history! ✅ We welcomed 15 new members this month, 8 of them within the last few days of the month, thanks to a promotion✅ We hosted a dinner event for women GCs in Toronto, and received fantastic feedback. Thanks to our attendees, to Shivani Anand Calderon for representing Counselwell and to Christine Holmes, LL.B, JD and LawyersInHouse.com for sponsoring!✅ My virtual EA started work this month and it's been like a huge weight off my shoulders. It's not all on me anymore! Once you start delegating, there's no going back.✅ For the first time in company history, the Counselwell site broke 20,000 monthly views! We never had a month above 15,000 views, let alone 20,000. We had an average of 13,285 monthly views from January through July.✅ We’re getting super close to launching our new member platform. I’m so excited because I know how much easier it’ll be for our members to get value from the community. Stay tuned and join if you haven't already so you can be one of the first in the new community!✅ We published a ton of new events to our event page this month. The list is too long to post here but please check out our event page on our site and take a look!LOWS:😐 I’ve never had more work than I have right now. This is of course self-imposed. Every new initiative, new event, etc. requires more time and energy.We're also 3 weeks away from Summit 2024, and the list of little tasks that still need to get done is staggering. One at a time.😐 We were on the hook for approx. $4k in fees to a hotel due to rooms in our room block being unbooked at the deadline of August 26th. It was a stressful few weeks but luckily, all rooms ended up getting booked within the last couple of days (many in the final day), and we’re now completely off the hook!

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☝️𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. Grab a seat and listen in to our Co-Founders and Fund F by Female Founders Managing Partners, Nina Wöss & Lisa-Marie Fassl chat about how you can wrap up the final #conferences of the year knowing that you have done what you can to make it as fruitful as possible! Including #advice on: 🕵♂️ Getting into the right side events💸 Outreach to VCs⏲️ Spending time efficiently at events🤝 Why #events are important for foundersPlus...💡What #VCs are actually looking to do at conferencesNext time you run into Lisa or Nina at an event, let them know if this chat resonated with you.Have other opinions on making conferences as useful as possible? Share them here! 👇

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