Growth Strategy
Family Business Consultation
Ascend Talent Strategies
Growth Strategy
established

The dual challenge of growing a business while navigating family relationships can be a stressful yet rewarding responsibility. Family businesses have unique concerns and, therefore, require unique approaches to help balance the practical needs of their business with the emotional needs of their families. With attention to the psychological, business, management, and legal dimensions of family businesses, we help to clarify and resolve complex family business issues so the family and the business can thrive.

Whether it is through the development of the next generation, succession planning on the horizon, or conflict occurring within the family system - we can help.

Packages

Family Business Conflict Mediation
$500/project
Timeframe: null null

Our Family Business Conflict Mediation Service is a specialized solution crafted to navigate and resolve challenges within family-owned enterprises. We understand the unique dynamics that come with blending family ties and business interests. Our Business Psychologists facilitate constructive dialogue, fostering understanding and collaboration to overcome conflicts that may impede the success of your family business. We bring with us an expertise in family dynamics and work to ensure confidentiality and long-term success.

Next Generation Family Business Leadership Network
$1,850/month
Timeframe: 6 months

Sessions that help align the family and an exclusive invite to our ongoing Next Generation Family Business Leadership Network.

Coaching (Individual or Family)
$1,900/quarter
Timeframe: null null

Individual or family coaching offers personalized guidance for family members seeking to enhance their leadership skills. This tailored approach focuses on goal-setting, skill refinement, and addressing specific challenges based on information and data gleaned during the initial Leadership Assessment. The sessions provide leaders and executives with consistent and personalized support to foster their professional development and leadership growth. The pricing structure includes regular one-on-one sessions, typically twice a month, with the option for additional check-ins as required.

Leadership Assessment
$5,000/project
Timeframe: 3 days

An insightful assessment of a leader is a powerful aid in making the right decisions for your organization. We leverage an objective, in-depth, and consistent process to describe and predict relevant leadership behavior. We invest in learning business issues, organizational culture, and the leadership role, which enables our clients to make better-informed decisions about their most strategic assets - their current and future leaders. This package is for organizations looking to help develop a current or future leader by including data-driven insights that guide in tailoring development goals to the unique needs of the individual, team, and organization.

About Ascend Talent Strategies
Consulting Services
established
We provide our clients with data to support their most critical people and team decision making such as hiring, promotion, succession planning, team and organizational development.
Company Experts
Elizabeth Fleming, PsyD
Business Psychologist
Elizabeth is a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience dedicated to transforming organizations by delivering tailored solutions that cater to her clients' unique needs. Her expertise encompasses evidence-based approaches in talent and leadership assessment, succession planning, HR transformation, learning and development, and executive coaching. Her academic and professional journey showcases a dedication to helping organizations thrive through strategic, people-centric solutions. Elizabeth earned her B.A.S. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota – Duluth and completed her M.A. and PsyD in Counseling Psychology at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.
PsyD
["Human Resources","Leadership","Strategy","Operations"]
Robert E Young, PsyD
Co-Founder and Business Psychologist
Bob is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in delivering leadership assessment services. He assists clients in identifying candidates that align with role requirements, cultural context, and future potential. Additionally, Bob provides team effectiveness workshops, individual and team development, succession planning, and offers practical executive coaching services. He also provides valuable support to private equity firms and client organizations in M&A due diligence and integration. As a Veteran of the United States Air Force, Bob consulted with command staff on a range of critical issues. In 2019, he co-founded Ascend Talent Strategies, Inc., driven by the belief that organizations investing wisely in their people will ultimately outlast, outmaneuver, and outperform their competition. Bob holds a B.A. in psychology from Hope College in Holland, Michigan and a Psy.D. in psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
Psy.D.
["Leadership","Operations","Strategy"]
Russell J Barcelona, PhD
Co-Founder and Business Psychologist
With over 25 years of experience, Russ is an expert in leadership assessment, succession planning, organizational cultural transformation, and executive coaching. He combines scientific industrial psychology knowledge with keen intuition and a deep understanding of business. He has worked within a multi-billion-dollar organization's HR department and played a role in a national task force for testing and personnel research in the electric utility industry. Since 1997, Russ has partnered with two Industrial/Organizational Psychology firms; his client base includes Fortune 500 companies, governmental agencies, private equity firms, merger and acquisition due diligence activities, and entrepreneurial start-ups. In 2019, he co-founded Ascend Talent Strategies, Inc. Russ holds a B.S. in psychology from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and an M.S. and Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Ph.D.
["Human Resources","Leadership","Operations","Strategy"]
Julie Unite, PhD
Co-Founder and Business Psychologist
Julie brings over two decades of international experience across Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Her expertise centers on assessment, succession planning, organizational cultural transformation, and coaching for individuals and teams spanning various sectors. Drawing from her educational and counseling psychology background, Julie leverages extensive one-on-one consulting to help clients address workplace challenges effectively. Julie excels in training individuals and teams, applying techniques such as personality assessments, emotional intelligence, and team dynamics to facilitate their development. She is well equipped to embrace a multicultural perspective in all her endeavors. Julie holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Adelaide, Australia. She earned an MSc in Organizational Psychology from the University of London, England, and completed her Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Northern Illinois University.
PhD
["Leadership"]

Project Phases

Overview

1. Leadership Assessment and 360
Leadership assessments with 360 feedback survey results will be administered, interpreted, and reviewed with each family member.
2. Discovery Interviews
Ascend Talent Strategies will conduct separate 2-hour interviews with each member of the family business for the purpose of gaining deeper understanding of their past, current, and future desired roles, responsibilities, and contributions to the family, business, and family council. Additionally, these meetings will build a base of understanding for the family’s collective goals and expectations for continuing to build a strong, cohesive family business leadership team.
3. Quarterly Family Council Facilitation
ATS will facilitate quarterly Family Council meetings (duration to be determined) for the purpose of developing each section of the Family Constitution, Family Employment Guidelines. Observations and guidance on individual and family dynamics that naturally emerge within each meeting will be aimed at helping the family build and maintain individual and family norms, values, and communication practices that will lead to effective, efficient decision-making processes as well as highly enjoyable and mutually supportive interactions.
4. Family Business Leadership Coaching Services
Each family member will have the opportunity to meet individually for coaching (or in dyads, triads, etc.) to obtain support and guidance on following through on their SMART goals or otherwise improving their family business leadership effectiveness.

Scope

What Is Included:

Comprehensive leadership assessment reports, ongoing coaching, family business meeting facilitation, support

from
$500
/project
Select Package
Family Business Conflict Mediation
$500/project
Timeframe: null null

Our Family Business Conflict Mediation Service is a specialized solution crafted to navigate and resolve challenges within family-owned enterprises. We understand the unique dynamics that come with blending family ties and business interests. Our Business Psychologists facilitate constructive dialogue, fostering understanding and collaboration to overcome conflicts that may impede the success of your family business. We bring with us an expertise in family dynamics and work to ensure confidentiality and long-term success.

Next Generation Family Business Leadership Network
Coaching (Individual or Family)
Leadership Assessment
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