Sunday, October 19

Rising Gen Career Development

The research that is available on next generation individuals who have a family business context suggests they experience work and career development differently when compared to individuals who do not come from business-owning families. Adolescents from families that own their family business have a less clear sense of their abilities, talents, and interests regarding their careers than their peers who do not have a family business background (Eckrich and Loughead, 1996). Traditional career development methods may not apply to the next generation because their context introduces different complexities, challenges, and considerations to be managed.

In the spring of 2025, with the support of Family Office Exchange (FOX), Marissa engaged in qualitative interviews with the next generation to explore how they establish their vocational identity, influences to their career decisions, and the processes they utilize to make career decisions. During this session, participants will learn more about the findings of this study and explore the implications for future professional development practices. Participants will also engage in a peer coaching exercise that supports them with their own career development goals. 

At the end of the session, participants will:

• Understand how the rising generation makes career decisions
• Explore how the themes developed in the research relate to their own lives
• Gain insight into how to provide their children guidance related to their careers and involvement in the family business and family enterprise
• Learn how to engage in peer coaching practices
• Receive support from their peers in a safe environment
• Develop an action plan related to their own career development goals

Marissa L. Evans, Owner, Marissa L. Evans Coaching + Consulting and member of the Andrew Family Office

Monday, October 20

Registration Open for Rising Gen Attendees
Our Rising Gen at the Family Forum program continues Monday morning at the Loews Atlanta. Join us for breakfast, sessions, and discussions with your peers. 

Warm-Up

Kick off with a quick interactive poll to get a sense of who’s in the room — Rising Gen attendees, key interests, and topics they’re most excited about.

Heather Asher Abramson, Director, Relationship Manager, FOX

Mindy Kalinowski Earley, Chief Learning Officer, FOX

How Transitions Impact Families

Change is inevitable—but how we navigate it makes all the difference.

In this session, Michelle Jezycki will unpack the important distinction between change (what happens externally) and transition (how we adapt internally). Using a practical four-stage model for understanding change, she’ll explore how family dynamics can shift during periods of evolution—whether it’s a leadership transition, new governance structures, or generational shifts in roles and identity.

Next gens will gain insights into:

• What it really takes to move from the comfort of the status quo to a new phase of growth
• How transitions affect communication, trust, and decision-making within families
• Tools to navigate uncertainty and support healthier family interactions during change

This interactive session invites participants to reflect on their own family experiences and apply proven frameworks to real-life challenges—empowering them to take a more thoughtful and confident role in guiding change.

Michelle Jezycki, Founder and President, Trifecta Consulting

Break

Beyond Bloodlines: Preserving Legacy Through Non-Family Leadership

How can a family foundation bring in non-family leadership that strengthens credibility without straying from the founder’s values? In this session, we explore the real-world journey of a mother-daughter co-founded foundation. How they navigated that delicate balance appointing an external CEO, not to replace the family, but to steward its mission forward until the next generation is ready to step in. Whether you are preparing for family or non-family leadership transition, discover how to align culture, governance, and leadership transitions in ways that preserve identity while enhancing impact.  

Irene D. Pritzker, Chair & Co-Founder, IDP Foundation, Inc.

Corina Gardner, CEO, IDP Foundation, Inc.

Allison Lawshe, Senior Manager, Learning Center, FOX (Moderator)

Closing Remarks