In this episode of The Steward Chair, John Sensiba, retiring CEO of Sensiba, and Monique Ramirez, his successor, share a masterclass on why intentional succession is the ultimate act of stewardship. John shares his journey of leading the firm through two major economic crises by refusing to abandon core values. They explore how the Golden Rule and simple, unwavering priorities—family, community, and firm—drive meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the courage it takes to hand off a legacy gracefully, and how an "eat what you kill" compensation model can destroy culture. We also cover the immense privilege of receiving a planned, six-year leadership transition, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• The Ultimate Act of Stewardship is Succession: A leader’s most important duty is to prepare the organization for the next generation, viewing their role as a "transient caretaker" for the benefit of employees and the community.
• Values Are Non-Negotiable in Crisis: Establishing simple, clearly articulated priorities (like family, community, and firm in that order) and refusing to abandon values when they become "inconvenient" provides clarity and resilience during financial crises or global pandemics.
• Culture Over Compensation: The courage to abandon an "eat what you kill" compensation model for a subjective, values-based approach is necessary to cultivate a culture of collaboration, trust, and shared success.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit Sensiba's Website
• Sensiba B Corp Certification Information
• Follow John Sensiba on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndsensiba/ 
• Follow Monique Ramirez on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monicramirez/ 

 

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