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 Sally
Derstine, Managing Director,
Family Business Advisor
Sally joined the Center in 1992 and played a key role in launching the Family Business Learning Community later that year which has evolved into a vibrant leadership learning community of over 90 family firms where several generations of family members and non-family key executives learn best practices from each other, authors and professional advisors through large conferences, topical seminars, peer-groups as well as phone conferences and web-based venues.
Building on her passion to assist individuals to find their voices and make wise choices, and nurture families to be intentional and resilient, Sally uses the The Lasting Legacy Process™ – a family-friendly inter-generational learning and team-building process – which provides the direction, confidence and tools to address the “natural complexities” and dangers faced by business families. Working alone or alongside other team members, Sally assists business families to speak the truth in love about the real issues and work effectively together in building and Key Teams of a Lasting Legacy; always testing, clarifying, refreshing expectations and defining appropriate boundaries within and between the individuals and the various governance structures.
Drawing on over 19 years of experience working with dozens of business families, Sally leads family meetings and facilitates the development of Family Councils which build the “family muscle” required to grow great families that work together with confidence, clarity and alignment for generations to come. Preparing business families for generations of success requires disciplined attention and regular discussions to forge family policies/shareholder commitments which speak with “one voice” to provide incredible competitive advantage for the business as well as maximum harmony within the family. Engagements may include Family Council development, Shareholder Education, Mediation, Next-Generation Assessments, as well as high collaboration with other advisors of the family and the business.
Sally is a member of Family Firm Institute, an international professional organization dedicated to providing interdisciplinary education for family business advisors, and holds a certificate in Family Business Advising from FFI. She is also a member of the Kaleo Network of Family Business Advisors, a group of premier family business advisors who learn and collaborate together in service to family business systems. A graduate of Eastern Mennonite University and Ashford University, Sally earned degrees in organizational management and psychology.
Like many of our Center Associates, Sally grew up in a family business which gives her first-hand appreciation for the unique challenges, opportunities and complexities facing families who own and manage enterprises together. Sally’s passion in working with business families is rooted in her own life-giving family experiences of shared values and commitment to each member’s success. Launching her own home-based business when her children were young has been another laboratory for Sally to gain first-hand understanding in the challenges of business ownership, leadership, and balancing personal and professional interests.
Sally enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children, their church community, and living a life of intentionality and embracing the gifts of life, change, and choice.
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