When Business Gets Personal: Leading Through Legacy, Emotion, and Change

In this episode of Bold Agendas, host Mimi Brooks welcomes back René Sonneveld, global executive turned Master Certified Coach, to explore the hidden forces that shape leadership in high-stakes environments. Drawing from his new book, The Elephant in the Family Room: Managing the Complexities of Legacy Businesses, René reveals why silent threats like unspoken resentments, misaligned values, and emotional blind spots can be more dangerous than market forces. Together Mimi and René unpack how leaders can spot these invisible dynamics, navigate generational divides, and build “emotional governance” alongside strategy and legal frameworks. This isn’t just a conversation for family-owned enterprises. Whether you lead a global corporation, a scaling startup, or a multi-generational business, you’ll learn how to turn conflict into clarity, align identity with strategy, and strengthen trust before it breaks.

Check out Rene’s new book, The Elephant in the Family Room: Managing the Complexities of Legacy Businesses, here

00:00 – When Business Gets Personal: Introducing René Sonneveld

03:33 – Team Coaching, Belonging, and Family Business Dynamics

06:52 – The Origins of The Elephant in the Family Room: How René’s Work with Legacy Families Began

09:21 – Becoming a Master Coach: When Work Becomes Energy

10:47 – Silent Threats in Legacy Business Dynamics

14:47 – Lessons from Family Businesses for Modern Organizations

16:11 – Universal Issues: The Four Elephants in the Room

19:28 – Succession Challenges and the Rise of Emotional Governance

25:16 – Hidden Emotional Drivers: Rivalry, Relevance, and Building Bridges

27:38 – The Research Behind The Elephant in the Family Room: Blending Experience with Scholarship

32:25 – Emotional Breakthroughs in Family Leadership 3

5:46 – Purpose and Impact: What René Hopes Readers Take Away

37:43 – What’s Next for René