In many family and private businesses, the knowledge that keeps the company moving does not live in a manual, system, or shared process. It lives in the heads of a few key people.

They know the customer history.
They know the workarounds.
They know why certain decisions were made.
They know which exceptions matter.
They know how things really get done.

That knowledge is incredibly valuable — but it can also create risk.

As businesses grow, transition leadership, onboard new talent, or prepare the next generation, informal knowledge and inconsistent processes can quietly become barriers to scale. Too much may depend on one owner, one senior leader, one long-tenured employee, or one person who has always “just known” what to do.

This luncheon will help senior leadership teams, next-generation leaders, and key decision-makers take a closer look at where critical knowledge may be trapped inside the organization — and what it takes to begin transferring that knowledge into stronger people, clearer processes, and greater leadership capacity.

Facilitated by Diane Egbers, Founder and CEO of Leadership Excelleration and longtime facilitator of the Goering Center’s Leadership Development Institute, this session will combine practical insight, guided table conversation, and real-world perspective from local family and private business leaders who are navigating this work in their own organizations.

This is not a session about creating binders, bureaucracy, or process for process’s sake. It is about protecting what makes the business work — and building the capacity for others to carry it forward.

What We’ll Explore

During this luncheon, we’ll examine questions such as:

• Where does too much critical knowledge currently live in one person, one department, or one informal process?
• What would become difficult, inconsistent, or risky if that person stepped away?
• Are next-generation and senior leaders receiving the context, judgment, and decision-making history they need — or just the tasks?
• How can leadership teams transfer know-how without overcomplicating the business?
• What practical first step can you take to reduce key-person dependency and strengthen continuity?

What You’ll Leave With

Attendees will leave with:

• A clearer understanding of where critical knowledge may be trapped in their organization
• A way to think about what type of knowledge needs to be transferred — technical, relational, historical, judgment-based, process-based, or decision-based
• Insight from local family and private business leaders who have experienced this challenge firsthand
• A practical first step or discussion tool to take back to their leadership team
• A stronger understanding of how knowledge transfer connects to growth, succession, consistency, and leadership capacity

Program Format

This luncheon will feature a facilitated presentation by Diane Egbers, guided table conversations, and a fireside chat with local family and private business leaders who have either navigated or are currently navigating the transfer of institutional knowledge and process inside their organizations.

The format is designed to be practical, conversational, and relevant for leadership teams — with enough reflection and discussion for participants to apply the topic directly to their own business.

Who Should Attend

This program is designed for:

• Senior leadership teams
• Next-generation leaders
• Key managers and decision-makers
• Leaders responsible for growth, succession, operations, talent development, or organizational effectiveness

This is an especially valuable session for businesses asking:

• Are we too dependent on a few key people?
• Are we growing faster than our processes can support?
• Are we preparing the next layer of leadership with the knowledge and context they need?
• Are we capturing the lessons, relationships, and decision-making judgment that make our business work?
• Are we building a business that can scale beyond the same few people?

Featured Facilitator

Diane Egbers

Founder and CEO, Leadership Excelleration

Diane Egbers is the Founder and CEO of Leadership Excelleration and has served as a trusted facilitator and partner of the Goering Center for more than 25 years through the Leadership Development Institute.

Diane brings deep experience in leadership development, executive coaching, team effectiveness, succession planning, and organizational consulting. Her work helps leaders and leadership teams strengthen capacity, improve performance, and prepare for what’s next.

Fireside Chat

The luncheon will also include a fireside chat with local family and private business leaders who have firsthand experience navigating the transfer of institutional knowledge, leadership responsibility, and process inside their organizations.

Panelists will be announced soon.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Digital Futures
Format: Luncheon, facilitated presentation, guided table conversation, and fireside chat