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Lake Forest Center for Leadership

Is Your Leadership Pipeline Ready for What’s Next?

<a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/jennifer-kern" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jennifer Kern</a> and <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/matt-sernaker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Sernaker</a> didn’t just deliver a session on succession planning—they challenged us to rethink it entirely. With 1 in 5 Americans hitting retirement age by 2030, the real risk isn’t just leadership turnover. It’s losing momentum, institutional knowledge, and the cultural continuity that drives innovation.
Their core message: Succession planning shouldn’t live in HR binders. It must live in the daily decisions of people leaders across the organization.
<img class="aligncenter wp-image-43059" src="https://wp.ele.llc/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Matt-Sernaker-WISE2025-Keynote-Speaker.jpeg" alt="" width="718" height="539" />
Becoming future-ready doesn’t require a massive overhaul. It starts with a mindset shift.
🔍 Key Insights for Future-Ready Succession Planning

<ul>
 	<li data-start="1785" data-end="1914">Make it daily, not annual: Leadership development must be baked into everyday behaviors—not backloaded into annual reviews.</li>
 	<li data-start="1785" data-end="1914">Trust is your signal: The most promotable leaders earn trust by growing others.</li>
 	<li data-start="1785" data-end="1914">Use the 3-part lens: Spot potential using Trust &amp; Talent, Strategic Mindset, and Organizational Influence.</li>
 	<li data-start="1785" data-end="1914">Time isn’t the issue—priority is: Micro-observations, intentional questions, and lightweight routines build momentum.</li>
 	<li data-start="1785" data-end="1914">Frontline activation is essential: Culture shifts when frontline leaders know they’re part of the succession story.</li>
 	<li style="list-style-type: none;"></li>
</ul>
One powerful quote captured the spirit of the session:

<blockquote data-start="1729" data-end="1807">
“The question isn’t just who’s next, but how are we helping them get there?” -- <a href="https://www.ele.llc/members/matt-sernaker" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Sernaker</a>, Lake Forest Center for Leadership
</blockquote>
Succession planning only works when it’s embedded in the culture—and when it’s contagious. When frontline leaders, managers, and HR share ownership, leadership development becomes part of the everyday rhythm of work.
So, how future-ready is your organization? Are your leaders just managing today—or building what comes next?
💬 Share how you're sparking succession momentum on the <a href="https://www.ele.llc/idea-exchange" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ELE Idea Exchange</a>.

Succession Planning: How Future-Ready are Your Leaders?

future of work

Future of Work

Leadership

leadership development

talent development

succession planning

Talent Strategy

organizational development

talent pipeline

workforce planning

matt.sernaker

jennifer.kern

HR leadership

HR Strategy

Strategic HR

Leadership Mindset

HR Best Practices

wise2025

leadership growth

organizational catalyst

leadership reflection

strategic talent management

leadership assessment

executive readiness

high-potential talent

The author,  Azizeh Constantinescuaziz, is an ELE Contributing Member and a Lean Sigma Master Black Belt with more than twenty-five years of experience in process design, operational management, and internal consulting. She is also a Master of Theology with a focus on pastoral care and counseling—bringing together two worlds not often linked: organizational excellence and ancient Christian wisdom.
In her latest book, she explores how principles of Orthodox Christian theology and practice can be applied to industry and business. Her focus is on transforming workplaces from environments of control and burnout into human-centered organizations where collegial respect, belonging, and growth take root.
For senior leaders, her message is straightforward: when servant leadership is present, toxic cultures can heal. People feel safe to grow, and organizations unlock the human potential they were designed to cultivate.

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