Rena Striegel of Transition Point Business Advisors Calls for Earlier Engagement of the Next Generation in Family Enterprises
DES MOINES, IA, January 2026 – In many family-owned and agricultural businesses, the next generation is deeply involved in daily operations long before succession is formally discussed. They manage teams, oversee production, and solve problems as they arise. Yet when it comes to ownership decisions and long-term leadership responsibility, they are often kept at arm’s length. According to Rena Striegel, President of Transition Point Business Advisors, this delay in engagement can create uncertainty that complicates succession planning.
Striegel observes that families frequently assume readiness develops naturally over time. Because successors are capable and committed, senior generations may believe ownership responsibility will fall into place when the moment arrives. In practice, this assumption leaves critical gaps. Without early exposure to decision-making and strategic thinking, successors may feel unprepared when transition becomes imminent.
“The next generation of ag leaders must see themselves as business owners,” Rena Striegel said. “They are trained to be great operators but are often left out of the conversations and activities that will prepare them to run the business.”
Ownership requires a different perspective than operations alone. Decisions carry long-term financial, relational, and strategic consequences. When successors are excluded from these conversations, families may struggle to assess readiness accurately. This can lead to hesitation, misalignment, and prolonged transition timelines.
Striegel notes that early engagement does not mean handing over control prematurely. Rather, it involves transparency around how decisions are made, how responsibilities are shared, and what ownership will eventually require. When successors understand the broader context of the business, they are better equipped to think beyond immediate tasks and toward stewardship.
Early engagement also benefits the senior generations. Clear insight into how successors approach responsibility reduces uncertainty and builds trust. Conversations become more grounded, and decisions feel less risky. Succession planning shifts from a future concern to an ongoing process shaped by shared understanding.
Through her work at Transition Point Business Advisors, Rena Striegel helps families bring the next generation into meaningful dialogue earlier in the succession journey. By aligning expectations and building ownership perspective over time, families create a stronger foundation for continuity.
When successors are engaged with intention, family enterprises are better positioned to navigate transition with confidence rather than urgency.
About Rena Striegel
Rena Striegel is President of Transition Point Business Advisors and a nationally recognised authority in family business and agricultural succession planning. Raised in What Cheer, Iowa, she brings both professional expertise and lived understanding to the complexities of multi-generational enterprises. Striegel holds a Bachelor of Arts from Central College in Pella, Iowa, and an MBA from the University of Iowa. She is the creator of The DIRTT Project and host of the Ag Inspo podcast.
About Transition Point Business Advisors
Transition Point Business Advisors supports family-owned and agricultural businesses through succession planning, communication alignment, and next-generation readiness. The firm helps families move through ownership transitions with clarity, confidence, and continuity.
Website: Transitionpointba.com
LinkedIn: Renastriegel
Instagram: Renastriegel