About Steve Legler
I was born into a family business, and as the only son of an immigrant entrepreneur, it became clear very early on, that I was expected to follow in Dad’s footsteps. So every summer of my teens and the first three years of my work life after university were spent learning everything I could about the business.
I returned again after getting my MBA, more ready than ever for the challenges that awaited me. But then, unexpectedly, within six months, we sold the business to a competitor, and went from 250 people to only four. And two of us went by the name Steve Legler.
Since I was Junior, Dad called the shots and started spending most of his time on his new venture, a small farm, leaving me to manage the remaining family assets in our holding companies: real estate, investments, and intellectual property.
It was not a bad job to have, as I learned a lot about business from my Dad, furthered my formal education along the way, and had what my sisters surely considered one of the cushiest jobs on the planet.
My Dad understood a little about the importance of keeping the entire family abreast of the business, and for that reason he once called a family meeting. Unfortunately, he never called another one over the subsequent 20 years, and then only did so after his cancer diagnosis.
Along the way, I also married into a business family, and I have seen some of the communications challenges that they have faced over the years.
I now realize more than ever how important good communication is for families who want their legacy to continue, as it is tranferred to future generations.
and respect.