When I decided to step down as CEO, I thought the hardest part would be the announcement.
It wasn’t.
The hardest part was learning how to let go - with intention, trust, and care for what came next.
What surprised me most was how emotional that process was. Leadership transitions aren’t just about structures or timelines; they’re about identity and legacy. You go from being “the person in charge” to asking, what now? who carries this forward?
"How we leave can define our leadership just as much as how we leave"
Yet in many organisations, we treat transitions as administrative moments rather than strategic ones.
Succession planning becomes a checklist or a crisis response - when in fact it should be one of the most thoughtful and sustained investments we make.
The Mindset Shift
During my time at Living Goods, I tried to make succession part of our leadership rhythm. It wasn’t easy.
It takes time, trust, and a real mindset shift - from holding on to control, to recognising that eventually, you will move on, and your responsibility is to prepare others to lead long before that happens.
That shift transforms how you lead. You start to see talent development not as a side activity, but as central to sustaining impact. You begin to have different conversations about readiness, about stretch, about what leadership looks like in others, not just yourself.
Investing in Talent
When people see that internal progression is genuinely possible, it changes how they show up. They take more ownership. They start to see themselves as future leaders.
When leaders invest early in internal succession, they:
- Strengthen continuity and confidence
- Create genuine growth opportunities
- Build cultures where leadership is shared, not hoarded
Through Volante, this is now a big part of the work I do - helping CEOs, founders, and leadership teams plan and manage transitions with humanity and foresight. Because organisations that thrive are the ones that prepare early, build confidence in their next generation, and handle change as a normal - even healthy - part of leadership life.
Listen to my latest podcast
I recently recorded a podcast with my good friend Julius Mbeye - co-CEO at Lwala, on The Impact Compass to talk about my own transition, lessons learned, and what it really takes to build organisations that thrive beyond any single individual.
🎧 PODCAST EPISODE
Have a listen, and I hope it encourages you to pause and reflect - not only on how you’ll lead your next chapter, but how you’ll make space for others to lead theirs.
I’d love to hear what resonates. How do you think about legacy in your own work?
Warmly,
Liz
Strategic Advisor | Former CEO | Founder, Volante
Based in Kenya, available globally
