In this episode of The Art of Succession podcast, host Barrett Young interviews Mark Vincent, an executive adviser and co-founder of Teall Vincent Enterprises who successfully built Design Group International over 23 years before strategically exiting to return to his consulting roots. Listeners will discover how to navigate complex succession planning through process consulting while avoiding the common trap of letting their business embrace become a destructive chokehold.
The Challenge of Organizational Dysfunction
Mark's journey began when he noticed that real decisions happened in parking lots after formal meetings ended, undermining the work people prepared to deliver. This informal power was derailing the formal processes, creating dysfunction in organizations where passionate, committed people couldn't effectively collaborate. He discovered that wherever complex decision-making occurred, especially involving money, succession planning brought out the worst organizational dysfunction. This led him to develop process consulting methods that helped the informal interactions inform the formal ones rather than unwind them.
Building and Scaling Process Consulting
Mark founded Design Group International in 2000, creating a platform that proved process consulting could be a sustainable career path rather than just an between-jobs assignment. He used a simple framework of why, who, what, when, where, and how to facilitate complex organizational decisions, keeping his head up to read the room rather than buried in notes. The company grew by attracting experienced consultants who wanted high client impact without the administrative burden of running their own platforms. Over 23 years, they brought on six generations of consultants, proving the model's sustainability and creating a business that wasn't dependent on Mark's personality alone.
Strategic Exit and Return to Roots
Mark strategically exited Design Group International in 2023, selling his stake when the vision of proving process consulting as a viable career was complete. Rather than riding the business to maximum financial return, he chose succession planning that prioritized business continuity and the development of new leadership. He returned to private practice as an executive advisor, focusing on helping longtime successful executives and their boards navigate succession planning. Mark emphasizes that succession is harder than starting a business, requiring owners to recognize when their protective embrace becomes a chokehold that bleeds talent, money, and time.
Listeners can learn more about Mark Vincent by connecting with him on LinkedIn at Mark L. Vincent or visiting marklvincent.com for his calendar of speaking events and executive thinking newsletter.
