Today when someone refers to a tech startup, you may picture a young person sitting behind a computer writing code. But think again. After building and evolving her last business (FineLine Solutions) for more that 25 years, the time came in 2015 for Polly Craik to sell it to a much larger company that could take it to the next level.

Businesses across North America are facing a huge transition these days and the coming years due to demographics as well as mergers and acquisitions. But this is nothing new – although it may be at a greater scale today. “It’s always been a state of transition and that can be for a variety of different reasons,” said Dana Rosenberg, Managing Partner/Co-Founder of CQL Capital, based in Manhattan Beach, California.

Chris Grant, President of IHT Group, epitomizes resilience and seizing opportunities, influenced by his parents’ enduring mantra: “If you are not happy, make a change.” Grant, who is based now in Toronto, has built a career at multinational plastics manufacturers in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto. His journey reflects a steadfast commitment to embracing change, navigating diverse challenges, and investing in himself and his employees.

In today’s world, the number of business transitions taking place, and about to take place, is staggering across North America. If you are a business owner thinking of moving on, Rachael Fisher-Doak has one simple piece of advice: Don’t forget the family.

A few years ago, Anne Sellmer decided to follow her passion and established cōchu Chocolatier in Calgary. Today, the business has grown so much that she is looking at the next step in its evolution. “We make boutique luxury chocolates that are award-winning. Since we launched, we’ve won 87 national and international awards,” said Sellmer. Along the way, the company has also won numerous medals at the World Finals. It’s been named 6-Star Grand Master Chocolatier and one of the top 10 chocolatiers in North America.

In a recent meeting with a veteran business owner, whose company we’ll call ChangeCo, the conversation quickly turned to his vision of significantly expanding his business over the next three years. This is not an unusual topic these days, as owners of a certain age decide they have one last big push in them to grow their business beyond its current boundaries.