Advance Praise

“This book speaks to the heart of leadership in a way that crosses borders and cultures. It’s a must-read for anyone ready to embrace the complexities of modern leadership in a world that has constant change.”
— Luis Rodriguez
President, FC Juárez
“Succeeding brilliantly combines emotional intelligence with practical advice, making it an accessible and actionable guide for anyone stepping into a leadership position. Highly recommended for successors ready to take the helm.”
— Matt Wineinger
President & CEO. United Sugar Producers & Refiners
“Succeeding is a must-read for business owners navigating a generational transition, offering valuable insights for any executive, manager, or employee involved in this critical process. The book lays out a comprehensive framework for planning, executing, and keeping your transition on track, ensuring that every step is handled with precision and care.”
— Braden Wagner
President, Wagner Equipment
“Having worked closely with Albert in our leadership development program at one of our portfolio companies, I can attest to the power of his insights. The practical advice and strategic wisdom he shares are invaluable for every leader. It’s a must-read for those preparing to pass the torch, especially in a steadily growing worldwide business like ours.”
— Steve Townes
CEO & founder, Ranger Aerospace LLC and vice chairman, ACL Airshop LLC
“Succeeding is an insightful and timely read as we experience the mass retirement of the Boomer generation.  As a predecessor and Boomer who is currently amid succession planning, this was a real eye opener.  This information would have been invaluable to me as a successor and will shape the way I interact with my successor during this process.”
— Thomas E. Bates, Jr.
President and CEO, Legends Bank
“This book is essential for anyone involved in a business transition.”
— Bud Dunn
President, VXP and surviving family successor
“Having spent the last 20+ years building the next chapter of an already successful company by pivoting to a new industry, I wish I had this book when I started. It would have helped me avoid the naïve assumption that everything should just follow the playbook that made the previous chapter so successful. New generations, new philosophies, new world. Succeeding illustrates clear examples and shares the wins and losses of those on this journey, giving readers a distinct advantage over the hurdles ahead.”
— Ryan Pruchnic, MS, MBA
Managing Vice President, Cook MyoSite, Inc.
“Ciuksza’s Succeeding is a much-needed resource for any leader, whether they are passing the torch, or taking on the stewardship of a company's legacy into the future.”
— Drew Farrar
Senior vice president, integrated communications
“Succeeding is an insightful and timely read as we experience the mass retirement of the Boomer generation.  As a predecessor and Boomer who is currently amid succession planning, this was a real eye opener.  This information would have been invaluable to me as a successor and will shape the way I interact with my successor during this process.”
— Thomas E. Bates, Jr.
President and CEO, Legends Bank
“The transition process requires meticulous planning and execution, with countless variables to consider from both sides. Albert’s advice was an invaluable guide as I navigated this entirely new experience. I highly recommend this book to anyone in a leadership role—these concepts are essential for anyone facing the complexities of succession.”
— Daniel M. Coast
Managing director of property & casualty, Henderson Brothers
“This book speaks to the heart of leadership in a way that crosses borders and cultures. It’s a must-read for anyone ready to embrace the complexities of modern leadership in a world that has constant change.”
— Luis Rodriguez
President, FC Juárez
“Succeeding is a must-read for business owners navigating a generational transition, offering valuable insights for any executive, manager, or employee involved in this critical process. The book lays out a comprehensive framework for planning, executing, and keeping your transition on track, ensuring that every step is handled with precision and care.”
— Braden Wagner
President, Wagner Equipment
“Ciuksza’s thoroughly researched book leaves little to the imagination for a successor going through a transition. No book I've read on the subject so carefully deals with the topic from the successor's point of view. Kudos to the author! His playbook is filled with triumphant and cautionary tales of transitions, guiding our successors on everything from handling the different personalities (archetypes) of predecessors to the traps (quicksand) that can undermine your success.”
— Frank Piedimonte
Retired president and COO, current external board member, Brayman Construction Corp.
“Albert's book is a refreshing take on business leadership. It is tightly written and cuts through the usual business book fluff to deliver practical, actionable advice. This ‘how-to’ guide to success is a must-read for rising leaders and those developing into executives.”
— Jeff Lefebvre Ph.D.
President and founder, PriSim Business War Games Inc.
“Albert and his work provide a great pathway to business and personal success. Succession planning and leadership development are essential for business for not just survival, but long term success through the next generation. While automation will continue to be an important part of the business space, most companies are still in the ‘people’ business. As President/CEO of a 4th generation family-run trucking company, the continued development of our talented team is my most important goal. Albert is a huge help to me with this and his insights in this book are impactful.”
— Bill Ward
President/CEO, Ward Transport and Logistics
“Albert’s book is a must-read for all newly minted successors. Whether leading through the multifaceted challenges of succession within a business unit of a high-tech corporation or taking the helm of a founder-led organization, Succeeding provides a clear, actionable framework for navigating these transitions.”
— Todd Stirtzinger
CEO, Galvion
“Succeeding brilliantly combines emotional intelligence with practical advice, making it an accessible and actionable guide for anyone stepping into a leadership position. Highly recommended for successors ready to take the helm.”
— Matt Wineinger
President & CEO. United Sugar Producers & Refiners
“Albert’s practical wisdom and easy-to-follow strategies were instrumental in helping us through a difficult transition, following the unexpected death of our CFO. The guidance and insights in Succeeding make it a must-read for any leader managing a senior team or preparing to step into a new role. It offers a roadmap that balances emotional intelligence with practical steps and key strategic insights.”
— Lisa Tepper Bates
President & CEO, United Way of Connecticut
“Make time to read this book. Albert does a wonderful job distilling the principles of succession for business owners and rising leaders alike. You’ll get answers to the questions you’ve been too busy or too afraid to discuss.”
— Laurie Barkman
Business transition advisor and Amazon best-selling author of
The Business Transition Handbook
“Having worked closely with Albert in our leadership development program at one of our portfolio companies, I can attest to the power of his insights. The practical advice and strategic wisdom he shares are invaluable for every leader. It’s a must-read for those preparing to pass the torch, especially in a steadily growing worldwide business like ours.”
— Steve Townes
CEO & founder, Ranger Aerospace LLC and vice chairman, ACL Airshop LLC
“An insightful guide that explores succession as a two-way street, where both current and next-gen leaders play pivotal roles. Full of real-world stories, this book is essential for anyone involved in a business transition.”
— Bud Dunn
President, VXP and surviving family successor
“Succeeding is a beacon of hope. It’s a must-read for all successors, predecessors, and anyone involved in the succession process, offering a comprehensive roadmap for those stepping into the shoes of a predecessor, guiding them through every step with clarity and confidence.”
— Jason Leck
President and successor, Leck Waste Services
The cover of the leadership decade book

Succeeding delves into the often-overlooked emotional landscape of organizational transitions. Author Albert Ciuksza Jr. goes beyond the balance sheets and operational metrics to address the human side of succession planning. This book is crafted as a coaching guide to help leaders navigate the emotional highs and lows of stepping into or transitioning out of key roles.

Ciuksza explores the profound impact of succession on everyone involved—predecessors, successors, employees, stakeholders, board members, customers, and suppliers. He emphasizes that true success in these transitions requires an emotion-aware approach, acknowledging the hopes, fears, and challenges that accompany change.

Through hundreds of intervews, extensive consulting, and global coaching, Ciuksza presents insights on managing the emotional aspects of succession. He addresses the struggle of predecessors who grapple with letting go and the challenges successors face in feeling truly settled into their new roles.

Succeeding is not just about the mechanics of transition but about preparing for and embracing the emotional journey. It’s about understanding the roles we play, both as leaders and those we leave behind, and how emotional intelligence can shape a smoother, more fulfilling transition. Whether you’re planning for a future role, in the midst of a transition, or seeking to understand the process from a broader perspective, this book provides essential guidance for managing the human elements of succession.

About the Author

hobart profile shot

Albert Ciuksza Jr. is a forward-thinking entrepreneur, leadership consultant, and community advocate with a passion for driving innovation and sustainable growth. As Vice President of Leadership Development at Solutions 21, Albert leads the design and implementation of transformative leadership programs, equipping high-potential leaders with the strategies and skills needed to excel in complex, dynamic environments. He also works closely with executives, helping them develop and refine strategies that address their most pressing challenges and drive sustainable growth.

Albert’s entrepreneurial journey reflects a deep commitment to innovation. He co-founded Eyenavision Inc., bringing cutting-edge optical products to market, and Draft Dynamics, where he secured a patent for a pioneering portable draft system. His experience in economic development includes managing technology-driven growth projects at the Idea Foundry and directing the Pittsburgh Impact Initiative for the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, where he played a key role in advancing regional growth.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Albert is dedicated to making a positive impact on his community. He co-chairs Food Assistance Match (FAM), an initiative that enhances access to locally grown food by doubling the benefits of food assistance programs like SNAP. He also serves on the boards of several organizations, leveraging his expertise to drive both business success and community revitalization. Recognized as one of Pittsburgh’s “40 Under 40,” Albert is known for seamlessly blending innovation, leadership, and social impact.

Albert holds a degree from St. Vincent College and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business. He resides in Bellevue, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Mallory, and their two dogs.

Excerpts from the Author

“Mental contrasting — vividly imagining a better future than what you are experiencing today — offers the key to success. Not only does this activate our conscious efforts, but it gets in our subconscious, too, enabling us to take action to get to where we want to go. By creating a compelling future vision, we’re able to be more resilient through obstacles.”

“In every positive succession process I have seen, the successor cares. They care about the business, the predecessor, the vision, the team, the industry, the clients, the relationships, the product, the strategy, the legacy – you name it, it matters. Because they care, they’re willing to make sacrifices. They’re eager to take the harder way out – running the next leg of a race they didn’t start – than many other things that would be easier and, in many cases, more financially gratifying. Great successors are unusual.”

“In 1895, Mary L. Lathrap published a poem named Judge Softly. The suffragette and minister advocated for a compassionate perspective on others. This work is believed to be the origin of a slightly edited modern statement used to encourage empathy: “Walk a mile in his moccasins.” Much of leadership transition hinges on pressures, fears, goals, and mindset of the predecessor leaving a leadership post. Once the transition is happening or has happened, you’re nurturing a completely different relationship. Judge softly.”