Business Transition Insights

The Tourism Swivel: More Flexible Than the Pivot
Webinar: Rhubarb Collective

May 21, 2020

The Rhubarb Collective is a group of tourism advisors, small business operators and mentors that share a passion for the business of Canadian tourism. They’ve come together to convene experts and guests for a six-week webinar series free of charge to any who wish to attend. Mark VanderKlipp was asked to bring a State-side perspective to the group, recounting how he’d seen local businesses swivel during past disruptions: 911, the Great Recession and now with COVID-19.

The Webinar was recorded, then a blog post with content and references posted online.


Courageous Thinker and Partnership Seeker
Podcast: Igniting Courage Episode 34

June 24, 2019

Igniting courage podcast is hosted by Anne Bonney, the leadership coach who ”pushed Mark off the ledge“ and helped him understand that a new life was waiting just around the corner. Today, Mark’s in a place that he never could have anticipated when he made his big move to a new career path in June of 2016.

Truly, the Universe is tuned to those who are ready to listen to it. We hope you’ll take time to listen to this podcast, then subscribe to the Igniting Courage podcast!


Still Buzzing with Mark VanderKlipp
Experience 50 Podcast

February 23, 2019

Mark VanderKlipp shares his Experience 50 reality of pivoting to become a one-man independent consultant from the security of the President’s chair in an established design consulting firm.

Many mid-lifers, not just Mark, find themselves at the peak of their professional lives, having attained and then surpassed their initial career goals only to find that they are hungry (starving!) for a new challenge. Mark is not the first company man to want to try things on his own terms.

This is where things stand for Mark VanderKlipp two years after he made his pivot. Incidentally, the original podcast was one of Experience 50s top 10 most downloaded episodes in its history!


Mark VanderKlipp’s Badass Midlife Pivot
Experience 50 Podcast

July 13, 2016

Mark discusses his midlife pivot, giving inspiration and advice to others feeling the urge to pivot in their profession or personal life. Did he suffer a midlife crisis? Hell no! He took control of his life, kicked convention to the curb and ordered himself a big cup of joy. Mark VanderKlipp will not just land on his feet, he’s headed for big things. He’s a badass, believing down to his bones, that at midlife he can do anything he decides to do.At the top of his game,  Mark resigned from his position as president of a successful design firm without knowing exactly what would follow. What he did know was that he was ready to move on.


SEGD Business of Design Summit
Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD)

February 19, 2015

Mark VanderKlipp and Henry Beer from Stantec Design featured varying models for design firm transition and a summary of lessons learned: cultural, financial and structural. Read a summary of the event on the SEGD's Website. Mark was recently retired from a 4-year assignment on the SEGD Board at this time.


Leadership at the Movies: "Iron Man"
Invent @ Northern Michigan University

October 25 2018, Marquette MI

As part of the 4th anniversary of Invent@NMU, we delivered an encore presentation of this May, 2018 TC Chamber of Commerce event to students at Northern Michigan University and Marquette, MI community members. Using Marvel’s 2008 classic “Iron Man,” we engaged in an interactive discussion about leadership principles and entrepreneurial thinking, using design as the catalyst.


Changes in the Workplace: Millennials and Hope for the Future
Rotary of Traverse City Luncheon Series

July 18, 2016

As a baby boomer, president of a design firm for 13 years and a father of two Millennials, Mark VanderKlipp was asked to share research and stories about his experience with hiring, mentoring, leading and raising representatives of this amazing generation of humans.