Ever Felt Like Your Business Can't Run Without You?

You haven’t taken a real vacation in years.
When you’re “off,” you’re still checking email and text.
If you step away, things stall — or break.
That’s not leadership. That’s owner dependency.

Best for: Business owners, leadership teams, and executives who feel overwhelmed and stuck in daily operations.

Our best sessions so far…

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Meet Susan

Susan Fennema is the chaos eradicator business owners call when their company runs like a job instead of a business. With 30+ years in operations and project management, she helps leaders get out of the day-to-day by building systems that make dependency on the owner optional.

Her speaking style is practical and direct — no buzzwords, no fluff — and audiences walk away with tools they can use Monday morning to reduce owner dependency, protect their time, and strengthen team performance.

Susan is a frequent conference speaker, podcast guest, and co-author of Your Business Is Holding You Hostage and Efficiency Amplified: Driving Business Value.

Testimonials

Susan was a key presenter at our annual Build.Grow.Learn. conference. This session geared toward eradicating chaos; it was one of those times where it wasn't about "oh this would be good for so and so" but that as an owner, it hit home personally in a big way. Her style is engaging, informative and practical. This wasn't just fluff or pie in the sky concepts, it was actionable and I was able to actually implement!

Brandon Hayes Founder, Build.Grow.Learn.

Susan Fennema delivered a standout session at the 2023 Business Transitions Summit—clear, engaging, and highly relevant for small business owners. She connected operational discipline to real business value in a way that resonated with our audience and sparked strong engagement. We invited Susan back in 2024 and 2025, and I’d confidently recommend her to any organization looking for a practical, experienced presenter who delivers insight that actually moves the needle.

Tom Bronson Founder, Business Transitions Summit

Speaking Topics

Stop Wearing All the Hats

Most business owners are the bottleneck in their own company. This session breaks down why owner dependency happens and how to systematically reduce it without losing control. Susan walks through mindset shifts, practical process design, and delegation frameworks that allow the business to move forward without everything running through the owner.
Audience takeaway: A practical framework to reduce owner dependency and reclaim leadership time.

Intentional Use of Time: Getting Out of Firefighting Mode (Breakout/Workshop Friendly)

Being busy isn’t the problem—constant interruption is. This talk shows leaders how their time gets hijacked, why everything feels urgent, and what to change so fewer issues land on their desk. The focus is on protecting high-value time and creating structure that supports better decisions.
Audience takeaway: Concrete ways to stop firefighting and regain control of the workday.

From Chaos to Control: Building Systems Your Team Will Actually Use

Systems don’t fail because people hate process—they fail because they’re overcomplicated or ignored. This session shows how to build simple, usable systems that support accountability, scale, and team ownership without micromanagement.
Audience takeaway: How to design systems your team will actually use.

Accountability Without Drama

Accountability doesn’t have to mean confrontation. Susan shows leaders how to set expectations, address breakdowns, and improve performance using process—not personality. The result is fewer emotional conversations and more consistent execution.
Audience takeaway: A repeatable way to hold teams accountable without conflict.