Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Goldhill.
Hi Jonathan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
When I look back, my relationship with business started more as an observer than a participant. My grandfather had largely exited the family business by the time I was growing up, so I never worked in or around it. What I did see, though, was the result of a life spent building something meaningful—when I visited his home, walked into his office, and sensed the respect he had earned. That quiet exposure planted a seed long before I understood what entrepreneurship really meant.
My own path was far less inherited and much more built. One of the most formative chapters of my career was helping build VEDC in the San Fernando Valley. That work grounded me in the realities of small and mid-sized businesses—owners trying to grow, hire, survive downturns, and create opportunity in their community. It wasn’t theoretical. It was hands-on, relationship-driven, and deeply human. I learned how capital, leadership, mindset and vision either unlock growth or quietly hold it back.
In 2000, I transitioned from building California’s most successful business and economic development organization into private coaching and advisory work. For more than two decades, I’ve worked with entrepreneurial and family-owned businesses, helping leaders navigate growth, leadership challenges, and pivotal transitions. What drew me in—and what keeps me here—isn’t just people, strategy, execution and financial management. It’s the personal side of business: identity, pressure, family dynamics, and the weight of responsibility that comes with success.
Today, I focus primarily on next-generation leaders and families at inflection points—succession, reinvention, or moments when the old playbook no longer fits. I also host the Disruptive Successor Show podcast, where I have honest conversations about what it really takes to lead inside a family enterprise without losing yourself in the process.
At this stage of my life and career, I’m less interested in building something bigger and more interested in creating something that matters. I’ve come to believe that success isn’t just about growth—it’s about alignment, clarity, and the courage to define leadership on your own terms. That’s the work I’m most committed to now.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—and in hindsight, I’m grateful for that.
Early on, I made several small investments in private companies. A couple worked out well, but several didn’t. Those experiences were my first real lessons in risk, judgment, and humility. I learned quickly that enthusiasm and optimism aren’t substitutes for hard work, alignment with the owners, and market timing.
One of the most growthful experiences was starting an art and clothing company with an artist. The venture was short-lived, largely due to a difficult partnership dynamic, and I ultimately lost about $25,000 of my own money in 1986. At the time, it felt like a significant personal and financial failure. But it forced me to slow down and reflect on what I didn’t yet know—about partners, business, and myself.
That moment became a turning point. I went back to school and earned an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Management Consulting at USC. More than the degree itself, the process gave me a framework for thinking more clearly about people, entrepreneurship, and capital. It helped transform hard-earned lessons into something usable and lasting.
Those early struggles shaped how I show up today. They gave me empathy for entrepreneurs who are navigating uncertainty, making imperfect decisions, and carrying the weight of responsibility. They also taught me that setbacks aren’t detours—they’re often the curriculum.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Goldhill Group is the evolution of everything I’ve learned over more than three decades working with entrepreneurs, family businesses, and next-generation leaders. It’s a strategic advisory and coaching practice grounded in the idea that business success isn’t just about revenue curves or market share—it’s about clarity, connection, and courage.
What we do
At Goldhill Group, we partner with founders and next-generation leaders in family businesses along with their leadership team during pivotal moments—growth transitions, leadership shifts, succession planning, legacy design, and moments of identity change within the enterprise. We help our clients get clear on who they are, where they’re going, and how to get there with more alignment and less drama.
My work sits at the intersection of leadership development, strategic planning, and human dynamics. We help clients:
Implement business operating systems that build healthy teams and strong execution disciplines.
Design growth and succession strategies that honor both business performance and future plans.
Strengthen the leadership capabilities of founders and next-generation executives alike.
Build accountability structures that reduce drama and elevate performance.
Navigate the emotional complexity of working with family members.
What we specialize in / what we’re known for
We specialize in helping forward-thinking leaders bridge the gap between legacy and innovation. Many advisors focus on financial engineering or purely operational fixes; what sets us apart is an integrative approach that considers identity, values, roles, and relationships as central to long-term success—especially in family enterprises.
I’m also known for the Disruptive Successor Show podcast, where I have candid conversations with next-gen leaders about the challenges and breakthroughs that aren’t often discussed publicly. The show has become a place where leaders tell honest stories about challenges and personal transformation.
What sets us apart
Goldhill Group isn’t a cookie-cutter consultancy. We don’t offer one-size-fits-all frameworks. Our work is highly personalized and deeply relational. We combine practical business strategy with leadership psychology and real-world empathy. Clients tell me we bring clarity without complexity—helping them see what actually matters and remove what doesn’t.
What I’m most proud of, brand-wise
I’m most proud that Goldhill Group has become a trusted bridge for leaders navigating change—whether it’s guiding them 2-10x their business revenue and personal incomes or mentoring successors who feel unseen, underprepared, or overwhelmed. When a next-gen leader says, “You saw me before I saw myself,” that’s the brand impact that matters most to me. It’s not about accolades—it’s about transformation that lasts.
What I want VoyageLA readers to know
Goldhill Group exists for leaders who want more than incremental growth. We work with those who want clarity over chaos, alignment over ambiguity, and legacy over short-term success. Whether through coaching, structured advisory engagements, or immersive retreats, we help leaders move from confusion to confidence — so their business thrives and their relationships do too.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are a few meaningful ways people can work with me or engage with the Goldhill Group, depending on where they are in their journey.
For business owners and next-generation leaders, I work through 1:1 advisory and coaching engagements, leadership team work, and facilitated retreats focused on growth, succession, and alignment. Most relationships begin with a conversation and a diagnostic process to ensure there’s a strong fit and a shared understanding of what success looks like.
I also collaborate with trusted advisors—including estate planners, wealth advisors, attorneys, and consultants—who serve entrepreneurial and family-owned businesses. These partnerships work best when there’s a shared commitment to helping clients navigate both the business and human sides of transition.
For those who want to stay connected or support the work more informally, the Disruptive Successor Show podcast is an easy entry point. It’s where I share stories and conversations with leaders who are challenging old assumptions and redefining what leadership and legacy can look like.
At the core, everything I do is relationship-driven. The best way to engage is simply to reach out, start a conversation, and see whether there’s alignment. That’s how the most meaningful work has always begun for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thegoldhillgroup.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegoldhillgroup
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-goldhill-group
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/TheGoldhillGroup
- Other: https://disruptivesuccessorshow.com/
