Succession Planning Reimagined - by Angela L M Stopper (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Build a Future-Ready Organization Where Every Employee Can Succeed

Succession planning, while often talked about, remains one of the least successfully implemented leadership practices in an organization's toolkit. Too often, organizations rely on outdated methods like "successor spotting," grooming, secret conversations behind closed doors, or focusing only on a select group of "high potentials." These approaches create bias, limit opportunity, and fail to prepare organizations for the realities of today's fast-changing workforce. Succession Planning Reimagined introduces developmental succession planning, a modern, inclusive strategy that empowers every employee to grow and contribute to future success.

Through research-based insights and practical tools, you'll learn how to transform succession planning from a static, murky process into a dynamic, people-centered strategy. You'll discover the "secret sauce" for success: engaging employees, connecting development to organizational goals, and supporting growth at every stage. Each chapter provides clear steps for:

• Assessing future needs


• Building top-level and next-level plans


• Creating measurable progress through continuous refinement

Whether you're an HR leader, OD consultant, L&D professional, or talent strategist, this book equips you to build authentic leadership pipelines that foster equity, readiness, and resilience. By embracing a proactive, developmental approach, you'll prepare your organization for what's next while creating a culture in which every employee feels valued and prepared for the future. If you're ready to move beyond outdated models and design a succession strategy that works for today's workforce, this guide will show you how to make it happen.

About the Author

Angela L.M. Stopper, PhD, is the chief learning officer and director of people and organization development at the University of California, Berkeley, where she leads campus-wide initiatives focused on leadership development, succession planning, change management, coaching, and workforce readiness for a complex and evolving organization. With more than two decades of experience across higher education, executive education, and global consulting, she brings a rare blend of strategic insight and practical application to the work of developing people and organizations. Stopper has advised leaders and organizations around the world on how to build inclusive, future-ready talent systems and sustainable leadership pipelines. Her writing draws directly from this real-world experience, offering readers clear frameworks, tools, and guidance they can immediately apply. Her work is especially valuable for leaders, HR and learning professionals, and OD practitioners seeking modern, developmental approaches to talent and succession planning. She lives in Oakland, California.