Beyond the Leadership Pipeline: Rethinking Succession for Critical and High-Potential Talent

Succession planning has traditionally focused on leadership roles, often overlooking the critical and high-potential talent who drive execution, innovation, and organizational continuity. This session explores how organizations can expand succession planning beyond the leadership pipeline to intentionally develop key individual contributors. By connecting skills-based talent strategies to career pathing and employee development planning, attendees will learn how to identify critical roles, surface future-ready skills, and create meaningful growth pathways for employees who may not aspire to people leadership. The session offers practical insights for building a more inclusive, resilient, and future-ready talent ecosystem.

About the speaker

Tim Lippincott is Vice President of People Strategy at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. He leads the enterprise’s approach to talent and culture, shaping strategies that strengthen leadership, advance employee growth, and enable organizational performance. Since joining the company in 2016, Tim has played a key role in aligning people practices with business strategy, driving initiatives that enhance talent acquisition, leadership development, employee experience, and succession planning. He brings more than 15 years of leadership experience in human resources and leadership, with prior roles at Verizon Communications and Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Tim holds a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Nazareth College. A lifelong resident of Upstate New York, he lives in Pittsford with his wife, Michelle, and their three children.

JOIN US FOR THIS FREE WEBINAR

Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Time:  12:00 - 1:00 pm EST

Location:  On-line, via Zoom

Cost:  Free to GRQC members and non-members

Registration:  Click below to register.  

Can’t make it live but interested in the content?  Register anyway: all registered attendees get a link to the recording after the session!

If you require special accommodation, please let us know by January 19.

Please direct questions to events@grqc.org.

Greater Rochester Quality Council events, programs and initiatives are supported in part by the Greater Rochester Chamber Foundation.