Our Latest Articles

November 20, 2023 - Issue #102

Here's Why Family Businesses Need Branding For family firms, branding is not about marketing but about reputation -- how customers, employees, suppliers and others perceive them.

Keep the Founder's Entrepreneurial Spirit Alive in Future Generations While entrepreneurship often creates the family's wealth, making it part of the family culture and legacy is another matter entirely. Here's how.

Good Intentions Can Sow Dysfunction at Family Businesses A family business advisor talks about what well-meaning families get wrong about succession, conflict, and salaries, and what they can learn from watching "Cake Boss."

Help Your Family Business by Helping Others Philanthropy can be a catalyst for leadership development, and generate support and good will towards the business in the community.

Do You Treat In-Laws Like the Family Business Outlaws ? Families differ in their willingness to integrate outsiders into their family circle, but be careful: these actions influence the included or excluded individuals in different ways.

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Family Business Succession, Innovation, and Compensation: What You Need to Know A family business scholar and a consultant discuss family values; succession planning; compensation for family and non-family members; and being bold without burning through resources.

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Everyday Gratitude in Times of Uncertainty

Your Family’s Mental Model Might Be Fueling Its Conflicts

Learning to Let Go of a Startup

Nonfamily CEOs Are Most Vulnerable in the Middle Stage of Their Tenure

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Recent

Can a Female CEO Lead to More Diversity at the Top?

by Paola Rovelli and Marco Mismetti / Research Insight

At family firms, decisions are often shaped by traditions, preferences, or informal dynamics that are not easy to override, even for the CEO. Read more...

Business Families Must Get Real About Growth and Payouts

by Joseph Astrachan and George Manners / Practice Insight

Sometimes the family grows much faster than the business, especially in saturated markets. This has deep implications for how we manage family and business expectations. Read more...

Tariffs, Turmoil, and Family Tiffs: Navigating the Current Chaos

by Joseph Astrachan and Claudia Binz Astrachan / Practice Insight

You can support your business through economic uncertainty and maintain unity and commitment. Read more...

Your CEO Affects How Outsiders Perceive Your Brand

by Carlotta Benedetti, Paola Rovelli, Andrea Fronzetti Colladon, Alfredo De Massis, and Kurt Matzler / Research Insight

Family or non-family leader? Your choice depends on the age of the firm, and can ultimately affect how the media and outside stakeholders see you. Read more...

by Joseph Astrachan and Claudia Binz Astrachan

Consumers Love Local Brands. That's Good News For Family Businesses

by Philipp Jaufenthaler, Andreas Kallmuenzer, Sascha Kraus, and Alfredo De Massis

How Family Businesses Survive Unexpected ‘Wild Cards’

by Wojciech Czakon, Monika Hajdas, and Joanna Radomska

How to Run a Family Business Successfully

by Kerry Hannon

Outside Leadership Can Save the Family Business

by Robert Sher

Why Don't You Educate Your Owners?

by Tom Rüsen, Claudia Binz Astrachan, and Ruth Orenstrat