Our Latest Articles

January 13, 2025 - Issue #133

Articles About Relationships, Succession Were Top Draws in 2024 Many readers wanted advice about handling toxic family relationships, managing succession, and preserving the family’s values over time.

Transferring Family Wealth to the Next Generation: What’s Fair? Trillions of dollars are about to be handed down from baby boomers to younger generations. Family firms must consider how to transfer their ownership shares, and to whom.

Family History Can be Re-Framed to Encourage Harmony and Progress The goals of the family and the business are often at odds. Family history can inspire bold and necessary steps that are still in harmony with the family’s image of itself.

Include the Extended Family in Your Ownership Strategy Your ownership strategy should consider that in future generations the family firm will likely have many more owners. Take a broader focus when you develop it.

Hiring Mom and Dad? Optimize Their Strengths and Manage Boundaries Sharon Beck, owner of a Jovie Childcare franchise, shares her insights on the benefits and challenges of being your parents' boss.

Protect Your Family Business From Crime In crime-prone regions, activities like selling in physical stores, regular trips to the bank, and talking openly about business growth can make business owners targets.

The HERO Model: How Family Enterprise Leaders Can Accelerate Change Hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism can make us better people and better leaders. This article explores how we can cultivate it within ourselves.

How Boards Help Complex Family Firms Make Sound Decisions Fiduciary boards keep family firms focused on the long term, rather than on short-term, tactical strategies. But many family firms resist having one, fearful of losing control of their enterprise.

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When Family Businesses Should Think Like Private Equity Firms

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

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

Too Much Love in the Family Can Hurt

by Ines Herrero and Mat Hughes