Our Latest Articles

February 17, 2025 - Issue #135

Men and Women Cling to Power for Different Reasons While male leaders often view stepping down as a threat to their identity and accomplishments, female leaders appear to be motivated by other factors.

How Family Businesses Can Recruit the Best C-Suite Candidates Family-owned businesses often struggle to compete with non-family firms when it comes to recruitment, and understanding the expectations of job seekers is crucial to attract the best talent.

Announcing FamilyBusiness.org's 2023-24 Schulze Award Winners Our newest group of winners — who published articles during the academic year of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 — represent a diverse range of insights.

Craft Ventures are More Successful With a Couple at the Helm Family firms take note: A study of chocolate makers showed that shared values, commitment, and a long-term outlook are good for both relationships and business.

Justifiable Pride or Arrogance? It Matters for Family Businesses Bragging about your family connection is universally bad, but even pride in your accomplishments must be displayed carefully -- especially in eastern cultures.

The Psychology of Effective Exit Planning: A Guide for Families and Advisors Family firms can help the next generation move forward by understanding and supporting the emotional aspects of the exit for the current leader.

‘SOBs’: The Real Power in Family Businesses Saviors Of the Boss have the trust of company leaders and often serve as their gatekeepers. How to understand them and work with them.

The Perks and Pitfalls of Hiring Your Parents Allen Esrock of NxtGen Nexus weights in on how to optimize the free labor and other benefits, and how to manage conflicting goals, sibling resentment, and suspicious non-relatives who work for you.

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Here Are the Next Gen's Biggest Worries

Things to Consider When Transferring Family Business Ownership

Will Your Successors See Themselves as Heirs or Entrepreneurs?

Hand Down the Family Business but Keep a Hand In

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Family Business Leaders' Fear of Failure Can Inhibit Next Gens

by Seyyede Sharare Bagherian, Sonia M. Strano, Sohrab Soleimanof, Jon Carr, and S. Alireza Feyzbaksh / Research Insight

When parents openly display fear of failing, it can unintentionally portray entrepreneurship as unsafe, undesirable, or even shameful. This doesn't help their successors or the business. Read more...

Are the 'Best Practices' All Wrong for Your Family Business?

by Luciana Lucena de Lima and María José Parada / Research Insight

The best processes and systems come not from outside advisers and experts, but from how families actually live, relate to one another, and make decisions. Read more...

Family CEOs May Encourage More Innovation Than Non-Family Leaders

by Mario Daniele Amore, Morten Bennedsen, Bordin Bordeerath, and Nicolai Foss / Research Insight

While professional non-family leadership may bring some advantages, the stability brought by family leaders may encourage employees to innovate without fear of failure. Read more...

Addressing Substance Use Disorders in a Family Enterprise

by Diana Clark / Commentary

When a family member struggles with addiction, the consequences can ripple throughout the firm and increase its risks. Read more...

by Ritch Sorenson

When entrepreneurs raise entrepreneurs

by Nadine Kammerlander and Larissa Leitner

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

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

Family Business Succession Planning: 10 Golden Rules

by Tom Rüsen, Torsten Groth, and Arist von Schlippe

How Family Dynamics Shape Family Businesses

by Joseph Astrachan and Claudia Binz Astrachan