Our Latest Articles

May 12, 2025 - Issue #142

Business Families Must Get Real About Growth and Payouts 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.

Nonfamily CEOs Are Most Vulnerable in the Middle Stage of Their Tenure Family businesses tend to give all CEOs time to prove themselves, but are tougher on outsiders who don’t deliver results after a few years.

Family Firms: The Time to Learn About AI is Now Like the telephone or the internet, AI is here to stay, and we need to learn how to work with it.

Can a Female CEO Lead to More Diversity at the Top? At family firms, decisions are often shaped by traditions, preferences, or informal dynamics that are not easy to override, even for the CEO.

ESG Essentials For Family Firms ‘ESG is an existential issue. Businesses that don’t demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices could be punished by consumers, the media and even regulators.’

The Emotional Toll of Selling Your Business

Using Humble Language Can Drive Market Success Businesses in trouble can reap benefits by displaying humility – but the rules differ for family and non-family firms.

Your CEO Affects How Outsiders Perceive Your Brand 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.

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More Than an Entrepreneur: How Best Buy Founder Dick Schulze Saves Lives

The Emotional Downside of Exiting Your Business

All-Time Greats: Announcing Our Wetherbe Award Winners

Inside the Family Business Boardroom: How Better Meetings Lead to Better Decisions

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Recent

Family Businesses Must Prepare for the Unthinkable

by Kimberly Eddleston / Commentary

An unexpected death or disability can wreak havoc on a family business's best-laid plans. Read more...

How Families Can Override Emotions to Make Better Judgments

by Paul Edelman / Practice Insight

When decisions become emotionally charged, it becomes harder to think clearly just when clear thinking is needed most. Read more...

What the Public Gets Wrong About Family Businesses

by Katie Rucker / Commentary

A new study shows that insiders see ambition, innovation, and complexity, but outsiders see tradition. Bridging that divide is key to future success. Read more...

How Families Can Move From Conflict to Forgiveness

by Kimberly Eddleston / Interviews

Set boundaries clearly and often, understand your own hot buttons, and be genuinely curious about why the other side thinks the way they do. Read more...

by Kerry Hannon

Why Does EOS/Traction Work So Well for Family Businesses?

by Sara Stern

What Japan's Oldest Businesses Can Teach Us About Longevity

by Peter Vogel

Outside Leadership Can Save the Family Business

by Robert Sher

Planning Succession? These 10 Decisions Are Critical

by David Deeds

What Nonfamily Managers Need From Family Firm Leaders

by Mat Hughes, Alfredo De Massis, Sascha Kraus, Qilin Hu, and Yi-Ying Chang