Our Latest Articles
//December 21, 2020 - Issue #20
Three Strengths that Can Help Family Firms Survive Covid The good news is that for many family businesses the challenges and invitations offered by the pandemic can allow them to emerge stronger than ever, both as families and as enterprises.
Editor's Pick
Sherri Noxel
'Letting Go'
Oregon winery entrepreneur Susan Sokol Blosser is one of the founders of Oregon’s wine industry and a prolific writer. In “Letting Go” she captured the very personal and painful journey of exiting a family business that she founded. It’s the type of honest book about succession that is hard to find. Her first book, “Gracious and Ruthless: Surprising Strategies for Business Success,” shares her point of view as a woman founder in a traditionally male industry.
http://www.susansokolblosser.com
Everyday Gratitude in Times of Uncertainty A timely message for the holiday season: Gratitude leads to better relationships. It's also good business because it encourages loyalty among our colleagues, especially in times of crisis.
Developing responsible owners in family business The next generation of owners is crucial to the family firm's survival. The process of getting them ready and instilling the right attitudes should start early. 
Leadership Lessons from Great Family Businesses Family businesses are a thriving economic engine, but many struggle to make it from one generation to the next. This article deconstructs what makes them viable for the long term.
Innovating While Preserving Tradition Venerable family firms that have been successful through the decades still must innovate. Here is how the leader of one Dutch firm balances tradition and modernization.
Surprising Winners in the Pandemic While more than a quarter of small businesses have closed, some are doing surprisingly well, as this New York Times article points out.
Family business consultants often create their greatest value in unexpected ways: helping families uncover the real reasons they're stuck, have difficult conversations, and make better decisions. Read more...
Don’t wait for a vacancy. Prepare family members now — through education, mentoring, clear expectations, and hands-on experience — to serve on boards, family councils, and committees. Read more...
Family businesses often promote their ownership and heritage to build trust. Research suggests that “family-run” may send a stronger message than “family-owned” — and that adding more heritage claims can sometimes backfire. Read more...
What happens after the founder steps aside? Interviews with successor CEOs reveal the emotional, organizational, and family dynamics that determine whether leadership transitions succeed—or stall. Read more...
Editorial offices located at St Thomas University
Supported by the Richard M Schulze Family Foundation