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How Famous Family Firms Use Their History to Connect With Stakeholders

Tangible items like postcards, photos, old accounting books, or logos and images from brand and advertising campaigns are more than just mementos of a family business’s past. They create the family Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Luca Manelli , Vittoria Magrelli , Josip Kotlar , Federico Frattini and Antonio Messeni Petruzzelli

Wealth Can be Hazardous to Future Family Business Leaders

Preparing the next generation for leadership is an important mission for family businesses. But all too often, the comfortable lifestyle that family wealth makes possible does not do the Read More...

Category: Interviews

Author: Kimberly Eddleston

How Family Firms Help Non-Family Employees Feel Like Family

Family businesses often behave in unique ways: They forego business opportunities to retain the family’s control over the business, stick to family traditions that are outdated, and prefer family Read More...

Category: Applied and Practice

Authors: Peter Jaskiewicz , Josh Hsueh , Elizabeth Tetzlaff and Giovanna Campopiano

The Biggest Mistakes Family Businesses Make With Their Boards

Family business researcher, lecturer, and advisor Claudia Binz Astrachan has studied first-hand how effective boards of directors steer family business management towards strategies that make the Read More...

Category: Interviews

Author: Kimberly Eddleston

Succession Planning Should Start Earlier Than You Think

Family businesses everywhere are responding to the succession challenge in profound ways. Preserving cherished family traditions and relationships is just as important as preserving the wealth of the Read More...

Category: Commentary

Authors: Mat Hughes and Mira Bloemen-Bekx

How Family Firms Can Ensure Being Sustainable Pays Off

One of the greatest challenges today for any firm is to operate a sustainable business model. Besides helping to address climate change, such a model can help improve firm performance. When a firm is Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Adrian Stutz , Sabrina Schell and Andreas Hack

How Family Businesses Survive Unexpected ‘Wild Cards’

One of the key concerns for family businesses is continuity. Unlike non-family firms, many family businesses display a longevity that may span over centuries. In order to survive such long periods, Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Wojciech Czakon , Monika Hajdas and Joanna Radomska

Falling from Grace: How Scandals Affect Family Businesses

Promoting the family behind the family business can often bring benefits. Consumers can feel better about a product or service – and more likely to trust it and buy it -- if they know a Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Emanuela Rondi , Carlotta Benedetti , Cristina Bettinelli and Alfredo De Massis

New Ways Business Owners Can Use Boards

While boards of directors are common at large firms and nonprofits, family businesses don't always see their value or understand how to use them well. However, according to consultant Read More...

Category: Commentary

Author: Kimberly Eddleston

How to Fix Succession Conflicts Stemming From Complicated Families

Part 2 of a two-part series. Read part 1 here . Family business succession planning is a difficult process – and it is even more challenging in cases where divorce and adoption complicate family Read More...

Category: Research Insight

Authors: Leona Rethmann and Nadine Kammerlander