Executive Education

Your Course of Study

Families in Business: From Generation to Generation draws on the experience and expertise of faculty who are leaders in family business education and research, and who consult with family companies around the world. The faculty provides participants with proven tools that they can use when addressing issues specific to their own situations. In addition, trained family business facilitators work privately with family teams to help them identify their particular challenges and goals, and guide them in developing strategies to better position their families and companies for future success. Participants say that these facilitated sessions are the most useful element of the program.

Incorporating thought-provoking lectures, case studies, guest speakers, and small-group discussions, the curriculum explores four key areas:

Dynamics of the Family Business System

• Integrating the strengths of families and businesses
• Preparing for predictable stages of the family business system
• Developing constructive family work relationships and shareholder relationships
• Managing conflict in business families
• Communicating effectively with family members
• Balancing the financial needs of the business and the family
• Adapting the practices of successful family companies and business families

Growing, Preserving, and Sharing the Wealth

• Implementing strategies for growing the company, while maintaining family control
• Distributing wealth and ownership to benefit the family and the business
• Raising children in wealthy business families

Governance

• Developing effective boards of directors and advisory boards
• Organizing family assembly and family council meetings
• Creating policies and plans for the family's involvement with the business
• Developing leaders in the family-business-ownership system

Succession

• Developing the next generation as effective managers, shareholders, and family members
• Managing ownership and leadership transitions
• Preparing the organization for future changes in management and ownership
• Taking charge and letting go of leadership responsibilities

"For me, the most valuable part of the program was the ability to spend a full week together with my father—without distractions—to talk, think, and debate about family and business issues. Through the instructive case studies and stimulating work groups, we realized that generational problems are universal in family businesses, and we now have ways to effectively tackle them. We also were able to better define the role of the board of directors and have since made some changes in order to add more value to our group companies."
Rodolfo DeBendetti [CEO, CIR Group], Italy