John walked into the corner office. He had just been named CEO a week earlier, following his father’s unexpected death. He had spent twenty years working alongside him, preparing for that moment. He was the designated successor. And yet, sitting in that chair for the first time, he realized he had inherited the title, the…

Ermias Mebrate Mengistu leads the IESE Africa Initiative, launched in 2009 to promote Africa-focused research, programs, exchange modules and faculty development on the continent. On an April morning in Addis Ababa, a group of Ethiopian family business leaders gathered at WeVenture Hub. There was no podium or formal presentation—just coffee and a guest with an…

On a recent family trip to a shopping mall, our younger daughter pointed to a drastically reduced product and enthusiastically lobbied for us to purchase it. After all, it seemed so cheap. The original price was prominently displayed, crossed out, and replaced by a much lower number. The discount appeared irresistible. So I found myself…

For years, succession has been viewed as the primary hurdle in family businesses. But today, many business families face a different challenge. The issue is no longer finding talent—inside or outside the family—but managing the growth of the family itself. As generations advance, the family often grows at a faster pace than the business. What starts…