Reading the Harvard Business Review article “How to Lead When Things Feel Increasingly Out of Control,” I was struck by its particular relevance for family-owned firms—businesses often criticized for delaying critical decisions and missing opportunities amid uncertainty and volatility. This perception notwithstanding, many family businesses bring decades of hard-won experience in navigating uncertainty. They have […]
Longchamp, leadership guided by family values
Building on our previous article on the strategic importance of family values, this week we offer the real-life case of Longchamp, a family business that has successfully translated its core values into a competitive advantage. Founded in Paris in 1948, the company is led by Jean Cassegrain, a third-generation member of a family that has […]
Family values: legacy is co-created, not handed down
Guest contributor: Tarek el Sehity Tarek el Sehity is a researcher and lecturer at Sigmund Freud University in Vienna. “For things to remain the same, everything must change.” Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, The Leopard This enduring wisdom captures a fundamental truth for business families that have withstood the test of time: preserving the values that […]
Challenges from the 2nd generation and beyond
In a previous article, we analyzed the key hurdles faced by family businesses based on their life cycle. In this post, we’ll turn our focus to the challenges they encounter in their transition from the second to the third generation and beyond. The second generation: reorganizing ownership and managing divergent interests After successfully navigating the […]
3 insights to enhance family dynamics
A father and daughter sit in a boardroom. He believes he’s giving her sound advice; she hears only criticism. Across the table, what could be a constructive dialogue turns into stony silence and simmering resentment. Scenarios like this play out every day in family firms, where conversations carry multiple layers of meaning. Running a family […]
Annual Report 2024-25
Between academic sessions, new research, conferences and ongoing dialogue with all of you, the Chair of Family-Owned Business made significant strides over the past academic year. We hope you enjoy our Annual Report 2024-25, a showcase of our most important achievements over the academic year in support of the owners, leaders and collaborators of family […]
The importance of adaptive intelligence in family firms
In a world where change is the only constant, our greatest risk isn’t ignorance, but certainty. In my recent Forbes article, I highlight the importance of Adaptability Quotient (AQ): the ability to adjust and pivot when reality doesn’t align with our expectations. AQ is essential for leaders of all types of organizations, but especially in […]
1 in 3 family offices in Spain will face a generational shift over the next 10 years
According to the “Discovering to the Spanish family office” by OpenWealth (Grupo CaixaBank) and finReg360, 35% of family offices in Spain will face a generational shift over the next 10 years, making a solid succession plan essestial to ensuring their long-term success and sustainability. One in three family offices in Spain will be facing a […]
2nd IESE-IEF Family Business Forum for Reflection: insights from the front lines
On May 30, we welcomed nearly 200 owners and leaders of family-owned firms to our Barcelona campus for the 2nd annual IESE-IEF Family Business Forum for Reflection. Under the theme “Building the Future: Key Moments in the Evolution of the Family Business,” the event featured a roster of top-caliber speakers from diverse companies and industries, […]
Financial activism and family business
The phenomenom of financial activism has broadened its reach, no longer reserved for U.S.-based companies or large multinationals. More and more, activist funds–especially hedge funds–are buying stakes in companies they consider “mismanaged” or under-optimized, aiming to force changes in their strategy and governance, and in some cases, even their shareholder structure. Hedge funds and family […]
Family as a value in family business
When I meet a business family, I usually start by asking about their values. With one notable exception, when my query was answered with a portfolio of stock market investments–naturally I had to redirect the conversation–most open up by sharing their personal values and those they hold as a family. In my dealings with successful, […]
