Tag: family business advice

Family Businesses Must Prepare for the Unthinkable

An unexpected death or disability can wreak havoc on a family business's best-laid plans. Patricia Annino, a Senior Advisor and Associate Partner at Cambridge Family Enterprise Group, has seen many Read more

How Families Can Override Emotions to Make Better Judgments

When decisions become emotionally charged, it becomes harder to think clearly just when clear thinking is needed most. A family business leader said to me recently, “We need to make a decision, but Read more

What the Public Gets Wrong About Family Businesses

A new study shows that insiders see ambition, innovation, and complexity, but outsiders see tradition. Bridging that divide is key to future success. If you ask someone what they think of a family Read more

How Families Can Move From Conflict to Forgiveness

Set boundaries clearly and often, understand your own hot buttons, and be genuinely curious about why the other side thinks the way they do. Conflict is a normal part of the human experience, but it Read more

What Japan's Oldest Businesses Can Teach Us About Longevity

Should longevity always be the goal? And if so, what exactly should endure—the operating company, a particular business model, or the family enterprise system itself? In family business, a quarter Read more

When Family Business Reputation Helps—and When It Hurts

Family firms often enjoy strong consumer goodwill, until they engage in deliberate misconduct -- when higher expectations can produce deeper disappointment and sharper backlash. EDITOR'S NOTE: This Read more

Why People Risk Belongs on Every Family Business Board Agenda

Boards routinely scrutinize financial and strategic risk. But talent shortages, leadership culture problems, and succession gaps can erode long-term value just as quickly. People risk belongs on Read more

Before You Grow the Family Business, Know What Not to Break

The challenge during succession is that not every inherited element deserves to be preserved. But not every piece of the legacy is safe to disrupt, either. One of the most common mistakes in family Read more

AI in Family Business: Why Brain Capital Is Your Real Competitive Advantage

AI can speed analysis and recommendations, but it cannot build trust or regulate conflict. Here's why Brain Capital -- judgment, resilience, and governance maturity -- will determine whether family Read more

Family Offices Are Booming—But Do They Actually Work?

Research still can’t clearly explain when they deliver real value. A review shows what we know, what we don’t, and how families can close the needs-to-services gap. EDITOR‘S NOTE: This article Read more