Tag: family business succession planning

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

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

How Families Can Re-Engage Reluctant Successors Without Pressure

Successors recommit when roles align with their values, skills, and life stage—and when family dynamics allow earlier experiences to be reinterpreted. Many family firms think about succession when Read more

Rom-Coms Can Complicate Your Succession Planning

Unrealistic depictions of the sacrifices and tradeoffs of family business leadership -- streamed repeatedly -- can color younger people’s attitudes towards taking the helm. Popular TV dramas like Read more

Will Your Family Brand Survive New Leadership?

As trillions in family-owned companies shift to next-generation leaders, one critical asset is being ignored: the brand. Here’s why brand value—often nearly 20% of enterprise worth—erodes Read more

Ready to Lead: Building Confidence Across Generations

When families treat readiness as something they cultivate together, succession feels less like a loss and more like a natural next step. Leadership becomes a capacity shared across generations rather Read more

Planning Succession? These 10 Decisions Are Critical

Succession is not a single choice -- It is a chain of choices that interlock and compound. Avoiding any one of them will create friction or ambiguity. Succession is the defining challenge of the Read more

Invite Your Next Gens to Leadership

A family business adviser shares how to improve family dynamics to help younger family members get ready for top roles. To keep a family business within the family, younger family members must be Read more