Our Latest Articles

May 12, 2025 - Issue #142

Business Families Must Get Real About Growth and Payouts Sometimes the family grows much faster than the business, especially in saturated markets. This has deep implications for how we manage family and business expectations.

Nonfamily CEOs Are Most Vulnerable in the Middle Stage of Their Tenure Family businesses tend to give all CEOs time to prove themselves, but are tougher on outsiders who don’t deliver results after a few years.

Family Firms: The Time to Learn About AI is Now Like the telephone or the internet, AI is here to stay, and we need to learn how to work with it.

Can a Female CEO Lead to More Diversity at the Top? At family firms, decisions are often shaped by traditions, preferences, or informal dynamics that are not easy to override, even for the CEO.

ESG Essentials For Family Firms ‘ESG is an existential issue. Businesses that don’t demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices could be punished by consumers, the media and even regulators.’

The Emotional Toll of Selling Your Business

Using Humble Language Can Drive Market Success Businesses in trouble can reap benefits by displaying humility – but the rules differ for family and non-family firms.

Your CEO Affects How Outsiders Perceive Your Brand Family or non-family leader? Your choice depends on the age of the firm, and can ultimately affect how the media and outside stakeholders see you.

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More Than an Entrepreneur: How Best Buy Founder Dick Schulze Saves Lives

The Emotional Downside of Exiting Your Business

All-Time Greats: Announcing Our Wetherbe Award Winners

Your Family’s Mental Model Might Be Fueling Its Conflicts

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Recent

Learning to Let Go of a Startup

by Lin Grensing-Pophal / Features

Handing off a family business to the next generation can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Read more...

Tariffs, Turmoil, and Family Tiffs: Navigating the Current Chaos

by Joseph Astrachan and Claudia Binz Astrachan / Practice Insight

You can support your business through economic uncertainty and maintain unity and commitment. Read more...

Why Some Job Seekers Avoid Family Firms

by Duygu Phillips, Kristen Madison, Sandra Wolf, Andreas Hack, and Franz Kellermanns / Research Insight

Family firm branding can make a company appear authentic, but it's also important to convey innovativeness, prestige, and a fair shot at getting ahead. Read more...

Outsource or Hire? Advice for Family Businesses

by Kimberly Eddleston / Interviews

Ben Berger and Ron Nahass of RSM talk about the benefits of letting outside contractors handle critical business functions. Read more...

by Joseph Astrachan and Claudia Binz Astrachan

Consumers Love Local Brands. That's Good News For Family Businesses

by Philipp Jaufenthaler, Andreas Kallmuenzer, Sascha Kraus, and Alfredo De Massis

How Family Businesses Survive Unexpected ‘Wild Cards’

by Wojciech Czakon, Monika Hajdas, and Joanna Radomska

How to Run a Family Business Successfully

by Kerry Hannon

Outside Leadership Can Save the Family Business

by Robert Sher