Module 1 – Basics and Key Challenges

The “essence” of family businesses

• Ice-breaking: round table of participants presenting themselves;
• What makes family business unique
• From family businesses to families in business
• Facts & Figures: Economic and social contribution of families in business

Success for families in businesses: main challenges

• The meaning of success for families in business
• Best practices of successful families in business
• Understanding the challenges to succeed: cohesion, generational transistion and growth

The Cohesion Challenge

• The overlap of family, ownership and management: a double-edge sword;
• Family decision-making process: best practices to implement an effective decision-making process, that meets company needs and balance the family role.

The Generational Transition Challenge

• Main players:
  • The founder and the generational shadow;
  • Generation to generation: the succession process;
  • How to effectively plan, manage and control the generational succession to foster business continuity and renewal;
  • The CEO succession plan.

The Growth Challenge

• Understanding the tensions between control-liquidity and growth
• Culture and processes needed for growth
• Organic growth vs Acquisitions
• Implementing a dividend policy that works

Start your family Road-Map

• Team work.

Module 2 – Inspirational on-site experience

Competitive Strategy & Business Model

• Understand the different sources of performance and competitive advantage;
• Understand, analyse, and assess the dynamics of business models and the need for business model innovation;
• Being able to recognize and implement appropriate strategies in a changing environment for family businesses.

Company visits to family-owned businesses

Module 3 – Keys for value over generations

Financing growth

• Family Business Financial structure;
• Managing debt in the famiy business environment;
• Wealth diversification versus Business Diversification;
• Private Equity and Venture Capital: financial instruments to foster growth and stems obstacles of the succession process;
• The role of private banking and family offices in supporting family business.

Professionalizing Management

• Main challenges in family business professionalization process;
• Different process of professionalization: how to attract family and non-family talents;
• Professionalization process and organizational change;
• Family managers: the stewardship theory and the Socio-Emotional Wealth;
• The role of non-family manager: career plans and rewarding policies to build and retain a valuable Top Management Team.

Setting up Governance

• Governance Models for Family Business;
• Tools for governance efficacy;
• Board of directors and Family Council;
• Family Code of Conduct.
• Ownership planning and shareholders agreements.

Family Talks

Participants meet their families and discuss about their family business road-map: plan, objectives, task and roles.

Module 4 – Your Values, Your Vision

Sustainability and Philanthropy

• Family values and ethical code;
• Ethics and Social Responsibility as valuable tools to consolidate corporate brand.
• Social Impact strategies in family business;
• Legal aspects of social impact strategies;
• The role of foundations in value creation.

The Communication Process in Family Business

• Communications and speech act theory;
• Internal Communications;
• How to write a press release.
• Digital communications;
• Focus on Strategic Financial Communication & Crisis Communication.

Family Road-Map Presentations