Program Overview

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Family Business Management

Programme Overview

Managing a family business comes with unique challenges that require a deep understanding of business dynamics, governance, and interpersonal relationships. This course provides essential knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of ownership, strategy, and family governance, ensuring long-term business continuity and growth.

Key Topics

Part I: Family, Firm, and Assets – Organization and Strategy in Family Business

• The structural relationship between key elements of a family business
• Economy and efficiency in family companies: synergies and conflicts between family values and business principles
• Strategic orientation: balancing business priorities with family bonds

Part II: The Interconnection Between Strategy, Ownership, and Governance

• Family governance: competition, challenges, and synergies
• Diverging strategic visions: added value vs. limitations
• Value creation and the role of non-working family members
• Corporate governance and business structure

Part III: Family Assets – Strategic Planning, Protection, and Transfer

• Conflicting interests: family ties vs. financial evaluation
• Family planning: key rules and success factors
• Mapping family assets and interests
• Modern family agreements: financial and business considerations

Case Studies

• When and how to transfer leadership within a family business
• When family dynamics lead to business failure
• Managing dramatic family events: death, illness, legal issues, or substance abuse
• The evolving concept of family: single parents, LGBTQ+ families, separated and divorced couples, unmarried partners, second marriages with blended families, interracial and international couples – different challenges and expectations
• The generational transition process
• Power struggles over shares and governance
• Leadership and organizational structure: defining clear roles
• Asset valuation and transfer strategies

Key Learning Outcomes

• Develop a strategic approach to family business management
• Balance business growth with family values and relationships
• Understand corporate governance and ownership structures
• Manage intergenerational transitions effectively
• Learn best practices for protecting and transferring family assets
• Address conflicts, succession planning, and leadership challenges

Additional Information

Course Structure

This course is structured into three parts, delivered over six in-class sessions, each focusing on key aspects of family business organization, strategy, governance, and asset management. There are also testimonials from entrepreneurs from various sectors related to family business in the national and international context.

Who Should Attend?

This programme is ideal for:

• Successors and future leaders of family businesses
• Entrepreneurs managing family-owned companies
• Executives and managers involved in family-run enterprises
• Professionals and consultants advising family businesses

Final Project & Certification

Participants will work on a real-world case study, applying course concepts to develop a strategic plan for a family business.

Upon successful completion, attendees will be awarded the European School of Economics Certificate in Family Business Management.

Dates: May – June 2025

Language: English

Programmes Offered

• Gap Year Programme
• BSc Business Administration
• BSc Global Political Sciences
• MSc Business Management
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Short Course
• CTH Foundation Programmes in Hospitality and Tourism
• International Summer School
• Short Course

Specialisations

• Family Business Management
• Artificial Intelligence in Business
• Diplomacy and Economics
• Luxury Real Estate
• Luxury Real Estate (Executive)
• Hospitality Management
• Fashion & Luxury Goods Management
• Marketing
• Management
• Finance
• Entrepreneurship & Leadership
• Sports Management
• CTH Diploma in Tourism Management
• CTH Diploma in Hospitality Management
• Football Team Management
• Events Management
• Music Management
• Film Business Management
• Arts Management
• International Relations
• Business of Architecture
• Yacht Management

Locations

• Florence
• London
• Madrid
• Milan
• Rome

Intake

• Summer

Accreditations

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