Family Firm Institute Podcast
The Family Firm Institute Podcast features interviews and conversations with thought leaders in the field of family business advising. Guests come from professional advising and consulting, legal and financial services, and the behavioral and management sciences. Episodes explore best practices, research, and practical insights for those who serve family enterprises. It is produced by the Family Firm Institute, a professional membership organization for family business advisors and educators.
Episodes
What We Inherit: Martha Frick Symington Sanger on Family Trauma, Art, and Legacy
In this episode of The Practitioner podcast, Martha Frick Symington Sanger, great-granddaughter of Henry Clay Frick, discusses the 10-year process of researching her family history and the discoveries that changed how she understood Frick’s legacy.
At the center of the story is the death of Frick’s young daughter Martha, a loss from which Sanger believes he never recovered—and one she sees reflect
In this episode of the FFI Practitioner Podcast, Jordan Rich sits down with neuroscientist, Joseph LeDoux to explore:
Split-brain research and subliminal perception
The evolution of emotion research
The role and limits of the amygdala
Calming automatic responses and renarrating experience
The connection between neuroscience and music
LeDoux’s upcoming FFI conference appearance
Joseph LeDoux is a pioneering neuroscientist, author, and musician whose work has advanced scientific understanding of survival circuit
Family Business Review Retrospective – Part II
Three former Family Business Review editors—Pramodita Sharma, G. Tyge Payne, and Donald Neubaum—join the FFI Practitioner podcast to discuss the evolution of the journal and the growing maturity of the family business field during their tenure. They reflect on increasing submissions, rising impact, and the ongoing effort to maintain the journal’s high standards of rigor and excellence. The convers
Family Business Review Retrospective
In this episode, we explore the origins and evolution of Family Business Review—the leading academic journal in the family enterprise field.
Join early editors Ivan Lansberg, Kelin Gersick, and Joe Astrachan as they reflect on how the journal grew from an idea into a globally respected publication.
The conversation highlights the challenges of establishing legitimacy for a new field, building an
Christopher Gibson on AI, Dispute Resolution, and the Future of Legal Practice
In this episode of the FFI Practitioner Podcast, we speak with Christopher Gibson, FFI’s 2086 Scholar in Residence, about the evolving world of mediation, arbitration, and legal education.
Christopher discusses the growing role of AI in dispute resolution, and how lawyers can help family enterprise clients in an increasingly uncertain world.
We also explore how legal education is shifting from tra
Technology, Family Offices, and Investing for the Future: A Conversation with Aaron Vaccaro
Today’s FFI Practitioner features a podcast on “Technology, Family Offices, and Investing for the Future” with Aaron Vaccaro, president of Singularity. In his conversation with interviewer Jordan Rich, Aaron discusses exponential technologies and their importance to the success of multi-generational family enterprises. His colleague, Rob Nail, entrepreneur, coach, and former CEO of Singularity, wi
The Power of Narrative in Family Businesses: A Conversation with Jamie Yuenger and Lisabeth Sugahara
FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with guests Jamie Yuenger from StoryKeep and Lisabeth “Betsy” Sugahara from Fairfield-Maxwell Ltd. They discuss the power of story and how it can have positive impacts on family businesses, including improved family dynamics and wider support of business decisions.
Jamie Yuenger is founder of Storykeep, which creates private films and p
Family Offices Around the World: A Conversation with Mary Duke, Aik-Ping Ng, and Peter Vogel
FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Mary Duke, Aik-Ping Ng, and Peter Vogel, about the future of family offices worldwide. They discuss the necessity of integrating financial, human, and social capital, and the importance of long-term relationships and generational bridging in family office advising.
Mary Duke, FFI Fellow, is an internationally recognized advisor to
Advancements in Longevity Research: An Interview with Dr. Kris Verburgh
FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Dr. Kris Verburgh, who presented the keynote at the 2019 Global Conference. In today’s interview, Dr. Verburgh discusses the advancements in longevity research since his 2019 keynote, highlighting significant investments to address aging-related diseases. He also explores the ways in which a shift towards an ageless society would a
Measuring Performance in Family Enterprises: An Interview with Sir Andrew Likierman
FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Sir Andrew Likierman, 2025 recipient of the 2086 Society’s FFI Scholar-in-Residence grant. In today’s podcast, Sir Andrew Likierman discusses the complexities of performance management in family enterprises. He emphasizes the importance of having a common framework for success that aligns with the family’s objectives, the sig
The Rising Role of Women in Family Offices and Family Businesses
FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Sasha Lund, Jessica McGawley, and Larisa Miller, discussing a recently published Special Report from Globe Law and Business publisher: “The Rising Role of Women in Family Offices and Family Businesses.” Sasha, the report’s consulting editor, and Jessica and Larisa, two contributors to the report, discuss the report’s findings and h
Reimagining Wisdom, Wealth, and Legacy: An Interview with Princess Nandi
FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with H.R.H Princess Nandi Zulu, a distinguished member of the Zulu Royal Family, who is part of the 2086 Society’s grant to the Nomadic School of Business. In this podcast, Princess Nandi discusses her rich cultural heritage that is deeply rooted in the Zulu traditions, her view of wealth and legacy, and her philanthropic work as
Time, Science, and Storytelling: An Interview with Dava Sobel
FFI Practitioner is pleased to share a conversation with science writer Dava Sobel, who is delivering the opening keynote at the 2024 FFI Global Conference, entitled “What Time Tells Us: A Lecture on the Theme of Time, from John Harrison’s Sea Clocks to the Half-Lives of Marie Curie’s Radioelements.” In conversation with podcast host Jordan Rich, Sobel discusses her new book,The Elements of Marie
Good Judgment in the Family Firm: An Interview with Sir Andrew Likierman
FFI Practitioner is pleased to share a conversation with Sir Andrew Likierman, Professor of Management Practice at the London Business School, who is delivering the closing keynote at the 2024 FFI Global Conference, entitled “So What Do I Do Now? Better Judgments in the Family Firm.” In conversation with podcast host Jordan Rich, Likierman discusses the crucial role of developing good judgment for
Family Enterprise Consulting in Saudi Arabia: An Interview with Basma Al Zamil and Bob Kohli
FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Basma Al Zamil and Bob Kohli for a conversation on family enterprises and family enterprise consulting in Saudi Arabia. In this podcast, Bob and Basma discuss the evolution of family enterprises in Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region since the 1960s, the current focus on the implementation of governance, and suggestions for advi
Reimagining Wisdom, Wealth, and Legacy: An Interview with Krishna Thapa
FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with “warrior monk” Krishna Thapa, continuing our quarterly series on the 2024 conference theme “Mean Time: Time, Timing, and Timelessness in Family Enterprise.” Krishna, born in Nepal, was one of the first members of the Royal Gurkha Rifles (RGR) to become a member of the British Special Air Service (SAS). A mountaineer and mental heal
A Conversation on Mental Health and Addiction with Gary Mendell and Dr. Paul Hokemeyer
In this FFI Practitioner podcast Gary Mendell, founder and CEO of Shatterproof, and Dr. Paul Hokemeyer, licensed family therapist and founding principal of Drayson Mews, discuss current perspectives on addiction and mental health treatment. Their conversation addresses the concerns of enterprising and ultra-high-net-worth families seeking treatment and how their advisors can best guide their clien
Running Against Time: An Interview with Henry Krasnow, Carlo Salvato, and Allison Krasnow
In this FFI Practitioner podcast, three marathon runners explore how time, discipline, generational pulls, and much more play out when running a race. Today’s conversation also observes on how these characteristics exhibit themselves in the timing of activities, decisions, and emotional dynamics in a multi-generational family enterprise. Thanks to FFI Fellows Henry Krasnow and Carlo Salvato, and t
Reimagining Wisdom, Wealth, and Legacy: An Interview with Maasai Elder Emmanuel Mankura
FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Emmanuel Mankura, Maasai tribe elder and cultural ambassador. This podcast is the first in a series of four interviews presented by this year’s 2086 Society grant recipient, the Nomadic School of Business. In this podcast, Emmanuel shares insights into the ancient wisdom of the Maasai people as it relates to some of the class
Perspectives on Family Philanthropy and Social Impact Governance: An Interview with Christina Wing
Show notes: FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Christina Wing, founder of Wingspan Legacy Partners, a family business and family office advisory firm. In this podcast, Christina discusses governance for family philanthropy, social impact investing as a strategy for rising-generation leaders, and the importance of treating foundations as family businesses that requir
Time and Time Again: An Interview with the Nomadic School of Business, 2086 Society Annual Grant Recipient
We conclude our January series on Time with a podcast conversation with Anthony Willoughby, founder of the Nomadic School of Business, and Doutzen Groothof, a Dutch sociologist and coach who lives in Rwanda. She is the founder of StandTall, a boutique coaching and consulting enterprise. We hope this podcast is, well, timely, and will inspire you to think a bit more about “timelessness” as it appli
Systemic Investing: A year-end conversation with 2023 FFI Scholar-in-Residence Jason Jay and John Davis
FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Jason Jay, 2023 FFI Scholar-in-Residence, Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and Director of the Sustainability Initiative at MIT Sloan, and John Davis, chairman and founder of the Cambridge Family Enterprise Group, Senior Lecturer in Family Enterprise at MIT Sloan, and a founding member of the FFI 2086 Society.
FFI Practitioner: Neus Feliu Receives the 2023 FFI Richard Beckhard Practice Award
FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast discussion with Neus Feliu, the recipient of the 2023 Richard Beckhard Practice Award. The Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the field of multi-generational family enterprise practice.
FFI Practitioner: Doug Baumoel Receives the 2023 FFI Interdisciplinary Award
FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast discussion with Doug Baumoel, the recipient of the 2023 FFI Interdisciplinary Award. In Doug’s conversation with Jordan Rich, he reflects on the history of his own family’s enterprise, conflict resolution, and thinking like an engineer.
FFI Practitioner: The Manifestations of Money in the Business Family: An interview with Claudia Astrachan, Anneleen Michiels, and Randy Waesche
FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast discussion with Claudia Astrachan, Anneleen Michiels, and Randy Waesche. In their conversation, they discuss the topic of their session at the upcoming FFI Global Conference, “Incentive, Punishment, Reward, Control: The Many Misunderstood and Underexplored Manifestations of Money in the Business Family.”
FFI Practitioner: Adam Ifshin and Rocki-Lee DeWitt: Evolving the Entrepreneurial Culture in a Changing Talent Landscape
FFI Practitioner is pleased to invite Adam Ifshin, CEO of DLC Management, and Rocki-Lee DeWitt, Professor of Management in the Grossman School of Business at the University of Vermont to the podcast. In their conversation, they discuss the topic of their session at the upcoming FFI Global Conference, “Evolving the Entrepreneurial Culture in a Changing Talent Landscape.”
FFI Global Conference keynote speaker Grace Lordan
FFI on Friday is pleased to feature Grace Lordan, Associate Professor of behavioral science and Founding Director of The Inclusion Initiative at the London School of Economics, in this wide-ranging conversation about the future of work, including pay equity and the possibilities of AI. She is delivering the closing keynote at the FFI Global Conference in October, “Women and the Future of Work: Wit
FFI on Friday: FFI Global Conference keynote speaker Barnet Schecter
FFI on Friday is pleased to feature Barnet Schecter, an independent historian whose books include “The Battle for New York: The City at the Heart of the American Revolution.” He is delivering a keynote at the FFI Global Conference in October, entitled “It’s A Family Affair: Conquering New York, from Revolution to Rising Seas.”
How Positive Psychology Can Help Family Enterprises Flourish
The FFI Practitioner podcast is pleased to host Doug Gray, PhD, discussing the field of positive psychology and how its research findings can help family business advisors with their clients.
Doug Gray, PhD, is a consultant with the Family Business Consulting Group, co-founder of Assess Next Gen, LLC, and CEO of Action Learning Associates, LLC, as well as an author, speaker, researcher, and FFI me
Differences Among Family Firms: What the Research Shows
The FFI Practitioner podcast is pleased to host GEN Faculty member and FFI Fellow Francesco Barbera, discussing heterogeneity among family firms. This discussion uses as its launching point the FFI GEN course 501, “Evidence-Based Advising: Using Research to Empower Family Enterprises.”
Francesco Barbera, PhD, FFI Fellow, is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at The Ted Rogers
Becoming a More Conscious Advisor
FFI Practitioner is pleased to host a conversation with GEN Faculty member and FFI Fellow Dennis Jaffe, Marta Widz, and Hakim Benbadra, to discuss models for managing conflict in enterprise families. This discussion uses as its launching point the FFI GEN course 502, “Evolving Family Enterprise Governance: Right-Fitting Governance Across Generations.”
Dennis Jaffe, PhD, FFI Fellow, is a professor
Research Applied: FBR Précis on A Family Imprinting Approach to Nurturing Willing Successors
For this week’s FFI Practitioner podcast, we are pleased to feature Pilar Marques, Associate Professor of Strategy and Family Business at the University of Girona in Spain. She is the first author of the September 2022 Family Business Review article “A Family Imprinting Approach to Nurturing Willing Successors: Evidence from Centennial Family Firms.” Family Business Review was the first scholarly
A Nordic Perspective on Family Office Impact Investing: An interview with Camille Korschun and Erik Wetter
This week’s FFI Practitioner podcast concludes our series of interviews with presenters from this year’s FFI Global Conference. In this conversation, Camille Korschun and Erik Wetter, both from the Stockholm School of Economics, discuss the unique attributes of family offices that make them well-suited to engage in impact investing. Camille and Erik also share lessons that advisors from around the
How Does an Aging Society Disrupt Enterprising Families? An interview with Maria Sinanis
This week’s FFI Practitioner podcast, which continues our series of interviews from the FFI Global Conference speakers, is a conversation with Maria Sinanis of Cambridge Family Enterprise Group. At the 2022 FFI Global Conference, she presented the session “How Does an Aging Society Disrupt Enterprising Families?”
Recognizing Evolutionary Behavior in Enterprise Families: An interview with Andrew Gersick
For this week’s edition, FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature Andrew Gersick, a Visiting Researcher and Lecturer in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University and a Researcher in Computer Science at San Diego State University. At the 2022 FFI Global Conference, he and his father, Kelin Gersick of Lansberg Gersick Advisors, co-presented the session “The Demographics of Evoluti
Jon Quinn: The Evolving Dynamics of Next-Generation Philanthropy
FFI Practitioner is pleased to invite Jon Quinn, Deputy Director at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, to discuss the factors contributing to the rising generation’s philanthropic goals and decisions. In recent years, the Covid-19 pandemic, a worldwide reckoning with racial injustice, and increased political polarization have transformed the dynamics of “next-generation philanthropy.”
Jason Jay: “Creating Climate Futures: Business in a changing world”
FFI Practitioner is pleased to host Jason Jay, Senior Lecturer and Director of the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative. Dr. Jay is presenting a keynote at the FFI Global Conference, entitled “Creating Climate Futures: Business in a changing world.”
Research Applied: FBR Précis on When Family Business Meets Social Enterprise
FFI Practitioner is pleased to invite Robert Randolph to discuss his upcoming Family Business Review article, “When Family Business Meets Social Enterprise: An Integrative Review and Future Research Agenda,” cowritten with Benjamin Alexander, Kristen Madison, and Francesco Barbera. Dr. Randolph, assistant professor of family business management at Kennesaw State University, discusses the connectio
Rethinking the “Three Generations Rule” with Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer
FFI Practitioner is pleased to host a conversation with family enterprise advisors Josh Baron and Rob Lachenauer, both from BanyanGlobal Family Business Advisors and co-authors of the article “Do Most Family Businesses Really Fail by the Third Generation?” published in Harvard Business Review last year.
FBR Précis: Applying Family Science to Executive Compensation in Family Firms
FFI Practitioner is pleased to host a discussion with Anneleen Michiels, Isabel Botero, and Roland Kidwell, discussing their article, “Toward a Family Science Perspective on Executive Compensation in Family Firms: A Review and Research Agenda,” published in the March 2022 issue of Family Business Review.
“Falling in Love with the Future”: An interview with Mark Stevenson and Debbie Bing
FFI Practitioner is pleased to present an interview with Mark Stevenson and FFI Board chair Debbie Bing. Mark Stevenson is the 2021 recipient of the 2086 Society Applied Research grant as the 2022 FFI Futurenaut-in-Residence.
In this week’s podcast, Mark and Debbie discuss Mark’s role as Futurenaut-in-Residence, the important roles in environmental sustainability that are available to family enter
“Christian Stewart Receives FFI Interdisciplinary Award”
FFI Practitioner is pleased to introduce Christian Stewart, founder of Family Legacy Asia and the 2021 recipient of the Interdisciplinary Award. In this week’s podcast, Mr. Stewart, in conversation with Jordan Rich, discusses family governance, family learning and development, and the emerging role of a “Chief Learning Officer” in the family office field, among other topics. To learn more about th
“Kathy Wiseman Receives FFI Richard Beckhard Award”
In this week’s podcast, FFI Practitioner is pleased to introduce Kathy Wiseman, the 2021 recipient of the Richard Beckhard Practice Award. Ms. Wiseman, in conversation with Jordan Rich, reflects on her memories of Richard Beckhard, the founding years of FFI, and her evolving practice as an observer of dynamic systems. To learn more about the Family Firm Institute go to www.ffi.org.
Managing Ethical Dilemmas in Family Business
FFI Practitioner is pleased to host a discussion with Rania Labaki, Wendy Ulaszek, and Christopher Robichaud, introducing their upcoming FFI Global Conference seminar, “Managing Ethical Dilemmas in Family Business.” They address the effects of such ethical dilemmas, the difference between a family’s aspirational values and descriptive values, the benefits of educational initiatives within the busi
Interview with Patricia Angus
FFI Practitioner is pleased to invite FFI Fellow Patricia Angus to discuss her most recent book, The Beneficiary Primer: A guide for beneficiaries of family trusts. The Beneficiary Primer is a crucial, succinct resource for beneficiaries, trustees, advisors, and other practitioners to navigate, administer, and benefit from trusts. To learn more about the Family Firm Institute go to www.ffi.org.
Interview with Trusted Family’s Arnaud de Coninck
FFI Practitioner is pleased to invite Arnaud de Coninck, Trusted Family’s Global Head of Partnerships, to discuss how advisors can make the best use of technology in serving their family enterprise clients more effectively. His conversation with Jordan Rich covers cybersecurity, data management, and how more efficient communication methods translate into better governance and communication through
The Role of Women in Legacy and Estate Planning
FFI Practitioner is pleased to invite FFI Fellow Patricia Annino to discuss her experience guiding business families and families of wealth through legacy and estate planning. Patricia Annino is an attorney with Rimôn, P.C. in Boston. She is a former member of the FFI board of directors, a founding member of the 2086 Society, and a frequent contributor to FFI Practitioner. Her most recent book is
Julien Lescs Discusses Psychodynamics and Family Governance
FFI Practitioner is pleased to invite Julien Lescs to discuss his research. In this week’s podcast, Jordan Rich interviews Julien Lescs, family office advisor and co-founder of Kanopé Impact, about his research on psychodynamics and its impact on family offices and family governance. To learn more about the Family Firm Institute go to www.ffi.org.
An Interview with G. Tyge Payne, Outgoing FBR Editor
Sincere thanks to G. Tyge Payne for this podcast discussing the future of academic research in the family enterprise world. Tyge has been the editor of Family Business Review (FBR) since 2018 and will end his term on December 31, 2020. To learn more about the Family Firm Institute go to www.ffi.org.
Kathryn McCarthy Receives FFI Award
This week concludes our series of podcasts featuring interviews with the 2020 FFI Achievement Award recipients. Thank you to Jordan Rich and Kathryn McCarthy, the recipient of the Richard Beckhard Practice Award, for this podcast, in which Kathryn reflects on what it means to receive the award and on the evolving role of family offices. To learn more about the Family Firm Institute go to www.ffi.o
The STEP Project Receives FFI Award
This week we continue our series of podcast interviews with the recipients of the 2020 FFI Achievement Awards by featuring this year’s International Award recipient, the Successful Transgenerational Entrepreneurship Practices (STEP) Project. In this podcast, Jordan Rich interviews Andrea Calabrò, the STEP academic director about the STEP Project’s family enterprise research initiatives and their i
Andrew Hier Receives FFI Award
We are pleased to continue our series of podcasts featuring interviews with the 2020 FFI Achievement Award recipients. In this week’s podcast, Andrew Hier, the recipient of the Interdisciplinary Award, reflects on the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to family enterprise advising and how his own background as an attorney has contributed to his current advisory skills. To learn more abou
Rania Labaki Receives FFI Award
FFI Practitioner is pleased to introduce a series of podcasts featuring interviews with the 2020 FFI Achievement Award recipients. In this week’s podcast, Jordan Rich interviews Rania Labaki, the recipient of the Barbara Hollander Award, about her experience in the field and the current state of family enterprise advising. To learn more about the Family Firm Institute go to www.ffi.org.
Jessica Genick, Broadway Producer & FFI Conference Keynote
Join Jessica Genick, Tony nominated producer of 10 Broadway shows including Come From Away, as she talks with Jordan Rich about life in a family business. She is the daughter of the famed and prolific producer, Jerry Frankel, and grew up in the business of theater. In addition to producing, Jessica creates and leads “Business of Broadway” workshops for students of all ages and for priv
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