The Center for Family Business provides educational programs, networking opportunities and peer forums specifically developed for multi-generational family businesses. Research has shown that family businesses are more likely to successfully transition through the generations when they engage in education and planning and have clear governance structures in place.
Programs cover topics such as succession, preparing rising leaders, communication, working together as family members, governance structures for the business and the family, strategic planning and estate planning. In addition to topics specific to family business, the Center’s programs, staff and resources are designed to support its members as they navigate the fast pace of change in business today. Machine learning, data analytics, supply chain logistics, and DEI in hiring and the workplace are affecting all businesses, and keeping up with this change can be overwhelming. The Center for Family Business speakers are thought leaders who provide tools and strategies for perpetuating your family business as well as working in today’s business environment.
The Weatherhead School of Management has served both publicly held and privately held family businesses for more than three decades. Weatherhead is also internationally recognized for developing transformational ideas that redefine the way management is taught and how business is done.
The Center for Family Business members are part of a community of family business owners and leaders who are intentional about carrying on the legacy of their founders. They understand the benefits of education and planning for themselves, their businesses and their families; and that those benefits contribute to the health of the enterprise now and into the future. Members make connections with other family businesses who they can learn from and with whom they share a common bond.
"The Center for Family Business is building the intellectual and networking hub for the Northern Ohio family business community. Designed in partnership with family entrepreneurs throughout the region, the Center proudly supports the bedrock of the regional economy – family businesses. From family business-specific programs to peer forums to specific research, the center is dedicated to serving the needs of this critical community."
Andrew Medvedev, Dean Weatherhead School of Management
Mission & Vision
The Center for Family Business aspires to be the premier institution of its kind in the United States in empowering generational success in family businesses. We support and assist multi-generational mid-market family businesses in navigating the complex intersection of family, business and ownership. The Center’s initiatives and activities are devoted exclusively to addressing the lifelong needs of all family business members—owners, senior leaders, rising leaders, family working and not working in the business, and non-family executives.
Building on the school’s network of more than 24,000 Weatherhead alumni, many of whom are family business owners, and leveraging support from government, non-profit and corporate partners, the Center for Family Business delivers an enterprise of resources to family-owned businesses. They include:
Educational Programs: Tailored to the specific needs of family businesses, covering crucial topics like succession planning, leadership development, and strategic communication.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with a community of family business owners who share similar challenges and aspirations.
Peer Forums: Engage in meaningful exchanges that foster growth and innovation within your family business.
Expert Guidance: Access to thought leaders, world-class faculty and industry experts who provide actionable tools and strategies for business perpetuation and modern challenges.
Research-Backed Resources: Benefit from data-driven insights and evidence-based practices that ensure your family business is well-equipped for the future.
The Center for Family Business is committed to education, community, and the longevity of family businesses. It's designed to resonate with family business owners looking for support and resources to navigate the complexities of their unique business environment.