Building a Family Enterprise Course

Family Enterprise Canada presents our newest course for Family Businesses.

Building a Family Enterprise: Strategies for Success Across Generations

Most family businesses don't struggle because the next generation lacks ability. They struggle because the family never put the right structure in place: clear roles, shared decision-making rules, and governance that lets a family run a business together without the business taking over the family.

Building a Family Enterprise is a one-day online course designed for families in business together. Led by Dr. Gaia Marchisio, Professor of Professional Practice and Faculty Director of the Global Family Enterprise Program at Columbia University, the course gives founders, current leaders and rising next-generation members a shared space to have real conversations and leave with practical tools for long-term continuity.

Across three modules, participants will build a common understanding of the family business landscape, including the Three-Circle Model and the difference between continuity and succession. They'll explore the family dynamics that shape generational transitions, from ownership roles and power structures to aligning expectations between active and passive owners. Finally, they'll learn how governance mechanisms such as family councils, boards and ownership agreements support better decisions, smoother transitions and constructive conflict resolution.

Families will come away better equipped to tackle tough topics like succession and roles before they become sources of conflict, and to turn their unique family culture and values into a genuine strategic advantage.