IMD Global Family Business
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Our expertise is based on our deep understanding of the complexities of family enterprises from our work with many of the leading families and family enterprises in the world over the last 30 years.
Insights & Research
Through our research and educational work with family businesses from all over the world, we have gained some extraordinary insights into the dynamics that can drive family businesses either to outstanding achievements or to failure. With the ongoing support of the Wild Group Chair for Family Business and the Debiopharm Chair for Family Philanthropy, we have produced a wide range of publications, some published in top international academic journals.
Browse some of the Center’s recent publications by type
Media & Events
The IMD Global Family Business Center helps family enterprises ensure the sustainable success of their business and family, whether large or small. We organize webinars and give presentations at various conferences around the world or virtually.
Keep up to date on our events, news and thought leadership. Join the Family Business Center on LinkedIn and subscribe to our newsletter below!
Family Business Awards
About the Family Business Center
The Center offers pioneering research, executive education and advisory services that bring together a unique team.
We are very fortunate to benefit from two Chairs dedicated to the study and support of family businesses.
IMD was the birthplace of family business education in 1988.
We are forever indebted to Frank Tilley, former executive-in-residence, who identified family business as a field IMD ought to be active in, and to Professor Alden Lank, the first faculty member to lead the initiative.
Professors John Davis, Ivan Lansberg and John Ward were instrumental in launching the first Leading the Family Business (LFB) program in 1988. Dr Stephan Schmidheiny underwrote the pilot study.
The IMD Global Family Business Award was launched in 1996, with The Lego Group, the first of many prestigious winners over the years. The award has continued to grow in reputation, promoting the indispensable role that family businesses play in the global economy.
LFB continues to be an enormous success, generating much interest from around the world. The subsequent demand for custom programs (tailor-made for specific family business needs) has increased steadily and, in 2004, after welcoming more than 400 families from over 40 countries, we celebrated the 1,000th family business participant milestone.
In 2008, the 20th anniversary of family business research and education at IMD was marked with the presence of Warren Buffett, who engaged openly with faculty and families alike. In 2009, the Biennial Family Business Forum was introduced as well as the first program specifically for Chinese family businesses.
The IMD Global Family Business Center, in its current form, was officially inaugurated in 2011. Growing demand saw the welcome introduction of a new program: Leading the Family Office (LFO) in 2013.
In 2019, the IMD-Pictet Sustainability in Family Business Award was launched, celebrating and rewarding effort, performance and progress in the field of sustainability.
In September 2019, Professor Peter Vogel took over the directorship of the Global Family Business Center. Before him, prestigious family business faculty have led IMD’s family business initiatives over the years, including Joachim Schwass, Denise Rouvinez. All have delivered premium programs and published cutting-edge research and insights in family business, contributing significantly to both the reach and reputation that the Center continues to enjoy today.
The story continues…
Recognized for its major contributions to education, research, and outreach, our world-leading hub is a unique place to prepare family businesses for sustainable success.
2023
FAMILY BUSINESS HALL OF FAME – Peter Vogel inducted > read more
EUROPEAN RESEARCH NETWORK ON PHILANTRHOPY (ERNOP)
best conference paper award, Peter Vogel, Malgozata Smulovitz and Alfredo De Massis
FAMILY FIRM INSTITUTE – Barbara Hollander Award, Alfredo De Massis > read more
JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES – Reviewer of the year award, Alfredo De Massis
EIX.org – Schulze Publication Awards, Alfredo De Massis
GERMAN-SPEAKING RESEARCH CENTERS AND INSTITUES FOR FAMILY BUSINESS (FIFU), best paper award, Ivan Miroshnychenko
2022
EUROPEAN INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCES STUDIES IN MANAGEMENT (EIASM)
Best paper award, Alfredo De Massis, Ivan Miroshnychenko
FAMILY BUSINESS HALL OF FAME – Alfredo De Massis inducted > read more
POETS & QUANTS BEST 40 UNDER 40 MBA PROFESSORS – Peter Vogel selected > read more
TWO IMD EXPERTS IN TOP 100 FAMILY BUSINESS INFLUENCERS LIST
Peter Vogel and Alfredo De Massis celebrated > read more
INTERNATIONAL FAMILY ENTERPRISE RESEARCH ACADEMY (IFERA) AWARDS
Best paper and best reviewer award, Ivan Miroshnychenko
EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT (EURAM) AWARDS
Best paper award, Ivan Miroshnychenko
FAMILY FIRM INSTITUTE INTERNATIONAL AWARD (FFI) AWARD
Best unpublished research paper and honorable mention, Alfredo de Massis
2021
FAMILY FIRM INSTITUE INTERNATIONAL AWARD (FFI) – The Center recognized > read more
INTERNATIONAL FAMILY ENTERPRISE RESEARCH ACADEMY (IFERA) AWARDS
Best teaching case study, best paper on gender diversity, best paper on conference theme
MILY AWARD at the Family Enterprise Research Conference (FERC)
Best research ondiversity
AXIOM BUSINESS BOOK AWARD – SILVER MEDAL for the book Family philanthropy navigator: The inspirational guide for philanthropic families on their giving journey
FAMILY FIRM INSTITUE INTERNATIONAL AWARD (FFI)
Family Business Review Excellent, Reviewer Award 2021, Ivan Miroshnychenko
TWO IMD EXPERTS IN TOP 100 FAMILY BUSINESS INFLUENCERS LIST – Peter Vogel and Lise Moller
Family businesses are highly complex. They must continuously align the interests of the family with the ownership and objectives of the business. They typically have a very long-term, values-based approach; each generation wanting to ensure the success of the business for the next.
Complicated and sensitive family, business, ownership and financial issues can often present a tough challenge for family businesses. Family conflicts can flare up over a lack of clarity on the evolving roles of family members or diverging business visions. These issues present risks to both the family and the business. We are committed to focusing on the characteristics and challenges unique to family businesses.
We do so with an incredible pool of faculty experts in their field.
teaching in family business programs
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