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IMD Global Family Business Center

Helping families build a stronger family business ecosystem by addressing their societal, business, ownership, family, and individual strategies and well-being.

IMD Global Family Business Center

Helping families build a stronger family business ecosystem by addressing their societal, business, ownership, family, and individual strategies and well-being.

Explore your program options

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.

1988
IMD launched the world’s FIRST open enrolment program for families in business
3000 +
family business alumni in all open programs since launch
1996
first IMD Global Family Business Award – presented annually – distinguishing prestigious family businesses around the world
Advisory

We offer highly specialized advisory to family enterprises globally. We help nurture talent, solve problems and unlock opportunities for family enterprise systems.

We are devoted to helping families achieve multi-generational success for their families, ownership groups, enterprises, and financial wealth. We provide services that transform families and owners into more capable, better organized and more united groups while supporting their enterprises, management teams, boards, and financial wealth to thrive over generations.

 - IMD Business School

Family enterprises are faced with a set of unique challenges related to governance, succession, family dynamics, and strategy. The IMD Global Family Business Center has been a trusted partner for enterprising families for more than three decades, helping them navigate into a bright future.

Peter Vogel Director of IMD Global Family Business Center Professor of Family Business and Entrepreneurship

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.

 - IMD Business School
New Book – Family Office Navigator

Your Guide to Building a Multigenerational Family Office

In today’s complex world, family offices play a pivotal role in safeguarding a family’s heritage and unity while preserving and growing generational wealth. As the world around us evolves, so too must family offices adapt to meet the changing needs of their families. The Family Office Navigator offers enterprising families a comprehensive and practical guide to design a modern family office that considers the complexity of their family, wealth, and enterprise in turbulent times.

 - IMD Business School
I by IMD special edition

The family business issue: Adapt to survive and thrive

Family enterprises are among the most resilient businesses in the world. But now more than ever striking the right balance between resilience and adaptability is vital. In Issue 8 of I by IMD we present crucial insights into how families can face up to the challenges created by a world in flux.

 - IMD Business School
Navigating Your Family’s Philanthropic Future Across Generations

A research report in collaboration with FBN International that highlights how philanthropy becomes a lifelong passion as families start to see that they can make a real difference in the world.

To support family philanthropists in their philanthropic journeys, we joined forces with FBN International to conduct a global research project entitled “Navigating Your Family’s Philanthropic Future Across Generations.” In this report, we share insights collected from leading philanthropic families from around the globe.

We have examined their approach to family philanthropy, opportunities, and challenges, as well as the impact of their philanthropy on various levels, such as the cause, the family, business, and society at large. This extensive research project has informed not only this report but was also an invaluable source of knowledge for Family Philanthropy Navigator.

 

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!

Philanthropie familiale : Défis et apprentissages dans un monde en crise

This event marked the launch of the French version of the Family Philanthropy Navigator

Family Business Awards

 - IMD Business School
Sustainability in Family Business Award

Celebrating commitment to sustainability by family businesses since 2019

Rewards family-owned enterprises that are leaders in sustainability, demonstrating exceptional breadth and depth in their sustainability strategy, and exemplary implementation and impact.

GFBA 2023 - IMD Business School
Global Family Business Award

Distinguishing prestigious family businesses around the world since 1996

Promotes the indispensable role family businesses play in the global economy and serves as a platform for family businesses to exchange best practices and analyze the economic backdrop.

About the Family Business Center

Our MISSION is to inspire enterprising families to help them ensure family unity, business success and to have a positive impact on society.
Our VISION is to be the number one center of excellence and trusted learning partner for globally leading enterprising families.
We have an outstanding and unparalleled LEGACY with 33 years of experience working with family businesses, family offices, and family foundations.
  • Our team
  • Chairs
  • Legacy
  • Recognition and rewards
  • Faculty
  • The Center offers pioneering research, executive education and advisory services that bring together a unique team.

    With sincere thanks to Wild Group and Debiopharm

    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. 

    Faculty team

    teaching in family business programs

    IMD’s Family Business Newsletter

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