Sample Agenda

7:30 a.m.

Breakfast roundtable groups begin discussion of the cases assigned for the day. Cases represent real family business leadership dilemmas and management practices from around the world. Knowledge, analysis and action are brought together to promote enlightened leadership of the family-owned and family-controlled corporation.

8:30 a.m.  Family Governance

The Vega Foods case is discussed to illustrate effective governance of the family-business relationship. Managing the business like a business and the family like a family is not as easy as it sounds. With the assistance of the faculty team and its interdisciplinary perspective, a powerful learning environment with relevant “take-aways” is created.

10:30 a.m.  Next Generation Leadership

Thunderbird’s President presents robust yet practical research findings about global strategies, next-generation leadership development, and best practices in family business management. Participants will be able to assess themselves against these benchmarks and draft action plans unique to their own family and business situations.

12:30 p.m.  Real World Family Business Leadership

Over lunch, special guest speakers, JoAnne Norton, of Freedom Communications and the Orange County Register; María Luisa and Antonio Ferré, of El Nuevo Dia and the Grupo Ferré;  D. Fort Flowers, founder of Sentinel Trust; and Ritch Sorenson, Opus Professor of Family Business, St. Thomas University will present current perspectives and intimate stories of family management in global enterprises.

1:30 p.m.  Family Business Success

A discussion of the Reliance Industries case engages participants in analyzing family conflict and defining success for family-owned and family-controlled firms seeking continuity. The powerful influence of zero-sum dynamics and approaches that pre-empt their appearance among enterprising families are revealed.

3:15 p.m.  Successor Benchmarks

A structured intergenerational dialogue is facilitated to promote greater appreciation of both the differences and the goals shared by the two generations active in the family company.

4:00 p.m.  Presenting the Secrets of Success

GFE Forum meets. Private and confidential conversations are facilitated to distill best practices and the success secrets of multigenerational families in business. You and your peers are the experts of the GFE Forum.

6:30 p.m.  Peer-to-Peer Networking

An evening reception promotes networking and peer learning. Dinner with the faculty and participants promote a supportive and insightful immersion learning experience.

Evening Facilitation of Family Meetings

Family groups meet with facilitators to develop their own action plans. In these family meetings, participants will make measurable progress toward their goals regarding succession, business management, governance, global strategies and/or family business continuity across generations.

NOTE:

All presentations are conducted in English. Participants will receive a copy of the recently released Family Business 2e by Ernesto Poza, faculty chair of Thunderbird Global Family Enterprise, as well as a comprehensive manual of program materials.