2019 Responsible Family Business and Wealth Ownership Programme

Family business and wealth ownership is expanding, and demand for learning and support in this area in an increasingly complex world is well established. This programme aims to improve not only the well-being, financial and business interests of the families involved, but of the societies and communities in which we all live and operate.

For 2019, the theme of the Programme will be the 'Circular Economy and the Family'. Led by Professor Khal Soufani, the Academic Programme Director and the Director of the Cambridge Judge Circular Economy Centre, the faculty for the 2019 programme are gearing up for what will be an innovative and valuable approach to examining issues relevant to global family business and wealth owners. This year the programme will seek to identify opportunities and benefits of a circular approach in a much wider context than is normally considered.

Soon family businesses will have up to four generations managing their organisations. Key issues around strategy and direction will come from different perspectives and from generations with varied priorities – the circular economy brings those perspectives together in a holistic and beneficial way for the business and society as a whole. Family businesses are in a unique position in terms of leveraging this benefit with a medium-to-long term view.

The Cambridge advantage

The approach of the Responsible Family Business & Wealth Ownership (RFBWO) programme is a curriculum focused on areas in which the resources of the University of Cambridge are employed to achieve outstanding leadership in the area of family business and wealth ownership. Through research and the building of a global community, we believe we can address some of the most important issues facing our societies today and in the years to come.

One of the primary objectives of the programme is to establish a global forum that will offer participants a learning experience that reflects the quality and reputation of the University of Cambridge, and which showcases our expertise as a centre of competence and leadership on issues in and around family-owned businesses and wealth. Using our research-led faculty and a community of global business and wealth owners, governments, advisors and other thought-leaders, we will provide a voice in relation to the role of family businesses and wealth owners in facing the challenges of today and tomorrow. This programme will commit to action and focus on academic research and topics that are entirely relevant to family businesses, wealth owners and our communities.

The programme will address issues relating to how to:

• expose the thorny issues facing family business entrepreneurs
• manage passive asset ownership effectively
• plan for growth balancing family culture, tradition and business strategies
• govern interwoven and conflicting matters shaping the development of the family business and the business family
• craft a trans-generational succession and engagement plan that ensures family business continuity
• master entrepreneurial, managerial, leadership, ownership, wealth management, financial and risk management matters

The focus on the RFBWO programme is on leadership and research and ensuring deep engagement of those who join the programme, thanks to exchange and debate within the classroom. Our objective is to improve not only the well being and financial and business interests of the families involved, but of the societies and communities we all live and operate within.

The programme has been developed with Iraj Ispahani of Ispahani Advisory and Philip Marcovici of the Offices of Philip Marcovici.

For further information on these optional elements, the wider programme overview and details of how to register, click here: https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/execed/open-programmes/responsible-family-business-wealth-ownership/ .