Family companies are the engines of economic develop across the world, and they play an important role in labor market, employing the vast majority of private sector workers. They also tend to be more resilient than other companies with lower insolvency rates through crises. 

However, family business face unique challenges, and that is where executive education can help. A number of the world’s leading business schools cater to family-owned companies with specific executive courses. 

A common theme among the course providers is how to transition from one generation to the next, along with the unique governance challenges faced by family firms. 

Many of the best executive courses in family business management also offer executive coaches to support the implementation of academic theory into the real world, and may even offer a personalized leadership development journey. The programs are hands-on, with participants learning through a blend of theory and role-play.

Some of the courses are partnerships delivered between multiple institutions, with participants spending their time at both schools in different parts of the world to develop a more global perspective on family enterprise. Other programs are delivered entirely online, offering greater flexibility and convenience to participants. 

These executive education programs are for all members of family-owned companies in addition to non-executive directors and board members, along with investors and other stakeholders. 
 

Design thinking is all the rage in executive circles. This innovative approach to problem-solving puts executives in their customers’ shoes, so that they can better understand their unmet, or unarticulated, needs. The approach has been used with great success in many companies such as Apple, Samsung and Nike.

And for that reason, other organizations are looking to implement design thinking methodologies in their organizations. A number of executive education programs have been created by business schools to help guide managers and leaders through the design thinking process. This typically involves testing concepts for rapid feedback, and iterating those ideas until a successful solution emerges.

The participants will return to work ready to push and sustain innovation efforts within their organizations, and therefore generate lasting value.