CAMPUS EDHEC PARIS | How to leverage family dynamics to create and grow responsible businesses?
Discover the secrets of harnessing family dynamics to build and grow responsible businesses at our in-person event in Paris on Aug. 31, 2023
About this event
Entrepreneurial and business families are the backbones of our economies. In the face of difficulties and crises, they tend to show resilience and engage in responsible behaviors conducive to the continuity of the businesses they create and own.
While the family interaction with the business can be the source of their strengths, it can turn into a source of weaknesses especially during the succession process.
What are the challenges of these families over their life cycle? How to deal with these challenges to grow and sustain their businesses responsibly?
The conference “Small steps for bigger success: How to leverage family dynamics to create and grow responsible businesses”?” explores this question through live testimonies of both century-old family businesses and younger family businesses as well as through workshops built on applied research and outputs from SIFB project to guide you in your family business journey.
The EDHEC Family Business Chair organizes this conference with the support of SIFB EU Erasmus+ cofounded project.
The conference will also feature the launch of the EDHEC Family Business Club! Intended to build a dynamic international community of EDHEC students and alumni, members of family businesses, the Club offers a space to share experiences and boost knowledge and skills to make an impact!
Entrepreneurial and business families are the backbones of our economies. In the face of difficulties and crises, they tend to show resilience and engage in responsible behaviors conducive to the continuity of the businesses they create and own.
While the family interaction with the business can be the source of their strengths, it can turn into a source of weaknesses especially during the succession process.
What are the challenges of these families over their life cycle? How to deal with these challenges to grow and sustain their businesses responsibly?
The conference “Small steps for bigger success: How to leverage family dynamics to create and grow responsible businesses”?” explores this question through live testimonies of both century-old family businesses and younger family businesses as well as through workshops built on applied research and outputs from SIFB project to guide you in your family business journey.
The EDHEC Family Business Chair organizes this conference with the support of SIFB EU Erasmus+ cofounded project.
The conference will also feature the launch of the EDHEC Family Business Club! Intended to build a dynamic international community of EDHEC students and alumni, members of family businesses, the Club offers a space to share experiences and boost knowledge and skills to make an impact!
Preliminary program*
14h00- 14h15: Welcome and Introduction
14h15-15h15: Roundtable “What's the key for surviving? Lessons from long-lasting family businesses”
Speakers: François-Nicolas Gombert-Delmas (7th generation, Delmas Musique) and Andrea Grondona (6th generation, Biscottificio Grondona)
15h15-15h45: Coffee Break
15h45-16h45: Roundtable “How to keep the family and the business healthy? Insights from family duos in business”.
Speakers: Aurélien Birebent and Pascale Lesage (First generation, Arthylae)
16h45-17h45: Insights & interactive discussion:
“How to educate the next generation?” (Prof. Fabian Bernhard)
“How to create purpose in family business?” (Prof. Rania Labaki)
17h45-18h00 : Launch of the Family Business Club : Mission and objectives
18h00-19h00 : Afterwork reception
19h00- 20h30: Exclusive Workshop for EDHEC students and alumni (members of family businesses): “What needs to change for future survival of your family business?”
Moderated by Prof Fabian Bernhard and Rania Labaki, with the participation of the EDHEC Family Business Club founders
20h30-23h00: Dinner
*Subject to change
Speakers Bios:
François-Nicolas GOMBERT-DELMAS, 7th Generation, Delmas Musique
François-Nicolas grew-up in Perpignan (France) in a musical family specialized in instruments & piano retail since 1840. Now he represents the 7th Generation of the Delmas family. Delmas Musique was founded in the Catalan city by Pierre Brisillac, his 5 times grand-grand-father.
He is currently experiencing on-going transmission with his parents (6th Generation) in a highly competitive niche market. François-Nicolas is using family history with the long-lasting business of 183 years as a key differentiator on the market: Clients are buying an experience, not only a product where family history is central.
This advantage is also used upstream with supplier relationships. Famous brands tend to prefer distributors with a “plus” such as historical anchorage. This allows the family business to represent top tier brands such as Steinway & Sons in pianos (only 8 representatives in France). Ongoing projects such as the main store in the 1909 family building is another example of balancing tradition and rejuvenation.
Prior to joining the family business in 2021, François-Nicolas worked as management consultant in Paris for 5 years, focusing mainly on operating model shifts for large organizations. He graduated from EDHEC Business School (France) in 2016 with a MiM & MSc in Strategy.
Andrea GRONDONA, 6th Generation, Biscottificio Grondona
Andrea Grondona is 6th generation member of Biscottificio Grondona S.p.a., an Italian family business founded in 1820 and member of The Henokiens, specialized in the production of shortbread and naturally leavened dough.
Andrea views his family business as a source of pride not only for the Liguria region where it was founded but also for Italy which it represents with its products throughout the world, as it is now present in 32 foreign markets. The company proposes traditional products, mainly from Genoa, including biscuits, cakes, “pandolci”, donuts and panettoni, with dedication to the excellence of raw materials and the respect of knowledge over generations. The products have been described by experts as “a living demonstration” of the long-term continuity of “reference products” that are “undoubtedly the most qualified and traditional Italian pastry products”.
Over the years, Grondona has received a number of national and international awards and recognitions. Its 200-year anniversary was marked by a stamp issued by the Italian Post, depicting Grondona’s historical “Circle of Life”, a symbol of the philosophy that has been directing the family business over the years. Today, the next generation continues the legacy, balancing tradition and innovation, internationalization and attachment to the roots, emotional and rational logics.
Andrea graduated from Università degli Studi di Genova with a degree in law. He then completed a business, marketing and advertising program in Waterloo, London. Following work experience abroad, he joined the company in 2013 in charge of the development of the domestic market and the strategic management and development of some foreign markets. He is currently board member and managing director of the company.
Fabian BERNHARD, Professor, EDHEC Family Business Chair, EDHEC Business School
Prof. Dr. Fabian Bernhard is a Professor of Management and Psychology and is part of the Family Business Center at EDHEC Business School in Paris, Lille, Nice and London.
He is a research fellow for family business at the University of Mannheim and for psychology at the University of Frankfurt in Germany. Equipped with the insights from his own family's business, Fabian Bernhard worked several years for a renowned financial consulting company in New York. In his academic work he specializes in the emotional dynamics in businesses, the preparation of next generational leaders, and the psychological attachment to the family business.
His articles have been published in various academic and practitioner outlets as well as in the public media. Fabian Bernhard is a recipient of several honors and awards for his work on family businesses, such as the best dissertation honorable mention by FFI at Harvard University. Since 2014 he has been serving on the editorial boards of the Family Business Review (FBR) and the Journal of Family Business Strategy (JFBS). He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Family Firm Institute (FFI) in Boston.
Rania LABAKI, Professor and Director, EDHEC Family Business Chair, EDHEC Business School
Rania LABAKI, Ph.D. is Professor of Finance and Family Business at EDHEC Business School, Director of EDHEC Family Business Research Chair, and Family Business Fellow at Cornell University and the Family Firm Institute.
She serves as board member of IFERA, co-editor of Entrepreneurship Research Journal, and editorial board member of FamilyBusiness.org and Revue Droit & Patrimoine. She is also advisory committee member of Women in Family Business and One Governance, and family business affiliate advisor at Lansberg Gersick Advisors.
A global speaker with presentations and lectures in over 50 countries, her insights have been featured in nearly 200 academic and professional publications as well as media outlets, such as Financial Times, Forbes, Le Monde, Les Echos, El Pais, Campden FB, Tharawat, and The Conversation.
Among her past appointments, she was academic expert of The Family Business Network International, director of the Financial and Wealth Management Master Program at the University of Bordeaux and of the Family Business Global Executive MBA at EDHEC Business School.
Along with a Master degree in Business Administration from the Holy Spirit University, a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Management Sciences from the University of Bordeaux, Rania holds the Advanced Certificates in Family Business Advising and Family Wealth Advising from FFI and the Certificate of Women Leadership Development from the University of Oxford.
Rania is recipient of numerous awards recognizing her contributions to the family business field. Her current research, advising and teaching interests revolve around the interplay between family dynamics and decision-making, governance design and development of responsible owners.
Staff EDHEC Alumni
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