The director plays a pivotal role in effectively guiding family owned businesses. This program from leading family business experts goes in-depth on the issues that affect current and emerging board members, such as managing the board’s strategic, fiduciary and communication functions.
Through interactive lectures with leading Kellogg faculty, in-depth case studies and panels with experienced family and independent directors, participants will emerge with a well-rounded skill set to effectively manage the essential functions of aligning the board’s work with the values and long-term growth of family-owned businesses.
Groups are encouraged but NOT REQUIRED. No more than 5 participants per family enterprise are permitted to attend at one time. Requests for groups of more than five in a single session must be approved by the program’s Academic Director. Please direct your inquiry to the John L. Ward Center for Family Enterprises at c-bath@kellogg.northwestern.edu.
VIDEO: Learn more from Academic Director Jennifer Pendergast
The Family Enterprise suite of programs are a blend of three different learning modes designed to maximize both convenience and impact:
Our blended format, scheduled over multiple weeks, allows more time for deeper reflection and exploration. It also gives you the opportunity to share learnings with family members who haven’t enrolled in the program, include them in your consultation, put concepts into practice and spend more individual time working on the group project.
Participants in earlier blended programs have told us the format was excellent for those who attended with more than one person, while others appreciated the opportunity to reflect and absorb afforded by time spent at home and a slower pace. We’re proud of the improvements we’ve made to our offerings, and we’re sure you’ll agree.
Jennifer Pendergast - Academic Director; John L. Ward Clinical Professor of Family Enterprise and Executive Director of the John L. Ward Center for Family Enterprises
Mitchell A. Petersen - Glen Vasel Professor of Finance; Director of the Heizer Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital
Edward Zajac - James F. Bere Professor of Management & Organizations
“The family enterprise boards course is a wonderful 4 days of learning from great teachers and your colleagues in the classroom. A time to think and reflect of a subject extremely important to all family business.”
Chairman of the Board, Carvajal S.A.
“I highly recommend this course for all family directors and potential family directors to get exposure to best professors and learn directly from other family business all along the continuum of generations, competitions, ownership structures and size.”
Shareholder, Board Member, Bemis Manufacturing Company
“This program has covered a great variety of items and issues that family business deal with. The interaction with the other students was an experience that wouldn't have been possibly otherwise, and the classes were very thought provoking. I don't know how anyone could leave without a list of items to take home to work on with their family, board, and business.”
Potential Board Member, Family Council, International Dehydrated Foods, Inc.
Address the unique challenges of running a family business
August 22 - September 14, 2023 Start: August 22 at 8:00 AM End: September 14 at 12:00 PM
Download the Sample Schedule |
$13,000 Fee includes lodging and most meals |