Entrepreneurs in Every Generation
Entrepreneurs in Every Generation
How Successful Family Businesses Develop Their Next Leaders
Edition: 1
Pages: 256
Publication Date: 06 June, 2016
Available in all formats
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ISBN:
9781626561687
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ISBN:
9781626561670
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Many family firms fail because the entrepreneurial spirit that drove the first generation isn't nurtured and developed in the generations that follow. Sharma and Cohen show how any family firm can create a "company of founders."
Companies that are owned and run by families need to develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills just like any other company, but family firms face obstacles that "hire and fire" companies don't. Family dynamics rarely perfectly mirror the best practices in the latest Harvard Business Review.
So what factors in the family and work environments enable the creation of leaders who share the entrepreneurial fire of the founders? Is there a specific education, training and experiential pathway that tips the odds of entrepreneurial success across generations? How do some firms manage to bypass family conflicts, disparate visions of the future, sibling rivalries, generational transition traps, death and divorces, that seem to mark the demise of so many family businesses?
Cohen and Sharma draw on their deep and extensive research on family businesses to reveal the secrets of enterprising families, using examples of both firms that flourished and those that failed. While this book is written with top leadership in mind, it's especially focused on the needs of the second and third generations. Cohen and Sharma emphasize that the most important skill of all is thinking like an entrepreneur--something that succeeding generations in family firms often miss.
Companies that are owned and run by families need to develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills just like any other company, but family firms face obstacles that "hire and fire" companies don't. Family dynamics rarely perfectly mirror the best practices in the latest Harvard Business Review.
So what factors in the family and work environments enable the creation of leaders who share the entrepreneurial fire of the founders? Is there a specific education, training and experiential pathway that tips the odds of entrepreneurial success across generations? How do some firms manage to bypass family conflicts, disparate visions of the future, sibling rivalries, generational transition traps, death and divorces, that seem to mark the demise of so many family businesses?
Cohen and Sharma draw on their deep and extensive research on family businesses to reveal the secrets of enterprising families, using examples of both firms that flourished and those that failed. While this book is written with top leadership in mind, it's especially focused on the needs of the second and third generations. Cohen and Sharma emphasize that the most important skill of all is thinking like an entrepreneur--something that succeeding generations in family firms often miss.
Description
Many family firms fail because the entrepreneurial spirit that drove the first generation isn't nurtured and developed in the generations that follow. Sharma and Cohen show how any family firm can create a "company of founders."
Companies that are owned and run by families need to develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills just like any other company, but family firms face obstacles that "hire and fire" companies don't. Family dynamics rarely perfectly mirror the best practices in the latest Harvard Business Review.
So what factors in the family and work environments enable the creation of leaders who share the entrepreneurial fire of the founders? Is there a specific education, training and experiential pathway that tips the odds of entrepreneurial success across generations? How do some firms manage to bypass family conflicts, disparate visions of the future, sibling rivalries, generational transition traps, death and divorces, that seem to mark the demise of so many family businesses?
Cohen and Sharma draw on their deep and extensive research on family businesses to reveal the secrets of enterprising families, using examples of both firms that flourished and those that failed. While this book is written with top leadership in mind, it's especially focused on the needs of the second and third generations. Cohen and Sharma emphasize that the most important skill of all is thinking like an entrepreneur--something that succeeding generations in family firms often miss.
Companies that are owned and run by families need to develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills just like any other company, but family firms face obstacles that "hire and fire" companies don't. Family dynamics rarely perfectly mirror the best practices in the latest Harvard Business Review.
So what factors in the family and work environments enable the creation of leaders who share the entrepreneurial fire of the founders? Is there a specific education, training and experiential pathway that tips the odds of entrepreneurial success across generations? How do some firms manage to bypass family conflicts, disparate visions of the future, sibling rivalries, generational transition traps, death and divorces, that seem to mark the demise of so many family businesses?
Cohen and Sharma draw on their deep and extensive research on family businesses to reveal the secrets of enterprising families, using examples of both firms that flourished and those that failed. While this book is written with top leadership in mind, it's especially focused on the needs of the second and third generations. Cohen and Sharma emphasize that the most important skill of all is thinking like an entrepreneur--something that succeeding generations in family firms often miss.
Table of contents
- Cover Page
- Title Page
- Copyright
- dedication
- Contents
- Foreword
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurial Leaders
- Chapter 2 Developing Entrepreneurial Leadership Skills
- Chapter 3 Secrets of Successful Enterprising Families
- Chapter 4 Developing Enterprising Families
- Chapter 5 Secrets of Entrepreneurial Organizations
- Chapter 6 Developing Entrepreneurial Organizations
- Chapter 7 Action Planning, A Question of Balance & Timing
- List of Companies
- Notes
- Acknowledgments
- Name Index
- Subject Index
- About the Authors
Review quote
“It was very hard for me to put the book down. Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, so much rings so true. I wonder had I read this years ago how my life might have been different. The book documents so much of what our family is living through! It has lots of great ideas for preparing the next generation to continue their roles as stewards of the brands and family participants.”
-William S. Fisher, Board Member, Gap Inc.
“Allan Cohen and Dita Sharma have written a highly insightful, clear, and pragmatic argument that innovation in family companies is essential for multigenerational success. This will help families understand how to innovate in every generation and how to develop leaders who can bring about needed change in the family business.”
-John Davis, Chair, Families in Business Program, Harvard Business School, and Chairman, Cambridge Advisors to Family Enterprise
“The entrepreneurial spirit in my family and our business has been one of the most important factors in our continued success through six generations. Finally, a book that not only acknowledges the importance of entrepreneurship to the long-term success of family businesses but also provides a practical guide to families who want to keep that entrepreneurial spark alive from generation to generation. This book is a joy to read and will transform the way you think about families in business.”
-Sylvia Shepard, former Chair and Founder, Smith Family Council, Menasha Corporation, fifth generation
“This is the clearest and most comprehensive list I have ever come across of all the key practices necessary to ensure the development of the entrepreneurial spirit in every generation. This ‘Magna Carta' of transgenerational entrepreneurship should be made compulsory reading for all members of family businesses.”
-Cyril Camus, fifth-generation owner and CEO, House of CAMUS Cognac
“I am so excited to see that finally a book has been written on entrepreneurship through generations. Entrepreneurship is generally abundant in the founder, and somehow the desire to do something different starts to fade away with the next generations. In my family I encourage and support entrepreneurship for the next generation.”
-Surya Jhunjhnuwala, founder and Managing Director, Naumi Hotels, Singapore
“Cohen and Sharma adopt a distinctive structure that advances the discussion of entrepreneurial issues in families and includes chapters that describe what to do and how to go about doing it. The text is inspired by research evidence and introduces key concepts that are illuminated by some recognizable family business cases drawn from many countries. The research does not clutter the presentation but rather highlights the intellectual origins of the ideas described.”
-Ken Moores, former President, Bond University, and Consultant and Executive Chairman, Moores Family Enterprise, Australia
“Entrepreneurs in Every Generation is an inspiring read. Not only do the authors beautifully tie in the important role entrepreneurship plays in the sustainability of family enterprises, but they also provide real case studies and tools for change. A must-read for business owners and their families.”
-Ramia M. El Agamy, Editor-in-Chief, Tharawat magazine, Dubai and Switzerland
“This new book by two well-respected academics in the family business field integrates insights from psychology, strategy, and change management with cases studies from family companies around the world. An interesting and readable book that is especially useful for next generation family business members.”
-Judy Green, PhD, President, Family Firm Institute
“Cohen and Sharma shed light on the key points needed to ignite the entrepreneurial spark within generations. They bundle this up in a beautiful and interactive way. A great read!”
-Willy Lin, Managing Director, Milo's Knitwear and Milo's Manufacturing, Hong Kong, second generation
-William S. Fisher, Board Member, Gap Inc.
“Allan Cohen and Dita Sharma have written a highly insightful, clear, and pragmatic argument that innovation in family companies is essential for multigenerational success. This will help families understand how to innovate in every generation and how to develop leaders who can bring about needed change in the family business.”
-John Davis, Chair, Families in Business Program, Harvard Business School, and Chairman, Cambridge Advisors to Family Enterprise
“The entrepreneurial spirit in my family and our business has been one of the most important factors in our continued success through six generations. Finally, a book that not only acknowledges the importance of entrepreneurship to the long-term success of family businesses but also provides a practical guide to families who want to keep that entrepreneurial spark alive from generation to generation. This book is a joy to read and will transform the way you think about families in business.”
-Sylvia Shepard, former Chair and Founder, Smith Family Council, Menasha Corporation, fifth generation
“This is the clearest and most comprehensive list I have ever come across of all the key practices necessary to ensure the development of the entrepreneurial spirit in every generation. This ‘Magna Carta' of transgenerational entrepreneurship should be made compulsory reading for all members of family businesses.”
-Cyril Camus, fifth-generation owner and CEO, House of CAMUS Cognac
“I am so excited to see that finally a book has been written on entrepreneurship through generations. Entrepreneurship is generally abundant in the founder, and somehow the desire to do something different starts to fade away with the next generations. In my family I encourage and support entrepreneurship for the next generation.”
-Surya Jhunjhnuwala, founder and Managing Director, Naumi Hotels, Singapore
“Cohen and Sharma adopt a distinctive structure that advances the discussion of entrepreneurial issues in families and includes chapters that describe what to do and how to go about doing it. The text is inspired by research evidence and introduces key concepts that are illuminated by some recognizable family business cases drawn from many countries. The research does not clutter the presentation but rather highlights the intellectual origins of the ideas described.”
-Ken Moores, former President, Bond University, and Consultant and Executive Chairman, Moores Family Enterprise, Australia
“Entrepreneurs in Every Generation is an inspiring read. Not only do the authors beautifully tie in the important role entrepreneurship plays in the sustainability of family enterprises, but they also provide real case studies and tools for change. A must-read for business owners and their families.”
-Ramia M. El Agamy, Editor-in-Chief, Tharawat magazine, Dubai and Switzerland
“This new book by two well-respected academics in the family business field integrates insights from psychology, strategy, and change management with cases studies from family companies around the world. An interesting and readable book that is especially useful for next generation family business members.”
-Judy Green, PhD, President, Family Firm Institute
“Cohen and Sharma shed light on the key points needed to ignite the entrepreneurial spark within generations. They bundle this up in a beautiful and interactive way. A great read!”
-Willy Lin, Managing Director, Milo's Knitwear and Milo's Manufacturing, Hong Kong, second generation
Excerpt
Foreword
The field of family business is undergoing dramatic change. The definition of success now surpasses firm survival and continuity to include family success. The family business field also recognizes that family success and sustainability increasingly embrace other forms of collective family purpose-joint philanthropy, new businesses, family offices, family cohesion, learning, and fun.
While most all family business writings focus on the business and/or the family, Entrepreneurs in Every Generation shows readers how success is assuring next generation entrepreneurial leadership in three dimensions: the business, the owning family, and the organization that nurtures both. Applying the entrepreneurial mind-set to all three dimensions, authors Allan Cohen and Pramodita Sharma define the challenges and the role for leadership; applying the entrepreneurial mind-set in all three dimensions is what sets family enterprises apart.
This book captures fresh insights by going beyond best practices. Viewed through the diverse lenses of the authors themselves, cases from all over the world are exciting to study and compelling to replicate. But the book goes further. In each dimension it not only reviews best practices, but it also urges special attention to the uniqueness of context. Even further, it guides the reader through helpful work sheets on how to understand and adapt to context. Fo r e w o r d xii Entrepreneurs in Every Generation
By examining how evolving and improving organizational practices fuel sustainability, the book's lessons provide special insight into the art of continuity, providing actionable ideas on what successful entrepreneurs do and how they do it. By using the example of past generations to light the way for succeeding generations, nextgeneration entrepreneurial leaders can maximize the benefits of a family enterprise culture. The authors stimulate by highlighting many values that drive sustainability. Some of the values that stand out in their cases are
stewardship;
long-term thinking;
attending to all stakeholders;
innovation;
adding value to customers;
hunger for excellence;
continuous improvement;
and walking in the shoes of others.
These common values remind readers that there are many age-old truths to synthesize with the new insights for next generation entrepreneurs.
Perhaps the biggest challenge for family leaders is how to lead change in a densely developed and long-established organization and/or family system. To address this challenge, the authors introduce a powerful and succinct model for leading change-the “Iron Laws of Influence for Enterprising Families.”
Pramodita Sharma and Allan Cohen are thought leaders in the new field of family enterprise, or enterprising families. Entrepreneurs in Every Generation champions growth-business growth, family growth, and organizational growth. Next-generation leaders have the talent to find the new ways to create that growth.
John L. Ward, Clinical Professor of Family Enterprises
Center for Family Enterprises
Kellogg School of Management
Chicago, USA
The field of family business is undergoing dramatic change. The definition of success now surpasses firm survival and continuity to include family success. The family business field also recognizes that family success and sustainability increasingly embrace other forms of collective family purpose-joint philanthropy, new businesses, family offices, family cohesion, learning, and fun.
While most all family business writings focus on the business and/or the family, Entrepreneurs in Every Generation shows readers how success is assuring next generation entrepreneurial leadership in three dimensions: the business, the owning family, and the organization that nurtures both. Applying the entrepreneurial mind-set to all three dimensions, authors Allan Cohen and Pramodita Sharma define the challenges and the role for leadership; applying the entrepreneurial mind-set in all three dimensions is what sets family enterprises apart.
This book captures fresh insights by going beyond best practices. Viewed through the diverse lenses of the authors themselves, cases from all over the world are exciting to study and compelling to replicate. But the book goes further. In each dimension it not only reviews best practices, but it also urges special attention to the uniqueness of context. Even further, it guides the reader through helpful work sheets on how to understand and adapt to context. Fo r e w o r d xii Entrepreneurs in Every Generation
By examining how evolving and improving organizational practices fuel sustainability, the book's lessons provide special insight into the art of continuity, providing actionable ideas on what successful entrepreneurs do and how they do it. By using the example of past generations to light the way for succeeding generations, nextgeneration entrepreneurial leaders can maximize the benefits of a family enterprise culture. The authors stimulate by highlighting many values that drive sustainability. Some of the values that stand out in their cases are
stewardship;
long-term thinking;
attending to all stakeholders;
innovation;
adding value to customers;
hunger for excellence;
continuous improvement;
and walking in the shoes of others.
These common values remind readers that there are many age-old truths to synthesize with the new insights for next generation entrepreneurs.
Perhaps the biggest challenge for family leaders is how to lead change in a densely developed and long-established organization and/or family system. To address this challenge, the authors introduce a powerful and succinct model for leading change-the “Iron Laws of Influence for Enterprising Families.”
Pramodita Sharma and Allan Cohen are thought leaders in the new field of family enterprise, or enterprising families. Entrepreneurs in Every Generation champions growth-business growth, family growth, and organizational growth. Next-generation leaders have the talent to find the new ways to create that growth.
John L. Ward, Clinical Professor of Family Enterprises
Center for Family Enterprises
Kellogg School of Management
Chicago, USA
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