Research Findings

In Tribal, Professor Michael Morris reveals that tribes—groups bound by shared identity, rituals, and purpose—aren’t just social constructs; they’re fundamental to how humans survive and thrive. Family enterprises, too, function as tribes. But as families grow and change, tribal cohesion requires intentional leadership. Drawing from Morris’s work, we explore what it means to build inclusive, evolving tribes that balance tradition with transformation. As our students graduate and our alumni grow in their journeys, we’re reminded that the bonds forged at Columbia—like all resilient tribes—are rooted in meaning, shared purpose, and belonging.

Earth Day may come once a year each April, but its call to action reverberates far beyond a single month. Corporations respond with net-zero pledges, families with tree-planting rituals, and policy leaders with bold targets. Yet behind these headlines lies a quieter, more complex force: enterprising families.

Advising enterprising families calls for more than just business savvy; it requires understanding trust, legacy, and emotion. While advisors are often skilled in governance and strategy, many overlook the “human architecture” that truly drives family enterprise success. Below, we explore how to bridge this critical gap.

At the 2025 Family Enterprise Conference, Nepotism & Nurturing: Challenging the Narrative, Stephan Meier—author of The Employee Advantage—moderated our panel of family CEOs with one central theme: employees are a strategic resource, not just a cost. Meier spotlighted how family enterprises can unlock innovation and loyalty by combining their signature relational strengths (like trust and tradition) with transparent, merit-­based HR practices that prevent favoritism and ensure non-­family employees thrive, too. It’s an approach that research in family business fully supports: tapping into caring cultures is a proven source of competitive edge—but only when balanced with structures that keep the door open to all.Learn more about The Employee Advantage

In anticipation of our February 21 conference, Nepotism & Nurturing: Challenging the Narrative, this month’s newsletter dives into the complexities of nepotism in family enterprises. As coauthor Constantin Lagios explains in Family First: An Integrative Conceptual Review of Nepotism in Organizations, nepotism—“the practice of giving preferential treatment based on kinship or familial ties”—can have profound effects on an organization’s legacy and sustainability. While it fosters trust and unity among family members, unchecked nepotism can undermine fairness and efficiency, even contributing to misconduct. This issue explores how families can navigate these challenges and strike the right balance between relational bonds and professional merit. Join us at our upcoming conference to learn practical strategies for creating equitable, high-performing family enterprises.Read "Family First: An Integrative Conceptual Review of Nepotism in Organizations"