May is a month of change and new beginnings. Across campuses, students don their caps and gowns, ready to step into the world beyond. At Columbia, we watch our own students navigate this bittersweet moment—proud of their achievements, nostalgic for what they’re leaving behind, and wondering: Where do I belong now? One phrase keeps coming up: “This has been my tribe.”
But what does it really mean to belong to a tribe?
In his groundbreaking book Tribal, Professor Michael Morris reveals that belonging isn’t just a feeling—it’s wired into our very nature. For half a million years, humans survived not by going it alone but by forming tribes—groups bound by shared stories, rituals, and purpose. These tribes gave us identity, safety, and meaning.
Family enterprises are living tribes. They’re more than organizations—they’re communities shaped by history, relationships, and shared goals. But as families grow and generations change, the lines of belonging can blur. How do we lead these tribes with intention—welcoming new members without losing our core?
This month, we explore how to build tribes that thrive on connection, purpose, and openness.
What Michael Morris Teaches Us About Tribal Leadership
Morris challenges the old idea that tribalism is a primitive source of division. Instead, he shows it’s a powerful, ongoing force shaping who we are and how we connect.
Here are some key insights from Tribal:
- Tribes are about more than blood or borders. They form around shared identity, rituals, and purpose.
- Tribes connect us—but can also exclude. Morris writes, “Tribes create meaning, but they can also create blind spots.”
- Leadership matters. Modern tribes can be designed—built with clear purpose, inclusive culture, and room for new voices.
In family enterprises, this means asking:
- Who belongs in our tribe—and why?
- How do we honor tradition while embracing change?
- Are all members truly included, or just on the sidelines?
Why This Matters for Family Enterprises
Family enterprises are uniquely positioned to be powerful tribes—but they must be intentional about it.
The founding generation often creates a tribe unconsciously—held together by relationships, rituals, and an implicit sense of identity. But as generations pass and the family grows in size, complexity, and geography, those informal bonds weaken. But as they grow in size and complexity, those bonds can weaken.
Without a deliberate effort to define who belongs and why, tribes risk becoming brittle or exclusive.
Resilient tribes:
- Have a clear identity and origin story everyone knows.
- Operate with purpose beyond profit.
- Welcome evolving roles without demanding conformity.
- Use rituals and storytelling to keep connections alive.
Ask yourself:
- Is our tribe still serving everyone in it?
- How do we make space for new voices and next generations?
- What rituals help us stay connected and resolve conflict?
Reflection Questions
- Who makes up your tribe—and how did they get there?
- What stories and rituals keep your tribe strong?
- How do you balance loyalty with openness to change?
- What small step could you take today to strengthen your tribe?
At GFEP, we believe in the power of purposeful tribes.
As we see in our graduating students, tribes matter deeply. The bonds formed across programs, cohorts, and shared experiences are remembered long after the details fade. This is why, at GFEP, we commit to being more than a program—we strive to be your tribe.
This is why, among the many initiatives we design for students and alumni, we are finally launching the PRISM Leadership Series video library next month. This curated curated experience is curated for our students, alumni, and their families around the world. It’s just one of the ways we aim to nurture an inclusive, resilient, and impact-driven tribe across generations and borders.
As you celebrate transitions this month—whether in your family, your enterprise, or your own life—we want you to know: you always have a tribe here.
Let’s keep growing it, together.
