Trailblazers Of Family Business Research And Learning: Shaping Knowledge, Practice And Care

Family businesses are a cornerstone of economies worldwide, yet systematic research on governance, succession, and strategy has only recently gained momentum. This book brings together candid reflections from some of the most influential pioneers in the field—scholars, advisors, educators, and systemic therapists—who have shaped family business studies and practice. Through insightful interviews, they share their personal journeys, the evolution of key concepts, and best practices for addressing complex family and strategic challenges.

Readers gain access to a global repository of experiences, cultural perspectives, and multi-generational wisdom, offering practical guidance for advising, teaching, and managing family enterprises. Whether you are a practitioner, a family business owner, or a scholar, this volume is an indispensable resource for understanding the intricate dynamics of family-owned firms and the careers dedicated to supporting them.

Birgit Suberg is Visiting Professor at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in Suzhou, China, and Managing Director of a Shanghai-based consulting firm. She began her career in strategic consulting in Germany and has held senior roles in China with P&L responsibility for multinational and family-owned firms.

Hermut Kormann served as CFO and CEO of Voith, a 150-year-old German family enterprise, and previously worked at ABB and Booz & Co. He advises owning families on strategy and serves as Professor at Zeppelin University (Germany), Visiting Professor at Leipzig University (Germany), and Senior Research Fellow at Witten University (Germany). He supervises doctoral research on family business strategy.