How do entrepreneurial strengths evolve into shared leadership across generations?
- Paul Edelman
- Nov 12
- 1 min read
That was the central question Doug Baumoel and I explored at the The Family Firm Institute - FFI Global Conference in Boston in October.
Entrepreneurs build extraordinary enterprises through clarity, conviction, and individual drive. Yet as family enterprises mature, the developmental task shifts:
From one leader to many stewards
From singular vision to collective capability
From “I know the way” to “we can find the way together”
This transition isn’t automatic. It’s a learned skill and it can be both energizing and uncomfortable for families.
In our work, we see several recurring tensions families must navigate:
1) Confidence → Collaboration
How do we preserve decisive leadership while creating space for others to grow?
2) Protection → Empowerment
How do senior leaders support rising-gen members without unintentionally limiting their development?
3) Legacy → Adaptation
How do families honor what was built and create space for innovation and self-expression?
These questions don’t get answered in a single meeting, or even a single generation. They are practiced over time. And they require both differentiation (clarity of self and role) and integration (shared responsibility and voice).
It's through this work that shared decision-making confidence develops.
Thank you to my co-presenter Doug Baumoel of Continuity Family Business Consulting and to Sandra McNeely of Abbey Legacy for hosting our session.
I’m grateful to everyone who joined us for this thoughtful, engaging conversation, and I look forward to continuing the dialogue with peers committed to helping families lead together with clarity, humility, and shared purpose.
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