The Dorchester, London
May 2015

It was an amazing honour to be involved this month in the Loedstar conference alongside the infamous Ivan Landsberg. It is such a unique and interactive forum bringing significant international families together to share, explore and learn from the experience of experts and other families.

I enjoyed running a practical session focused on how to develop a leading next generation programme in your family business. Using the case studies from three very different but amazing families (The Musgrave Group, The GMR Group and the William Jackson Food Group), we explored various approaches that families take to preparing their next generation.

But the fun really started on the final day where I facilitated a morning using open space technology – no agenda, no restrictions – just the opportunity for families to explore the topics that are important to them and where they may be struggling and looking to obtain input from others. I know everyone took a huge amount away from the discussion and hopefully will be able to implement some of the ideas when they return to their own family businesses.