Certificate Programs for Professionals Working with Family Businesses

Many individuals find themselves being asked to provide consultative services to family businesses and family wealth systems and although already highly competent in one or more fields of knowledge would like to deepen their knowledge and skills. These programs are designed to assist individuals in providing top quality consultation as well as educational programs and services to families.

There are three separate and sequential programs. Each program builds on the previous one.

The Certificate Program in Family Business and Family Wealth Consultation is designed for professionals who wish to expand their knowledge and skills in how to work effectively with family business and family wealth systems. Focus will be on understanding particular psychodynamics that are often present in dealing with issues of wealth and business in the context of family systems. It is expected that participants already bring competency in their specific field (Family Therapy, Organization Development, Financial Planning, Family Office Administration, Estate Planners, Business Entrepreneurship, etc.). These individuals are desiring a deeper understanding and competence in working with the Family Dynamics and culture in Businesses and Wealth more powerfully. Program will be focused around individual learning needs while overviewing critical skills of the field.

The Certificate Program provides the fundamental knowledge needed to understand family business systems from a variety of contexts and also gives an intellectual grounding in understanding effective and ethical consultation.

Certificate Program

Areas of Knowledge Reviewed will include such topics as:

  • Overview of Classic Family Business Literature.
  • Family Business/Wealth Culture and Dynamics.
  • Principles of Emotional Intelligence
  • Leadership, Business and Organization Development
  • Consultative Models, Ethics and Change  Theory.
Core Issues in Family Business
  • Succession Planning.
  • Decision-making, Conflict Resolution .and Power Dynamics.
  • Role of Legacy, Governance and Protocols.
  • Generational Needs and Perspectives
Learning Process

Analysis and Discussion of literature in the various fields of knowledge will take place. Learning takes place through readings, discussion of materials, Case Studies (books, movies and articles) and Learning Exercises. Learning takes place in a seminar setting with others or on an individual or group basis over several months.

Time Estimate and Completion
  • Meetings will take place once a month for 5 months..
  • Participants will write a professional paper, article or give a seminar on a topic of their choice to peers in the last meeting.
Personalized Training – Journeyman Level

Participants are encouraged to follow the Certificate Program with personalized training to see and understand how the consultative process works in professional settings
(internship). This is referred to as “Journeyman Level” which typically consists of:

  • Observation and Apprentice in Assessment.
  • Observation and Apprentice in Intervention.

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Process – participate in ongoing assessments and intervention with professional. Expected to take approximately 6 – 12 months.

Completion – observes and dialogues with consultant reasoning for various interventions. Conducts interviews and interventions successfully with client. Receives feedback on strengths and learning needs. Able to work with Family
Business dynamics successfully

Training Fee – is determined with each project

Personalized Coaching – Master Level

Participants are encouraged to follow this program with Personalized Coaching to assist in their own consultations. This is referred to as “Mastery Level” which typically consists of:

  • Perform Assessment and Intervention with own clients.
  • Identify Consultative Strengths and Learning Needs.
  • Identify Use of Self in Intervention.
  • Create Successful Change and Progress in Client System.

Coaching Fee is determined with each project.