Family business teaching & research the focus of new hub at HEC Paris

HEC Paris has opened a new hub for research and educational offerings on the subject of family business.

The Dieter Schwarz Foundation Centre for Family Business aims to develop innovative research and educational programmes that delve into the specificities of family business governance, culture, values, talent management and entrepreneurship. In this way, it hopes to equip students, business leaders and policymakers with the tools to foster family businesses’ contribution to the economy and society.

“The centre will strive to better understand, teach and promote the contribution of family businesses to sustainable prosperity. It will deepen our understanding of how this form of governance… contributes to a resilient and responsible economy that values both local territories and people,” commented Cécile de Lisle, the new centre’s executive director.

Fuelling the creation of new teaching materials

By promoting the development of new courses and tools focused on family business and related fields, the new centre is designed to stimulate the creation of new teaching materials, including case studies, quantitative and behavioural simulations and experiential learning exercises. The emphasis here will be on the experience of family firms in Europe and particularly those in Germany and France, with an exchange platform set to be established for stakeholders in these ecosystems. This forum will offer a chance to connect and discuss critical issues impacting operations and governance, as well as broader macroeconomic and societal challenges.

Research at the centre, meanwhile, is to focus on interdisciplinary thinking, with a view to widening its reach beyond academic circles to engage policymakers, business leaders, owners of family enterprises and the wider community.

The centre’s creation forms part of a broader partnership between HEC Paris Business School, the HEC Foundation and the Dieter Schwarz Foundation. “Family businesses are the backbone of many European economies, and it is essential that we support their growth and development… We look forward to seeing the impact that this centre will have on the family business community in Europe and beyond,” added Dieter Schwarz Foundation CEO Reinhold Geilsdoerfer.