Family Firm Institute Podcast

Jaksot

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  What We Inherit: Martha Frick Symington Sanger on Family Trauma, Art, and Legacy 23.08.2026 13min

  In this episode of The Practitioner podcast, Martha Frick Symington Sanger, great-granddaughter of Henry Clay Frick, discusses the 10-year process of researching her family history and the discoveries that changed how she understood Frick’s legacy. At the center of the story is the death of Frick’s young daughter Martha, a loss from which Sanger believes he never recovered—and one she sees reflected in his art collecting. She also shares the resistance she encountered from family members who wanted to protect Frick’s reputation and what she learned about the emotional power of objects passed through generations. For Sanger, examining the past offers families an opportunity to recognize inherited patterns, break destructive cycles, and avoid passing unresolved trauma to the next generation. The conversation previews themes she will explore during her pre-conference session on narratives at the 2026 FFI Global Conference in New York City.
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  In this episode of the FFI Practitioner Podcast, Jordan Rich sits down with neuroscientist, Joseph LeDoux to explore: 04.08.2026 20min

  Split-brain research and subliminal perception The evolution of emotion research The role and limits of the amygdala Calming automatic responses and renarrating experience The connection between neuroscience and music LeDoux’s upcoming FFI conference appearance Joseph LeDoux is a pioneering neuroscientist, author, and musician whose work has advanced scientific understanding of survival circuits, emotion, memory, anxiety, and consciousness. His early research examined consciousness and behavior in split-brain patients before he turned to the neural systems involved in threat detection and defensive responses. LeDoux is also the lead singer and songwriter for The Amygdaloids, a band known for what it calls “Heavy MeNtal”—original music about the mind, brain, emotion, and mental disorders. The band has released multiple albums and performed in the United States and internationally.
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  Family Business Review Retrospective – Part II 18.05.2026 24min

  Three former Family Business Review editors—Pramodita Sharma, G. Tyge Payne, and Donald Neubaum—join the FFI Practitioner podcast to discuss the evolution of the journal and the growing maturity of the family business field during their tenure. They reflect on increasing submissions, rising impact, and the ongoing effort to maintain the journal’s high standards of rigor and excellence. The conversation also tackles the emerging challenge of AI-generated submissions and what it means for preserving scholarly integrity in academic publishing.  
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  Family Business Review Retrospective 30.03.2026 24min

  In this episode, we explore the origins and evolution of Family Business Review—the leading academic journal in the family enterprise field. Join early editors Ivan Lansberg, Kelin Gersick, and Joe Astrachan as they reflect on how the journal grew from an idea into a globally respected publication. The conversation highlights the challenges of establishing legitimacy for a new field, building an interdisciplinary community, and bridging the gap between academic research and real-world practice. The panel also discusses how the field has evolved—from early experiential insights to today’s data-driven research—and what the future of scholarly publishing may look like in an era shaped by artificial intelligence.
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  Christopher Gibson on AI, Dispute Resolution, and the Future of Legal Practice 08.02.2026 21min

  In this episode of the FFI Practitioner Podcast, we speak with Christopher Gibson, FFI’s 2086 Scholar in Residence, about the evolving world of mediation, arbitration, and legal education. Christopher discusses the growing role of AI in dispute resolution, and how lawyers can help family enterprise clients in an increasingly uncertain world. We also explore how legal education is shifting from traditional Socratic teaching toward skills-based learning, including contract drafting, simulations, problem-solving, and using AI effectively. A timely conversation on managing risk, exercising control, and guiding families through complexity across generations.
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  Technology, Family Offices, and Investing for the Future: A Conversation with Aaron Vaccaro 03.10.2025 13min

  Today’s FFI Practitioner features a podcast on “Technology, Family Offices, and Investing for the Future” with Aaron Vaccaro, president of Singularity. In his conversation with interviewer Jordan Rich, Aaron discusses exponential technologies and their importance to the success of multi-generational family enterprises. His colleague, Rob Nail, entrepreneur, coach, and former CEO of Singularity, will open the FFI conference on October 29 with a keynote presentation on “Exponential Thinking and the Multi-Generational Family Enterprise: Innovation, Technology, and the Future.” Since taking the role of president for Singularity in 2023, Aaron Vaccaro has led the management team in executing Singularity’s mission of educating, inspiring, and empowering leaders to create breakthroughs powered by exponential technology. Prior to joining Singularity, Aaron was Vice President at WestRiver Group, a global innovation investment platform and the lead investor in Singularity since 2016, where he remains an operating partner.
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  The Power of Narrative in Family Businesses: A Conversation with Jamie Yuenger and Lisabeth Sugahara 05.09.2025 21min

  FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with guests Jamie Yuenger from StoryKeep and Lisabeth “Betsy” Sugahara from Fairfield-Maxwell Ltd. They discuss the power of story and how it can have positive impacts on family businesses, including improved family dynamics and wider support of business decisions. Jamie Yuenger is founder of Storykeep, which creates private films and podcasts with individuals and families to connect their current and future generations through the power of story. After training as a folklorist, worked in broadcast journalism, including as assistant producer at WNYC. Lisabeth Sugahara is an owner of Fairfield-Maxwell Ltd, a private investment firm focused primarily on family businesses with like values and priorities.
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  Family Offices Around the World: A Conversation with Mary Duke, Aik-Ping Ng, and Peter Vogel 25.07.2025 30min

  FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Mary Duke, Aik-Ping Ng, and Peter Vogel, about the future of family offices worldwide. They discuss the necessity of integrating financial, human, and social capital, and the importance of long-term relationships and generational bridging in family office advising. Mary Duke, FFI Fellow, is an internationally recognized advisor to families navigating the complexities of substantial wealth. She focuses on empowering rising generations and on helping families adopt the practices and behaviors that foster individual growth and make family collaboration more effective and rewarding. She can be reached at [email protected]. Aik-Ping Ng, ACFBA/CFWA, is managing director and head of Family Office Advisory Asia Pacific at HSBC Private Bank. With twenty-two years of experience in private equity, corporate finance, and wealth management, he advises UHNW families on legacy planning. He can be reached at [email protected]. Peter Vogel, PhD, is professor of family business and entrepreneurship at IMD Business School. An expert on family enterprises, he leads IMD’s work in this field as director of the IMD Global Family Business Center and Debiopharm Chair in Family Philanthropy. He can be reached at [email protected].
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  Advancements in Longevity Research: An Interview with Dr. Kris Verburgh 07.07.2025 11min

  FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Dr. Kris Verburgh, who presented the keynote at the 2019 Global Conference. In today’s interview, Dr. Verburgh discusses the advancements in longevity research since his 2019 keynote, highlighting significant investments to address aging-related diseases. He also explores the ways in which a shift towards an ageless society would affect family businesses, investment strategies, and societal organization. Dr. Verburgh’s colleague Robert Nail will present the opening keynote at the 2025 Global Conference, entitled “Exponential Thinking in the Multi- Generational Family Enterprise: Innovation, Technology, and the Future.” Kris Verburgh, MD, is an inventor, author, investor, researcher, and medical doctor specializing in aging, longevity, and the future of medicine and biotechnology. Dr. Verburgh is a partner and head of science at the BOLD Longevity Growth Fund and a researcher at the Free University of Brussels. He is an expert in the future of medicine and longevity at Singularity University, an FFI organizational member, and he is a member of the FFI IberoAmérica Virtual Study Group.
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  Measuring Performance in Family Enterprises: An Interview with Sir Andrew Likierman 18.04.2025 12min

  FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Sir Andrew Likierman, 2025 recipient of the 2086 Society’s FFI Scholar-in-Residence grant. In today’s podcast, Sir Andrew Likierman discusses the complexities of performance management in family enterprises. He emphasizes the importance of having a common framework for success that aligns with the family’s objectives, the significance of integrating individual performance with the enterprise’s overall strategy, and the necessity for family enterprise advisors and practitioners to adopt a consistent and coherent set of performance measures to ensure clarity and alignment within the organization.
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  The Rising Role of Women in Family Offices and Family Businesses 21.02.2025 18min

  FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Sasha Lund, Jessica McGawley, and Larisa Miller, discussing a recently published Special Report from Globe Law and Business publisher: “The Rising Role of Women in Family Offices and Family Businesses.” Sasha, the report’s consulting editor, and Jessica and Larisa, two contributors to the report, discuss the report’s findings and how they are illustrated through their own careers. Podcast listeners can receive a 20% discount on the report by ordering it on the Globe Law and Business website and using the code FFI20 at checkout: https://www.globelawandbusiness.com/special-reports/the-rising-role-of-women-in-family-offices-and-family-businesses
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  Reimagining Wisdom, Wealth, and Legacy: An Interview with Princess Nandi 28.10.2024 11min

  FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with H.R.H Princess Nandi Zulu, a distinguished member of the Zulu Royal Family, who is part of the 2086 Society’s grant to the Nomadic School of Business. In this podcast, Princess Nandi discusses her rich cultural heritage that is deeply rooted in the Zulu traditions, her view of wealth and legacy, and her philanthropic work as head of the Princess Nandi Zulu Foundation. This podcast is presented by this year’s 2086 Society grant recipient, the Nomadic School of Business.
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  Time, Science, and Storytelling: An Interview with Dava Sobel 14.10.2024 18min

  FFI Practitioner is pleased to share a conversation with science writer Dava Sobel, who is delivering the opening keynote at the 2024 FFI Global Conference, entitled “What Time Tells Us: A Lecture on the Theme of Time, from John Harrison’s Sea Clocks to the Half-Lives of Marie Curie’s Radioelements.” In conversation with podcast host Jordan Rich, Sobel discusses her new book,The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science, her prior books on Galileo and John Harrison, and the role of women in science.
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  Good Judgment in the Family Firm: An Interview with Sir Andrew Likierman 01.10.2024 11min

  FFI Practitioner is pleased to share a conversation with Sir Andrew Likierman, Professor of Management Practice at the London Business School, who is delivering the closing keynote at the 2024 FFI Global Conference, entitled “So What Do I Do Now? Better Judgments in the Family Firm.” In conversation with podcast host Jordan Rich, Likierman discusses the crucial role of developing good judgment for both family enterprises and their advisors.
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  Family Enterprise Consulting in Saudi Arabia: An Interview with Basma Al Zamil and Bob Kohli 11.08.2024 18min

  FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Basma Al Zamil and Bob Kohli for a conversation on family enterprises and family enterprise consulting in Saudi Arabia. In this podcast, Bob and Basma discuss the evolution of family enterprises in Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region since the 1960s, the current focus on the implementation of governance, and suggestions for advisors new to the region.
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  Reimagining Wisdom, Wealth, and Legacy: An Interview with Krishna Thapa 01.07.2024 16min

  FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with “warrior monk” Krishna Thapa, continuing our quarterly series on the 2024 conference theme “Mean Time: Time, Timing, and Timelessness in Family Enterprise.” Krishna, born in Nepal, was one of the first members of the Royal Gurkha Rifles (RGR) to become a member of the British Special Air Service (SAS). A mountaineer and mental health advocate, Krishna has led summit teams up Mount Everest and K2. In this podcast, Krishna discusses his mission of “enlightenment through adversity” and his view of wealth and legacy. This podcast is presented by this year’s 2086 Society grant recipient, the Nomadic School of Business.
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  A Conversation on Mental Health and Addiction with Gary Mendell and Dr. Paul Hokemeyer 24.05.2024 17min

  In this FFI Practitioner podcast Gary Mendell, founder and CEO of Shatterproof, and Dr. Paul Hokemeyer, licensed family therapist and founding principal of Drayson Mews, discuss current perspectives on addiction and mental health treatment. Their conversation addresses the concerns of enterprising and ultra-high-net-worth families seeking treatment and how their advisors can best guide their clients.
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  Running Against Time: An Interview with Henry Krasnow, Carlo Salvato, and Allison Krasnow 15.04.2024 19min

  In this FFI Practitioner podcast, three marathon runners explore how time, discipline, generational pulls, and much more play out when running a race. Today’s conversation also observes on how these characteristics exhibit themselves in the timing of activities, decisions, and emotional dynamics in a multi-generational family enterprise. Thanks to FFI Fellows Henry Krasnow and Carlo Salvato, and to Allison Krasnow, a next gen who started her father’s running career, for participating in this podcast.
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  Reimagining Wisdom, Wealth, and Legacy: An Interview with Maasai Elder Emmanuel Mankura 28.03.2024 12min

  FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Emmanuel Mankura, Maasai tribe elder and cultural ambassador. This podcast is the first in a series of four interviews presented by this year’s 2086 Society grant recipient, the Nomadic School of Business. In this podcast, Emmanuel shares insights into the ancient wisdom of the Maasai people as it relates to some of the classic FFI topics such as succession, transition, cross-cultural understanding, transcending borders, and more.
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  Perspectives on Family Philanthropy and Social Impact Governance: An Interview with Christina Wing 15.03.2024 13min

  Show notes: FFI Practitioner is pleased to feature a podcast conversation with Christina Wing, founder of Wingspan Legacy Partners, a family business and family office advisory firm. In this podcast, Christina discusses governance for family philanthropy, social impact investing as a strategy for rising-generation leaders, and the importance of treating foundations as family businesses that require governance.