Family Business United Launches Third Global Think Tank Findings

Family Business United is delighted to announce the launch of our third Global Family Business Think Tank Report which summarises the thoughts of over 120 leading family business owners, experts and advisers from around the world on specific topics that will help to shape family business discussions and strategies going forward including thoughts on the relevance of the three-circle model, trust, next generation engagement and the potential for conflict to impact family business growth ambitions.

Key Findings:

As well as the top level statistics that highlight areas that need to be on the family business agenda, we have included quotes from some of the global participants and a number of articles too.

• 86% of respondents think that the three-circle model is still relevant today.
  

• 94% of respondents believe that family conflicts can significantly hinder the growth of a family business.
  

• 92% think that family businesses struggle to separate family and business matters.
  

• 86% of respondents feel that family businesses are more likely to prioritise long-term stability over short-term profits.
  

• 87% of respondents think that the involvement of multiple generations in a family business can create more innovation.
  

• Emotional ties in a family business can lead to biased decision making according to 97% of respondents.
  

• 100% of respondents feel that building trust within the family is critical to the success of the family business.
  

• Only 14% of respondents feel that family businesses spend enough time on long-term strategic planning.
  

• Only 24% of respondents think that we have adequately defined what it means to be an effective owner of a family business.

  
  

As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United who published the report explains, "We hope that the report enables conversations to take place to bring the family business community together to further innovate, drive changes as a force for good and helps provide further support for families in business to continue to flourish for generations to come."

"The aim of the report was to harness the collective voice of the family business community around the world and share their thoughts and comments on areas that are certainly being discussed in family business board rooms and there is certainly plenty to think about and for family firms that are looking to plan for the next stage in their journey, areas that they should, if they are not already, be considering."

"This is the third of our Global Family Business Think Tank Reports and not only does it highlight key areas for family businesses to consider, it will prove useful in helping us to develop and deliver further resources, insights and thought leadership pieces to address the areas discussed and enable family businesses to continue the conversation."

"We could not have compiled the report without the assistance and participation of our friends around the world and we are immensely grateful to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts with us, contributing to a document that will certainly make a difference too," concludes Paul.

Download and read the full Summer 2025 Global Family Business Think Tank here:

Global Think Tank SUMMER 25 Published.pdf

Download PDF • 7.32MB

Furthermore, if you would like further details about the report, wish to supply your insights for the 2025 campaign or are interested in sponsoring the next report, please do not hesitate to contact us.