Theme

Building Enterprises Designed to Outlast the Founder

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Program Outcome:
By the end of twelve weeks, founders will understand the principles, leadership mindset, stewardship responsibilities, and continuity foundations required to intentionally build a sustainable family enterprise.

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Week 1

What Is Family Business Continuity?

Learning Objective

Understand the difference between building a successful business and building an enterprise capable of continuing beyond the founder.

Exercise

Draw your enterprise timeline.

Where do you want your business to be:

• 5 years?

• 10 years?

• 25 years?

 

Week 2

Why Family Enterprise Matters

Learning Objective

Understand why family enterprises have unique opportunities—and unique risks.

Exercise

Write your Family Enterprise Purpose Statement.

 

Week 3

The Founder as Steward

Learning Objective

Shift from thinking like an owner to thinking like a steward.

Exercise

Complete the Founder Stewardship Self-Assessment.

 

Week 4

Building an Enterprise Designed to Outlast You

Learning Objective

Identify founder dependency and continuity risks.

Exercise

Create a Founder Dependency Map.

 

Week 5

Family Dynamics and Enterprise Success

Learning Objective

Recognize how family relationships influence business continuity.

• Conflict prevention

Exercise

Map your current family involvement.

 

Week 6

Leadership That Transfers

Learning Objective

Understand leadership beyond personality.

Exercise

Identify three future leadership opportunities within your enterprise.

 

Week 7

Creating a Culture of Stewardship

Learning Objective

Develop an enterprise culture that strengthens future generations.

Discussion

• Family values

• Enterprise values

• Stewardship culture

• Responsibility versus entitlement

Exercise

Draft five Stewardship Principles for your enterprise.

 

Week 8

Preparing the Next Generation

Learning Objective

Understand intentional preparation versus automatic inheritance.

Exercise

Assess next-generation readiness using SMI's framework.

 

Week 9

Governance: Why It Matters

Learning Objective

Understand governance as a tool for continuity rather than control.

Exercise

Complete a Governance Readiness Assessment.

 

Week 10

Continuity Planning

Learning Objective

Recognize the components of long-term enterprise continuity.

Exercise

Identify your enterprise's five greatest continuity risks.

 

Week 11

Designing Your Family Enterprise Roadmap

Learning Objective

Bring the previous weeks together into one strategic vision.

Exercise

Draft your 10-Year Family Enterprise Vision Map.

 

Week 12

Your Stewardship Commitment

Learning Objective

Commit to becoming an intentional steward of an enduring enterprise.

Exercise

Present your Family Enterprise Continuity Action Plan.

Program Deliverables

By the end of the Formation Journey, each founder will have developed:

• Family Enterprise Purpose Statement

• Founder Stewardship Assessment

• Founder Dependency Map

• Family Involvement Map

• Stewardship Principles

• Governance Readiness Assessment

• Continuity Risk Assessment

• 10-Year Family Enterprise Vision Map

• Family Enterprise Continuity Action Plan

• Personal Stewardship Commitment Statement