A phone call usually comes in a state of high alarm. A frantic family business owner, facing a perfect storm of structural issues and plummeting performance and a looming sense of confusion, normally reaches out desperately for help. They speak of issues with regards individual employee or managerial performance, declining business performance, uncertainty and market …
Stuck on a Plane…thinking on Risk Management in Family Businesses
Last Tuesday evening at 8pm, as I sat in my plane seat, the captain informed us that suddenly Brussels airport was closed due to drone sightings. We did not know how long we will be stuck there and if we would make it home at all. As I sat there, tired and concerned, my mind …
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Budget 2026 – Measures for Business
Here is a detailed overview of the measures, initiatives, and schemes targeting businesses: 1. Investment in Digitalisation, Innovation, and Research A critical component of the budget is the unprecedented commitment to technological advancement and skills improvement: Digitalisation Investment (€100 Million): An investment of €100 million is allocated to foster digitalization and the adoption of advanced …
Budget 2026
Below please find a detailed overview of the 2026 Budget: 1. Macroeconomic Overview Government Finance: Fiscal Projections: Government Debt Stock (€ ‘000) The above shows that when comparing 2024 to 2025, Government total revenue is expected to grow from €7.52 billion (2024) to €8.03 billion (2025 revised), an annual increase of roughly 6.8 %, outpacing …
The Loyal Generalist’s Dilemma
This is a very painful subject for me. In family businesses with a long history of micro-management, a lack of formal organisational structure, and limited strategic focus, a unique type of leader often emerges: the Loyal Operational Generalist. They are many times some of the most if not the most important key employees of the …
The top 3 priorities of Most Successful Family Businesses in the World
The discourse surrounding global family enterprises in 2024 and 2025 shifted fundamentally away from preserving legacy to dynamic legacy. Research clearly indicates that the priorities of the most successful family business across the globe are centred around 3 priority areas under the umbrella of dynamic legacy. What are these 3 priority areas? Are these also …
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The Silent Killer of Family Businesses
I am presently delivering the Award in Leading a Family Business course and yesterday the session was on the importance of proper corporate governance in Family Businesses. Every family business begins with a dream. It’s a legacy forged in passion, late nights, and shared sacrifice A living testament to a founder's vision. Yet, for all …
Navigating Challenges with Optimism & Caution
The recent economic update issued by the Central Bank (9/2025) presents a detailed picture of the Maltese economy, offering both encouragement from sustained business health and caution regarding persistent uncertainties and cost pressures. Overall, the Bank's Business Conditions Index (BCI) indicates that the annual growth in business activity stood slightly higher than the previous month …
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What type of Family Business are you?
Are you a family business, or a business owned by a family? The distinction is crucial, and it's the difference between a business that survives a generation and one that prospers for centuries. I was recently reading authored by Rodrigo Basco and entitled Family Business Management, which was published in 2024, which outlines that not …
Your Operational Mindset is Killing Your Business
I meet family business owners focused on growth. They chase growing sales, importing more products, winning a tender…but they rarely focus on where all this will lead them. Can their business handle growth? What does their business need to become more efficient and resilient? Is the business investing enough in processes and digital systems? What …
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A Business Blog for SMEs & Family Businesses 