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 …

Continue reading What type of Family Business are you?

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 …

Continue reading Your Operational Mindset is Killing Your Business

When I speak to family business owners they frequently grumble on the shortcomings of their staff members. My reply is that they need to focus on building a strong company culture. When I dig in further I frequently discover that many family business owners and leaders try to change company culture with words alone, and …

Continue reading The Truth About Company Culture: Why Your Efforts Are Failing

The world of fashion is mourning the loss of one of its most iconic figures, Giorgio Armani, who passed away today at the age of 89. The revered Italian designer, known for his timeless elegance, revolutionary tailoring, and the quiet luxury that defined an era, leaves behind an empire built over nearly five decades. While …

Continue reading Giorgio Armani – A lesson in Succession Planning

As generative AI and other technologies continue to transform the workplace, there's a wrong & growing assumption that highly specialised technical skills are the most critical for career success and business growth. However, research (including the latest research published this week by the Harvard Business Review) keeps indicating that foundational skills—like collaboration, adaptability, and logical …

Continue reading Without A Strong, Performing Culture…you will Perish

I was recently in Sweden and was interested in learning about the history of Sweden's monarchy. The story of the Swedish monarchy delivers some very insightful lessons for family business. It all really starts with a certain Gustav Vasa, who is a pivotal figure in Swedish history because he is considered the founder of modern …

Continue reading What the Swedish Monarchical History teaches us about Succession Planning

This will be a long article. It is meant to be read over a stretch of time as for the next couple of weeks I will not be posting any further blog articles. This article is based on what the latest research done across the globe in 2024 and 2025 is indicating with regards family …

Continue reading What is the Latest International Research on Family Businesses telling us?

I would be a much richer man had I collected at least 10 Euros each time a family business owner said this to me - that management is just common sense. This statement, often uttered by business owners, particularly those with a background rooted in operations, reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of what management truly entails. …

Continue reading Management is Common Sense

In Malta, where the labour market is notably tight, all businesses—including family businesses that form a significant part of the economic landscape—are finding it increasingly challenging to attract and retain the best talent. This critical scarcity makes it imperative for family businesses to address their unique structural challenges proactively, ensuring that inherent issues do not …

Continue reading Attracting and Retaining Top Talent: The Challenge Family Businesses face amidst Malta’s Tight Labour Market