FamilyShift

Ivey Business School

Entrepreneurship

About Programme

Leading a family business goes beyond day-to-day management—it requires an entrepreneurial mindset, a commitment to innovation, and a thoughtful approach to balancing tradition with change.

In partnership with Ivey's Business Families Centre and KPMG Private Enterprise, FamilyShift is a week-long immersive program designed to empower next-generation family business leaders with the skills, governance strategies, and leadership frameworks needed to drive long-term success while preserving their family's legacy. Through real-world case studies, peer collaboration, expert guest speakers, and coaching sessions, participants build deep expertise in the unique challenges family businesses face.

Interested candidates must complete an application form and be nominated by an Ivey Executive Education or KPMG Private Enterprise representative. Participants are selected by Ivey Executive Education. Click the logo below to learn more.

Programme Content

Understanding the Family Business Landscape

Understand the culture of family businesses and build a deeper understanding of your personal leadership role.

Clarify your business's social impact and your role as a leader, ensuring alignment with your family's values and long-term vision.

Enhance governance practices by refining legal, tax, and succession structures to support stability and future growth.

Leading sustainable change and innovation

Refine your entrepreneurial instincts to create an intrapreneurial family enterprise.

Use Design Thinking to drive resilience and adaptability in a rapidly changing business environment.

Elevating your family communication

Practice creating shared value through negotiation — in your business and in life.

Improve communication skills to manage family dynamics and decision-making effectively.

Incorporate sound governance practices — including legal, tax, and succession structures — to help your business evolve and thrive through growth.

Defining your leadership

Map out your personal leadership journey and define your legacy in the family business.

Receive 1-1 feedback and coaching from expert mentors in other industries and sectors.

Implement best practices in your approach to leadership that drive high performance, engagement, and collaboration.

Build a network of peer leaders in family businesses, hearing feedback and advice on your real-world challenges.

Programme Audience

FamilyShift is for next-generation professionals involved at any level of the family businesses, whether they are:

Learning the family business and its operations

Preparing for greater leadership responsibility

Transitioning into formal management roles

Programme Benefits

Earn a credential from Ivey Business School. Your FamilyShift digital badge is linked to a unique URL, allowing you to showcase your advanced level of proficiency in online profiles.

Form lifelong connections with peers through learning and social events. The Ivey Executive Education alumni network is a long-term resource for participants to share business opportunities or seek advice on life and career challenges.

Explore new perspectives while taking time for mindfulness, reflection, and practice away from the demands of your day-to-day. Return to work with an open mind and increased confidence to be effective in your role.

Receive discounts on select programs, exclusive event invitations, and curated collections of thought leadership and research from Ivey Business School.

Learn to navigate the complexities of your family business and find sustainably successful outcomes.

Hear from industry guest speakers to draw learning from real-world businesses and experts.

Gain insights from across various industries and organizations, borrowing best practices and new perspectives from outside your family business to jump-start innovation.

Enhance your company culture with progressive approaches to inclusive leadership.

Drive effective change management and innovation to keep your family business competitive and future-oriented.

Testimonials

"The way we learn is very different — we have speakers, we have focus groups, we have cases. Doing a simulation and thinking about how I could apply it in the real world is really different and I would recommend the program to anyone. People from Quebec should get out of their comfort zone and come to Ontario!"

Justine Whissell

Uniroc Group

"Coming here with my brothers was so valuable because we get to talk on our breaks about what we learned in the classrooms. It’s imperative that the three of us are on the same page. Being here together, we get to take it all in and build that alignment."

Amit Randhawa

Randhawa Farms

"You get to be more involved, you talk to different people, and the faculty helped me feel comfortable with the questions I was asking. It's a very inclusive environment. You get to bounce ideas off of your peers and learn from their experience — because they do have a vast wealth of it."

Eric Stang

Gincor Werx

"Everybody thinks they’re in a unique position. In reality, we’re in the same spot. So we can all lean on each other — building relationships and enhancing what we learned in the room."

Tyson Huttema

K&R Poultry

"The program has exceeded all of my expectations. I’ve done enough leadership training, but none has been focused on the niche topic of the family business itself and that’s the most important piece. I was able to benchmark where I am in my family business and how I can transition from generation to generation and go to the next level."

Stratis Gavrilidis

Sherwood Electromotion

Testimonial Source

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Contact us for the further details

Speak with an Advisor

Pedagogy (case method, experiential learning, coaching, simulations)
Programme Objective
Contact Person Details

Prashansa Uttam

Programme Advisor

+91 9403890085[email protected]Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm IST

Ivey Business School

Executive Education Office

https://www.ivey.uwo.ca

Milan, Canada

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