Academic research often struggles to make its way into boardrooms or family councils. If we want scientific work to matter to those whom we research, start where family business owners meet, learn, and support each other – their networks. They act as multipliers since they can spread useful ideas quickly among trusted peers.
Family business networks, such as the Family Business Network (FBN), the Family Firm Institute (FFI), African Family Firms, or Family Business Australia, are more than associations. These networks commonly share that they create forums of exchange and different forms of outreach to both the members of the networks and other audiences. They are trusted meeting places. People join to find answers, not abstractions. They care about continuity, family values, governance, and the human side of business.
Family business networks are spaces where generations of entrepreneurs exchange stories, tackle shared challenges, and look for ways to grow responsibly. For researchers, these communities can be vital partners. Working with them turns theory into practice and ensures research stays close to the lived experience of family businesses.
Why collaboration with networks matters
By collaborating with these networks, researchers can stay grounded in the very practical issues that families and entrepreneurs face every day. With that, researchers can bridge the gap between academic findings and practical know-how. Once such connections are forged, ideas and insights can flow in both directions and long-term relationships can be built. Through careful listening, researcher can already give value to the shared insights. Since listening can sometimes be the greatest compliment, working closely with networks gives scholars the chance to (really) listen to what business families are going through. Through regular interaction, informal chats, and participation in community gatherings, researchers gain a nuanced understanding that no dataset can capture. These relationships also ensure research questions remain meaningful over time. These relationships do not need to remain in the spheres of practice only; networks can also become meeting grounds for collaboration within academia. Joint groups of researchers and practitioners can co-develop projects, share early findings, and discuss how to turn insights into action. These circles create a shared language, blending rigor with relevance. Leveraging the chances that these collaborative relationships hold, both academia and practice can use their shared understanding of family business as a key force in local and global economies to benefit of regional and international development, and – in an ideal world – to the betterment of the communities in which they are embedded in.
How to collaborate (beyond collecting data)
A well-crafted article, workshop, or talk shared through these communities of family business practitioners can reach hundreds of families across industries and continents. So here are a few suggestions of how to actively work of family business network that seem to be working well.
Guest talks and keynote sessions. Conferences and member events often seek speakers who can translate complex ideas into relatable stories. Researchers can offer keynote talks, short “insight sessions,” or panel discussions on emerging topics, like sustainability, digital transformation, or generational succession. These talks help families see research in action while giving scholars direct feedback from practitioners. Such occasions turn the potential of different forms of knowledge and experiences into tangible outcomes in the form of mutual learning, “reality-checks”, and strengthened social ties.
Joint projects and outreach initiatives. Partnerships don’t have to stay within academia. Networks frequently engage in outreach projects that promote responsible business, entrepreneurship education, or regional development. Researchers can contribute by designing frameworks, evaluating impact, or co-authoring public reports that communicate the broader value of family firms to society.
Educational collaboration. Many family business associations run workshops and training programs for members and NextGen participants. Academics can design or co-deliver these sessions, turning research insights into practical tools. This not only makes theory tangible but also keeps education content current and evidence-based.
Public communication and storytelling. Some family business networks have strong media platforms – newsletters, podcasts, blogs, and social channels. Contributing short, accessible pieces helps translate research into stories that reach entrepreneurs, policymakers, and the public. Explaining “why it matters” builds trust and amplifies the social relevance of academic work. Getting involved in such activities also presents researchers as connected members of the public and put them more visibly in positions of stewards to society, countering the often-trumpeted stereotypical image of the lock-up nerd in their ivory tower.
Examples of thriving collaboration
Across the world, successful examples of research-practice collaboration are growing. The following list is not exhaustive but aims to provide an example from different continents:
- FBN International hosts global summits where academics share practical governance insights alongside business leaders.
- FFI (Family Firm Institute) brings together scholars, consultants, and advisers in certification programs that blend theory and practice.
- African Family Firms and FBN Asia run webinars that invite researchers to discuss regional family enterprise trends and sustainability.
- Family Business Australia and New Zealand offer platforms where researchers present findings in conversational formats, not just papers, but lived stories.
- Campden Family Connect (India) provides forums where family offices and scholars collaborate on thought leadership and educational content.
- EFB (European Family Businesses) is a federation of 15 national family business organisations (including European chapters of FBN), striving to highlight the contribution of family businesses to society and to promote policies that are conducive to long term responsible entrepreneurship.
Each of these examples shows that family business networks are not just audiences for research – they are co-creators of knowledge.
Making it work
To build meaningful partnerships with family business networks, researchers should:
- Show up consistently. Attend events not just as speakers but as participants.
- Share ideas simply. Clear, actionable communication builds trust faster than technical language.
- Co-create, don’t just present. Involve practitioners in framing questions, interpreting results, and spreading insights.
- Respect confidentiality. Family firms value discretion; protecting it strengthens collaboration.
- Focus on relationships, not just outcomes. Genuine curiosity and empathy go a long way.
Collaboration between researchers and family business networks is not about extracting data but about building bridges. These networks hold stories, wisdom, and lived experiences that can enrich academic inquiry. In return, researchers bring perspective, structure, and depth that help families make better decisions. When both sides work together, knowledge becomes something shared, not just published and forgotten. It lives, travels, and helps shape a world where family businesses continue to lead with purpose and impact, and we should be a positive influence on such leadership.
Links to the referred to family business networks
FBN International; FFI; AfricanFamilyFirms; FBNAsia; FBA; CampdenWealth; EFB
