Family Enterprise Day - The Hénokiens Legacy: Human Value at the Core of Success and Longevity in Family Firms

Human values serve as a fundamental guiding principle for family enterprises, shaping their governance, business practices and strategic decision-making. These values define the identity of the business and foster a sense of purpose across the organisation in an environment where trust and integrity are paramount.

The integration of human values in the DNA of family enterprises is vital to fostering unity, aligning intergenerational goals, resolving conflicts and promoting harmonious relationships that contribute to lasting success and longevity. When woven into the tapestry of the family company's strategy, human values create a unique organisational culture that distinguishes family enterprises from their corporate counterparts. The members of the Hénokiens Association, representing over 50 family enterprises and bicentenary firms, exemplify the commitment to upholding these values. Their success showcases the preservation and transmission of treasured values across generations for long-term success.

How do these enduring family enterprises maintain their resilience and adaptability, while underpinning human values at the core?

What is the role of Next-Gen in upholding these values in an ever-changing and disrupted business landscape?

To glean insights on the role of human values in shaping the course of family enterprises across different generations of family enterprises, the INSEAD Wendel International Centre for Family Enterprise in collaboration with the  Hénokiens Association, is jointly hosting the Family Enterprise Day focused on the theme "The Hénokiens Legacy: Human Value at the Core of Success and Longevity in Family Firms”.

Join us on INSEAD Europe Campus on Saturday, 7 June 2025, as we feature the transformation journey of the Henokiens families. Organised exclusively for members of Henokiens Association and INSEAD students, MBA, MIM and Executives in Degree Programme who are engaged in Family Enterprises, as well as INSEAD Family Business Elective and Club. Limited seats are open for other MBA students who are interested in this topic.

Agenda starts with pre-event networking cocktail & dinner on Friday evening, 6 June 2025 from 7:30pm CEST followed by Saturday, 7 June 2025 from 8.15am to 2:30pm CEST concluding with a networking and interactive lunch for all registered attendees.

Don’t miss this opportunity, join us as we bring together:

• Academic expert and family business member to share insights on the journey of Fratelli Piacenza S.P.A., an Italian fabric company with more than 270 years heritage;
• Case study on Pinto Basto Group, a Portuguese firm with more than 250 years of history established in the maritime industry;
• Panel discussion with distinguished family enterprise member(s) and MBA students to discuss the practical ways of embracing human values in family firms;
• Workshop and group discussions to stimulate exchange of ideas and debates.

To facilitate logistical planning, seats will be allocated on first come, first served basis, please register early to secure your seat for the event.

Do note that Chatham house rule will be applied to ensure an atmosphere of trust and confidentiality. 

For any additional information, feel free to contact us directly at [email protected].

We are thankful to the Hénokiens Association for co-organising and sponsoring this event. 

The agenda is tentative and subject to changes. Be sure to check it regularly for updates.
Please note that the timings reflected below are based on CEST.

We are in the process of updating the speakers list. Do visit this page to get the latest updates on speakers.

This event is made possible thanks to the families that financially supported our Centre. As part of an independent, non-profit school, we rely on philanthropic contributions from family businesses, friends and alumni to continue generating and sharing high quality research and insights on family business.

While we are not charging a fixed fee, we will be collecting nominal contribution from attendees. Please feel free to indicate the amount that you wish to contribute during the registration process.

Getting to INSEAD

INSEAD Europe campus is just 65km south of Paris. The Fontainebleau/Avon train station is located 3km from INSEAD. You may refer to the campus map here.

Taxi reservations

Should you wish to make a taxi booking, please contact the ResaTaxiPro transfer company using their website (Tel: +33 6 78 78 17 81). Please note that facemasks are mandatory in the vehicle.

Dress code

The dress code is business casual for on-campus events.

Photos and videos

Please take note that photos will be taken during the event and may be used for marketing and social media purposes.

There are several hotel options within the vicinity of the INSEAD Fontainebleau campus.

If you need accommodation, you can may like to refer to the hotel options listed here to secure your accommodation ahead of time.

Participants are encouraged to access the pre-read material before you come for the Family Enterprise Day.

• Case Study on Pinto Basto written by Nuno Moreira da Cruz, Dean of Executive Education at Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics and co-author, Natália Cantarino