Podcasts - Wendel International Centre for Family Enterprise

Episode 1 Trailer: Introducing INSEAD Family Business Podcast 

In this episode, we will share why INSEAD Wendel International Centre for Family Enterprise has embarked on this journey to create the new podcast series and the insights you can expect to glean from upcoming episodes focused on women in leadership within family enterprise. Tune in to find out more and subscribe to the podcast!

Episode 2: Leading the Legacy Forward: Balancing the Past, Present and Future

Sylvie Khau is the third generation of her family enterprise L’Excellence Diamond which was founded in Cambodia in 1950. The company has a rich history, legacy, and unique heritage, encompassing all aspects of a precious gemstone’s journey: from gem mining, wholesale, to jewellery crafting in the tradition of fine French artisanship. Tune in as Sylvie shares her inspiring story with podcast editor & host Martin Roll, and discusses how to navigate generational transitions, adapt to changing business dynamics and embrace innovation to stay relevant. 

Episode 3: Succeeding in a Family Business Coming from the Outside

Annette Brüls shares her inspiring story and discusses how to navigate the CEO leadership journey, manage board and business family relationships, and make strategic value-based choices in a dynamic industry to bring change and innovation. Annette has been a non-family CEO in a family business of Medela since 2018. Medela is a global medical device company from Switzerland founded in 1961 as a family company and now still family-owned with Michael Larsson, the founder’s son, as the chairman of the board. Annette Brüls also serves as a non-executive director on the board of Coloplast, a Danish medical device company.

Episode 4: Transition to Next-Gen: Rewriting the Rules of Succession

Marie and Valentine Barbier-Mueller are the third generation of their family enterprise Société Privée de Gérance which was founded in Geneva by their grandfather in 1960. Since 2023, Marie Barbier-Mueller and Valentine Barbier-Mueller have been co-leading the SPG Group based in Geneva embodying a family tradition while injecting a culture of innovation into the real estate realm. Tune in as they share their stories with podcast editor & host Martin Roll and episode guest host Alexandra Jequier from AvS Advisors on how to develop CEO leadership roles, manage board and business family relationships, work together as sisters, the role of female leaders, and how generation leaders can successfully prepare for their future journeys.

Episode 5: Next-Gen Carving a Path into Sustainability and Renewal in Family Business

Lara Botta is the third generation of the family enterprise Botta EcoPackaging which was founded in Italy by her grandmother in 1947. For 3 generations, Botta EcoPackaging has been a major player in the packaging industry. The company has a rich history and legacy and offers a wide range of corrugated cardboard and similar products. The third generation is now represented by Lara Botta and her brother based in Milan, Italy. In this episode, we invite Lara to share her experience in navigating generational transitions, build valuable networks, drive sustainability and innovation in family business, and the role of women in leadership. 

Episode 6: Navigating the Roles & Dynamics of a Multi-Family Business

Linda Wes shared about her journey in navigating generational transitions, working with private equity shareholders, balancing family dynamics & governance across family branches, and empowering women in leadership. Linda represents the 3rd generation of family firm Bons & Evers Group, which was founded by Linda's grandfather and 3 co-founders from another family in the Netherlands in 1949. For 3 generations, the company has been a player in the non-ferrous metals industry with a rich history and legacy. In 2019, the private equity firm, Bencis Capital Partners, acquired a stake in the company.

Episode 7: Innovation Journey From Biotech Start-up to Family Wine Business

Mélanie Boissier is the fourth generation of their family enterprise Les Vignobles Boissier which was founded in France by her great-grandfather in 1946. Having a rich history and legacy, the company has been a passionate and dedicated player in the French wine industry offering a wide range of products. The fourth generation is now represented by Mélanie Boissier and her brother. Tune in as Mélanie shares her inspiring story about how to navigate generational transitions, work with family members, drive sustainability and innovation in family business, influence a traditional industry, and the role of women in leadership.

Episode 8: Changing the Narrative of Women in Family Business for Multi-Generational Legacy

Priscilla de Moustier is part of the Wendel family, and CEO of the family holding Wendel-Participations with 1300 family shareholders, created in 1871. Founded in the Lorraine region in the east of France in 1704, the Wendel Group developed its business over more than 300 years including 270 years in iron and steel. Wendel later turned its focus to long-term investing, establishing itself as a pioneer in private equity. Since 1997, Priscilla de Moustier has also supervised Wendel’s involvement in the INSEAD Wendel International Centre for Family Enterprise. Priscilla shares her inspiring story on how to navigate generational transitions, manage family dynamics, structure governance across numerous stakeholders, motivate and involve the next generation, and the role of women in leadership.

Episode 9: Building a New Legacy: The Transition From Family Business to Family Office

Julien Firmenich (MBA'08) is an INSEAD alumnus who founded and currently serves as the CEO of Anaïs Ventures, a Switzerland-based investment company. Prior to Anaïs Ventures, Julien Firmenich worked for 15 years at Firmenich which was was founded by Julien’s Great-Grandfather as a start-up in a garage in Geneva in 1895. It grew to become a world leader in fragrances, flavours, and ingredients. Since May 2023, Firmenich has been part of DSM-Firmenich. Julien was invited to share his inspiring story and discuss how to navigate generational transitions, manage family dynamics and generational wealth, create a new CEO leadership journey, structure governance across numerous stakeholders, and make strategic value-based choices in a dynamic investment industry to bring change and innovation as a family office.

Episode 10: Stewardship of the entrepreneurial culture and legacy in a multi-generational family

Séverine Mulliez and Séverine Tapie-Mulliez are cousins and members of the Mulliez family, one of the largest French business families known for their entrepreneurial spirit and culture. The family controls the sportswear retail brand Decathlon, hypermarket chain Auchan and Leroy Merlin, a home improvement and gardening retail brand – to name just of few of the companies that you may have heard about. Tune in to the podcast interview with Séverine and Séverine as they discuss their experiences navigating generational transitions, family dynamics, fostering entrepreneurship, aligning governance structures and ownership roles, and effectively onboarding the next generation.

Episode 11: The Key to Thriving Family Business Across Generations

Timothy Cosulich is the sixth generation of the family enterprise Fratelli Cosulich Group, which was founded in Italy in 1857. For several generations, the company has been a major player in many industries and sectors. Today, the activities span more than 15 business units, 133 companies, and employ around 3000 people worldwide. 

Fratelli Cosulich Group has a fascinating history and heritage, and is one of Europe’s legacy family businesses. Timothy, an MBA alumnus of INSEAD, shares his inspiring story and discusses how to navigate generational transitions, manage family dynamics, create new leadership journeys, structure family governance, and make strategic, value-based choices in a dynamic global environment.