Externally-Managed Family Enterprises

From family vision to professional precision. Securing legacies for decades to come. Welcome to RRA Generation.

 

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49%

of family enterprise leaders globally think their organization has an excellent culture.

43%

of family enterprise leaders globally say their organization is ahead of competitors on innovation.

54%

of family enterprise leaders globally think their organization maintains operational excellence.


Source: Global Leadership Monitor H1 2024, RRA

 

Managing a family enterprise as an external executive team requires unique skill. You're entrusted not just with business performance, but with a family's legacy.

Success means delivering results while honoring values, and growing professionally while preserving what made the business successful in the first place. It’s about building trust, aligning priorities, and driving sustainable growth.

That’s where RRA Generation comes in.

 

Our externally-managed family enterprise services

Every externally-managed family enterprise faces pivotal tensions in their journey, guided by common threads of legacy, innovation, and the desire to build something that lasts.

Navigating these challenges demands a leadership strategy that recognizes the intricate web of relationships, values, and aspirations that make your business unique. That’s RRA Generation.

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The tension
How to secure harmony between a family’s legacy while driving necessary change.
Our approach
Leading succession in externally-run family enterprises requires exceptional sensitivity to both legacy family dynamics and business needs. We ensure clear communication between family stakeholders and management throughout the process. This builds trust and alignment, creating succession strategies that serve both family and business objectives while maintaining operational excellence.
The tension
How to preserve the family legacy while attracting fresh perspectives.
Our approach
Developing talent in an externally-run family enterprise means finding people who can deliver results while respecting family values. We help you create recruitment and development programs that blend professional excellence with cultural sensitivity. We help you identify and nurture individuals who can thrive in the unique environment where family ownership meets professional management.
The tension
How to protect the family values while evolving organizational culture.
Our approach
Balancing family values with professional corporate culture requires special skill. We help you create an environment that maintains the warmth and purpose of family ownership while fostering high performance. We work with you to identify ways to embed family values within professional practices, creating a distinctive culture that drives results. This unique blend becomes a powerful competitive advantage, distinguishing your organization in the marketplace.
The tension
How to embrace innovation while maintaining what made the business successful.
Our approach
Driving change in externally-run family enterprises requires careful attention to both business imperatives and family priorities. We help you design transformation initiatives that modernize operations while protecting core values, ensuring that change programs strengthen rather than dilute the family enterprise advantage. This balanced perspective creates transformations that move the business forward while honoring its heritage.
The tension
How to develop future-focused individual while honoring family values

Our approach
Externally-managed family enterprises face a unique challenge: how to develop leaders who are both performance-driven executives and thoughtful stewards of family legacy.
Through rigorous assessment of leadership potential and clear development pathways, we help elevate future leaders who will lead the enterprise effectively while maintaining the special character that set the business apart in the first place. This isn't about choosing between professional excellence and family values—it's about developing leaders who can masterfully serve both.
The tension
How to establish governance that provides both control and flexibility.
Our approach
Effective governance in externally-run family enterprises must bridge family ownership and professional management needs. We help you create board and governance structures that serve both constituencies effectively, establishing clear protocols for communication and decision-making. The goal? Alignment between family aspirations and business execution.

     
 

Empowering family enterprises to innovate, adapt and thrive across generations

Family enterprises are more than businesses—they're legacies in motion. Explore our insights on navigating the six key arears that define family enterprise success, from succession planning and leadership development, to transformation and culture.

Discover family enterprise insights

 
     

 

A partnership built on understanding

Your business isn't just another enterprise—it’s a legacy in the making. That's why we developed RRA Generation. 

Let's have a conversation about where you want to take your business next. Whether you're navigating today’s challenges or planning for tomorrow’s successes, we are here.

Chances are when you meet with us, you’ll do most of the talking and we’ll do most of the listening. Together, we’ll figure out the right leadership solutions for your business. Don’t expect PowerPoints and flow charts. Do expect our full attention and commitment to understanding you. Only then can we begin to help.

 

Thinking in generations with family enterprises

Hear Justus O’Brien, global leader of our leadership advisory practice for family enterprises, on our approach working with family enterprises.

 

Your team of family enterprise advisors

 

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Lead by Justus O’Brien, our global family enterprise advisory practice brings decades of experience working with family enterprises globally, whatever stage of their journey. We recognize that family enterprises represent something extraordinary—where legacy meets innovation, family meets business, and shared values create powerful business advantages. Our commitment extends beyond traditional consulting—we build enduring relationships to become trusted partners in family enterprises for generations to come.


Connect with Our Team

CONNECT WITH OUR FAMILY ENTERPRISE TEAM

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