About the Institute
The Family Business Institute, officially launched at Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM) in 2023, is a platform for family business expertise and collaboration at the Ted Rogers School and across Toronto Metropolitan University. It is a hub for research, education and engagement partnerships with TMU students, alumni, faculty, as well as the international global community of family business academics, service providers and business families.
Family businesses are the most prominent form of business worldwide. In Canada, family businesses generate almost half of the private sector real GDP and account for over 63 per cent of all private sector companies and nearly 47 per cent of private sector employment. (Source: The Economic Impact of Family-Owned Enterprises in Canada. The Conference Board of Canada, September 10, 2019.)
Given the complex interface between family and business that often prevails in these firms, family businesses face unique challenges around issues such as succession, governance and leadership development. On the other hand, due to their propensity toward a collective culture, pursuit of non-economic goals, and an emphasis on the long-run, family businesses also encounter unique opportunities that provide competitive advantages relative to their non-family counterparts. The field of family business as a distinct academic discipline only emerged in the past few decades. Although research has yielded significant, important questions remain unanswered.
The Family Business Institute welcomed the cast of Bollywed at its inaugural event
A packed crowd attended the campus event on October 23, 2023 with the Singh family - owners of Chandan Fashion and stars of the CBC TV family business reality show Bollywed. The discussion was moderated by Francesco Barbera who also gave a lecture on Adaptation and Innovation in Family Enterprise. Students and external VIP guests were treated to a lively and insightful conversation about lessons in family business from two generations of the family.
49%
of Canadian private sector GDP comes from family businesses (The Conference Board of Canada (opens in new window) )
47%
of Canadian private sector employment is attributable to family businesses (The Conference Board of Canada (opens in new window) )
70%
of family businesses have an ESG strategy
66%
of ‘next gen’ leaders prompt companies to grow their ESG commitment
The Family Business Institute is an ideal opportunity for PhD candidates and visiting scholars
PhD candidates pursuing opportunities at TMU who are interested in family business should review the information found on the PhD Management page and contact Dr. Francesco Barbera.
Those who are already enrolled in a PhD program elsewhere are encouraged to inquire about our visiting PhD program.
We are also actively encouraging visiting scholars for visits up to three months.