Events
Featured Events
Women in Family Business: Navigating Complexity and Opportunity
On November 3, 2025, Family Enterprise Canada (FEC) hosted a packed event with the Family Business Institute and the Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University bringing together Ted Rogers School students, alumni and FEC members.
From left: Frank Miller (Director, Executive Education - Ted Rogers School), Mary Thomson (National Director - FEC), Steve Beauschene (CEO - FEC), Francesco Barbera (Academic Director - Family Business Institute), Christina Sorbara (VP - Sorbara Group), Erica Herbert (CEO - Ode Hotel), Liz McBeth (CEO - Armour Valve), Wendy Cukier (Academic Director - Diversity Institute), Janie Goldstein (Advisor, Family Business - Ted Rogers School).
Guest Panel Speakers
Professor Wendy Cukier, the Academic Director of TMU’s of Diversity Institute led a panel discussion with Erica Herbert (founder of Ode Hotel), Liz McBeth (CEO of Armour Valve) and Christina Sorbara ( VP Sorbara Group of Companies, winner of a 2024 Transformational Woman in Family Business Award). The importance of education was stressed by each panelist. Conflict was cited as a positive and so was the importance of choosing your own career path. It was noted that what is demanded of leaders now is very different than in prior generations since emotional intelligence is more of a necessity, so even men need to lead differently. Division of roles in family businesses was also explored. There was agreement that women leaders have a platform and need to help improve female representation in senior roles.
The Family Business Institute’s Academic Director, Dr. Francesco Barbera, started off the event with a presentation on gender issues in family businesses.
Steve Beauschene, the CEO of Family Enterprise Canada (FEC), welcomed attendees. The lecture and panel were livestreamed for FEC members, alumni and guests who were unable to attend in person.
Networking
All attendees were treated to a catered networking event hosted by FEC which was a vibrant and engaging alumni-industry-student mixer between the different groups.
This is another example of innovative pedagogy including real world experiences for TRSM students by providing networking events with family business leaders and TRSM alumni. Unique opportunities created by the Family Business Institute.
Thank you to Family Enterprise Canada, the panelists and speakers, and all guests for making this a memorable and productive event!
Family Business Institute and Family Enterprise Canada: 2025 Enterprising Family Series Event
On March 20, 2025, the Family Business Institute partnered with Family Enterprise Canada (FEC) to host a packed event at the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM). The event was scheduled during the class time of the introductory family business course at TRSM. TRSM alumni and FEC members joined the students at the event.
Francesco Barbera's Lecture
Francesco Barbera, our Academic Director, kicked off the event with a presentation on the evolution of family enterprise geared to his students as well as the family business advisors, business family members and alumni attendees.
Steve Beauschene, the CEO of Family Enterprise Canada, welcomed attendees. The lecture and panel was livestreamed for the FEC members who were unable to attend in person.
From left: Dr. Salvatore Tomaselli (University of Palermo, Sicily), Dr. Francesco Barbera (Academic Director Family Business Institute), Christina Sorbara (VP Sorbara Group), Janie Goldstein (Special Advisor, Family Business, Ted Rogers School), Steve Beauschene (CEO Family Enterprise Canada), Mary Thomson (Family Enterprise Canada)
Kieran Young, of Hazelview Investments, led a panel discussion with Christina Sorbara, VP at Sorbara Group / recipient of a 2024 Transformational Woman in Family Business Award, and Dr. Salvatore Tomaselli a family business expert visiting from Sicily’s University of Palermo.
Students, FEC members and TRSM Alumni were all invited and treated to a lunch hosted by FEC.
The networking session of the event offered students an opportunity to mingle with experienced industry professionals. Alumni met with students, family advisors and business family members. Post-survey feedback indicated the networking portion of the event created valuable contacts for many attendees.
This is another example of a unique opportunity created by the Family Business Institute to create real-world experiences for family business students , engage with the local community with innovative programming and provide learning and networking experiences for TRSM alumni.
Thank you to Family Enterprise Canada, as well as their members, our alumni and our students for making this a memorable and productive event!
Bollywed / Singh Family Panel Discussion: Fall 2023
From left to right: Chandan Singh, Frank Barbera, Roop Singh, Kuki Singh, Chandni Singh, Sarab Singh and Janie Goldstein
On October 23, 2023, the Family Business Institute welcomed the cast of CBC TV’s family business reality show, Bollywed, to a highly successful inaugural event. The owners of Chandan Fashion, the Singh family, joined Dr. Francesco Barbera for a candid panel discussion about their business and the lessons learned from two generations. Before the panel discussion, Dr. Barbera led an informative lecture on adaptation and innovation in the family business, and a video featuring the Singh family was produced to share in future family business classes.
150 attendees
45 minute lecture
Panel discussion
Post-event video
Plaque with the Singh Family
A plaque with a photo of the Singh family and members of the institute was produced and presented to the family and now adorns their family store, Chandan Fashion.
Watch: Family Business Institute welcomes "Bollywed" Family
Family Business Institute and Family Enterprise Canada: Kinnect Toronto Families September 2025
We were delighted to take part in a recent Family Enterprise Canada event, generously hosted on September 18 2025 at the Crooked Cue in Mississauga. Our Academic Director of the Family Business Institute, Dr. Francesco Barbera, shared his insights on family business succession with a group of engaged participants. The intimate setting created space for meaningful conversation, thoughtful questions, and valuable connections.
A special thank you to Family Enterprise Canada for organizing this gathering, and to Liz McBeth for chairing the event. We’re grateful to the Crooked Cue for providing the venue, and to all who joined us for making it such a successful and enjoyable evening.
Dr. Barbera speaking with the attendees.
Dr. Barbera (mid-photo) with attendees at Crooked Cue.
TEA Student Family Business Event 2024
Kudos to the student club organizers –
Pictured above: Janie Goldstein (FBI), TEA representatives, Amanda Tattoli (STEP Canada), Alex Albarelli, Amanda Edwards, Francesco Barbera (FBI)
Two student clubs - Toronto Entrepreneurship Association (TEA) and TEDxMetU - collaborated on a case competition event focused on family business.
The first day of the event featured Dr. Francesco Barbera, the FBI’s Academic Director, providing an overview of selected family business concepts and an introduction to fundamental case competition strategies. The day also featured a motivational speaker.
The second day of the event had each team present their analysis on family business case written by the FBI just prior to this event. Given the students were brand new to case competitions, the judges were very impressed with the teams’ outputs – and found it incredible that these first and second year students had never participated in case competitions before. Definitely building a core skill!
The attendees were surveyed and while most of them were not involved in a family business, 83% stated they want to learn more about family business!
Special thanks to the case competition judges:
- Dr. Francesco Barbera, Academic Director, Family Business Institute
- Amanda Edwards, TRSM alumna, past winner of the global family business case competition (2023)
- Alex Albarelli – KPMG Private Enterprise
- Suha Suleman Lalani – Microsoft AI Specialist, TMU Alumna
Congratulations to the winning team – and all teams who used their limited spare time to learn, analyze the case and present.
Case Competition Overview
A team of undergraduate students represented Ted Rogers School in Vermont, USA in 2023 and 2024 at the Schlesinger Global Family Enterprise Case Competition and earned a podium spot both years. Students received a rewarding once-in-a-lifetime learning experience where they met students and executives from approximately 12 countries spanning 4 continents.