FEX Family Webinar Session 4: Managing Conflict in Family Business

Among the most important challenges that family business stakeholders will face is managing the unique conflict that impacts family enterprise.

Join us for this webinar, in which Blair Trippe will discuss how to approach both active conflict—when families fight—and passive conflict—when families get stuck, unable to make important decisions in a timely manner.  Participants will leave understanding why conflicts in families that own and manage companies and/or share assets are so common, and why failing to understand and manage conflict poses such a great threat to both the enterprise and the family. We will consider:

• Why is conflict built into the structure of family enterprise?
• Why is it so extreme and intractable?
• What are the key components of conflict and how might they be addressed?
• What steps can you take to reduce the potential for family business conflict and minimize its impact on the family and the business?

Webinar Presenter:

Blair Trippe, MBA

Managing Partner

Blair is Managing Partner of Continuity Family Business Consulting where she works with families who own and manage operating companies and share assets together on issues related to succession planning, governance development and conflict management. Her expertise as a negotiator, mediator, and family business consultant is grounded in the study of strategic management and conflict resolution methodologies. She brings a highly specialized approach to the understanding of family systems and the relationship challenges encountered when families work and own together.

Blair’s leadership in the mediation field helped create a new specialty through the development of “Elder Decisions” – a division of Agreement Resources LLC, a consulting firm she co-founded.

In addition to her consulting work, Blair is a nationally recognized speaker and has presented at the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate, Cornell University, the EPA, NACD, the Family Firm Institute, American Bar Association, Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises, and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), among others.

Blair is the co-author of Deconstructing Conflict: Understanding Family Business, Shared Wealth and Power. She also co-authored the book, Mom Always Liked You Best – A Guide to Resolving Family Feuds, Inheritance Battles and Eldercare Crises. The practical guidebook helps family members become better decision-makers, mindful negotiators, and more effective communicators. In addition, Blair has authored articles for the ACResolution Magazine, Family Business Magazine and The Negotiation Journal from Harvard Law School.

Blair earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, a BA in psychology from Connecticut College and certificates from the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. She is a Fellow the Family Firm Institute, on the Board of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and a former trustee of the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. 

To learn more about Blair Trippe please visit the Continuity Family Business Consulting here.

If you would like to learn more about the Continuity Family Business Consulting please visit their website here.

Please Note: This event is open to the family business community – FEX Members and Non-Members are welcome to attend at no additional cost. FEX Members will also have access to the webinar recording and presentation slides. 

Please note: FEAs who attend this session will earn 1 continuing education credit toward their annual FEA designation requirement. FEAs must be signed in to their FEX account when registering in order for the credit to be automatically awarded.

Cancellation Policy:

Please note, event seats are non-refundable. If you are no longer able to attend this event, you may transfer your purchased seat to a member. Please contact FEX  with the name of the guest you have chosen to attend the event on your behalf.