VdA and Católica-Lisbon SBE have launched Family Business Matters, a new videocast series that gives voice to the stories, challenges and opportunities of Portuguese family businesses, exploring the issues that shape their growth, governance and continuity across generations.
Produced in partnership with Rádio Observador and Observador Lab, the project brings together a range of family-owned businesses, encouraging reflection on the factors that contribute to their longevity and ability to adapt in an ever-changing economic environment.
In the inaugural episode, dedicated to “Family Businesses: How Do You Build a Business That Lasts?”, Miguel Ventura is joined by Liliana Dinis, researcher at Católica-Lisbon SBE and Executive Director of the Family Business Platform, for a discussion on the characteristics that distinguish this business model and the challenges associated with its long-term sustainability.
Throughout the conversation, Miguel Ventura highlights the inherent complexity of family businesses, where ownership, management and family dynamics coexist and often intersect. In this context, he underlines that “in the lifecycle of a family business, the succession phase is clearly the most critical stage”, warning of the impact that leadership decisions can have on both the future of the business and the family itself.
Preparation emerges as one of the central messages of the episode. As Miguel Ventura notes, “preparation may not solve everything, but it significantly improves the odds”, advocating the importance of anticipating processes, managing expectations and putting in place mechanisms that support smoother intergenerational transitions.
The episode also explores topics such as professionalisation of management, succession planning, family business governance and the role of legacy in preserving and developing long-term business projects.
Family Business Matters will feature new episodes every fortnight and reinforces VdA’s commitment to promoting knowledge-sharing and informed debate on issues that have a significant impact on the Portuguese business landscape.
