HEC Students Engage Around Family Business

Strong interest confirmed by the student survey 

At the beginning of the academic year in September, the Center launched a survey to better understand students’ profiles and expectations regarding family business. 

The results far exceeded expectations: 

• more than 300 students expressed an interest in topics related to family enterprises;
• among them, over 120 identified themselves as belonging to a family business;
• respondents represented a wide diversity of nationalities, backgrounds, and sectors. 

These figures illustrate both the vitality and diversity of the HEC community around this theme, as well as a real need for dialogue, understanding, and dedicated support. 

Topics at the heart of the discussions 

During the evening, several key themes emerged as priorities for this new generation of students: 

• Preparing for succession and intergenerational transition;
• Governance and the establishment of family charters or councils;
• The need for mentorship;
• The desire to learn from both successes and failures;
• Repreneurship and the creation of new ventures with a family dimension.

As one participant put it: “We want to hear real stories — not only about success, but also about what went wrong.” 

These discussions reflect the Center’s mission: to understand, teach, and act in order to support family enterprises as models of sustainability and human-centered economies. 

Towards the creation of a cross-program student club 

HEC Paris already hosts a Family Business Club within the MBA program, which regularly organizes meetings and visits with family-owned companies. Building on this momentum, several students expressed the wish to create a cross-program club, open to all HEC students, to share initiatives and strengthen collaboration across programs. 

The Family Business Center will support this initiative by facilitating connections, sharing resources, and helping to organize activities such as: 

• Meetings with family business leaders,
• Thematic workshops on governance or succession,
• Joint projects with other HEC clubs (Entrepreneurs, Finance, Luxury, etc.),
• Cross-program experience-sharing sessions. 

This first gathering marks the beginning of a broader movement at HEC Paris, where future leaders, successors, and advisors of family enterprises can learn from one another and draw inspiration from academic research. 

By connecting students, faculty, and practitioners, the HEC Paris Family Business Center continues to build an engaged community dedicated to understanding and transmitting the unique dynamics of family businesses — a cornerstone of sustainable prosperity.

Learn more about the HEC Paris Family Business Center