Leading Forward
A Leadership Program for Michigan Family Businesses
This leadership program will create individual development and relationship-building opportunities for now-generation family business leaders who intend to preserve the family business and want to develop the tools to increase their capacities to influence and lead within their families, organizations, and communities.
Participants will benefit from observing live case studies of successful family businesses, engaging in interactive facilitated sessions, and hearing from other local business leaders who will share their visions and personal beliefs about leadership.

Program Details
This program offers a small, limited class size and an application for consideration must be completed.
Session 1: Harness Your Leadership Style
- Explore the five practices of Values Based Leadership – Build Awareness, Realize Potential, Develop Relationships, Take Action, and Practice
- Identify the core values and beliefs that influence behaviors, decisions, relationships, and ultimately effectiveness
- Leadership Assessment with Insights ® Discovery
- Learn communication preferences and how to connect and inspire others
Session 2: Building Your Leadership Team
- Learn how to approach team development
- Equip leaders with the skills to assemble, structure, and ultimately manage teams to their highest potential
- Explore and analyze family business continuity challenges and best practices for successfully leading family-owned businesses
Session 3: Developing an Effective Board
- Explore how to develop a Board that is prepared to effectively help facilitate transitions, clarify issues, assure proper management planning, foster sharing of information, and provide stability and continuity during times of change
- Identify short and long-term areas for improvement
- Understand how to support and structure to ensure the Board’s expertise, experience, and compensation is aligned with their strategy and goals
Session 4: Igniting Innovation
- Learn how to reignite the spirit of innovation upon which the family business was initially founded
- Explore the idea that adaptability is key to innovation
- Learn how to respond flexibly and creatively to constantly changing, and oftentimes unpredictable, environments by cultivating a family enterprise mindset
- Assess the family enterprise’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, as well as synthesize market trends and customer data to develop a plan that will deliver value for all stakeholders
Session 5: Implementing Values and Culture
- Explore your role in leading and enabling the family and family business’s culture in alignment with strategy to achieve desired outcomes
- Build an engagement roadmap for the future using the Five Practices of Values-Based Families
- Present personal leadership visions
Key Features
- Five Half-Day Sessions designed and tailored exclusively for family business leaders
- Confidential and Small Group Setting
- Observe live case study scenarios of successful family businesses
- Monthly One-to-One Individual Coaching Sessions in addition to group facilitation
- Experiential and interactive learning opportunity
- Facilitated by subject matter experts and guest speakers
Program Investment
Current FBA Member Price
$4,200
Non-Member Price
$5,000
Includes One Year Introductory Membership*