How Differentiation of Self and Invisible Loyalties Can Shape Succession

Holding two certifications in Family Advising from the Family Firm Institute (FFI) in the US, last year I co-authored an article with Guillermo Salazar and Ritu Julka, other Family Business Advisors.

The article was well received across the family enterprise community and was later recognized as one of the Top 5 most popular articles in the FFI Practitioner in Q3 2025.

We are revisiting it now because the questions at its core continue to show up in our work every day. In the article, we share how unspoken loyalties and hidden expectations can weigh heavily on the next generation. Conversely, clarity, open dialogue, and the courage to define one’s own path can transform what seems like a limitation into a source of strength.

As the article illustrates through the case of a founder and his son, the weight of family expectations is not always explicit, but it is felt.

For families, leaders, and advisors navigating transition today, these dynamics are not theoretical. They are often the difference between continuity that feels forced and succession that is truly sustainable.

You can read the full piece by clicking here.

Here to help, Maria