Course review: Managing the Family Business
This semester, around 30 Master's students from the University of Mannheim – joined by participants from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) – had the opportunity to take part in a new, innovative course format: Managing the Family Business. The course addresses a topic of both major economic and societal relevance – the successful management of family businesses in Europe.
Key topics included strategy, governance, transformation, ownership structures, and succession in family firms. These were explored over four intensive lecture days and were further enriched by guest lectures from executives of leading German family businesses. Special thanks go to the dedicated speakers from Vorwerk Group, Haniel, JH Holding GmbH/
A true highlight was the hybrid course format: students worked in teams on real-world case studies provided directly by the participating family businesses. This hands-on approach allowed students to gain first-hand experience with the strategic challenges faced by family-led and family-controlled companies and to develop creative solutions.
The course not only represents a valuable addition to the University of Mannheim’s Master's curriculum but also serves as a successful example of didactic innovation within the European higher education landscape.
Special thanks go to Claudius Werry, Selina Hoffmann, and the entire team at ENGAGE.EU, whose support made this course possible. We are already looking forward to the next edition of this extraordinary course!
The course will also be offered again in the upcoming FSS 2026. Interested parties can find out more here: