Source : WAM
The Dubai Centre for Family Businesses, operating under Dubai Chambers, has partnered with the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development (MBRCLD) to deliver a training programme in Milan, Italy, for participants of the third Dubai Family Business Management Programme.
The initiative aims to strengthen second-tier management capabilities among family business leaders in Dubai, ensuring business continuity, effective succession planning, and enhanced governance across family-owned enterprises.
A total of 27 representatives from family businesses took part in the programme, which featured a world-class educational experience at the SDA Bocconi School of Management—one of the world’s leading academic institutions in business administration, economics, and law.
The programme also included field visits to several prominent Italian family businesses, enabling participants to observe global best practices firsthand. These visits facilitated direct interaction with business leaders and provided practical insights into strategies for achieving sustainable success internationally.
The curriculum addressed key strategic areas such as family business governance, wealth management and family offices, empowering the next generation of leaders, succession planning and ownership transition, sustainability and responsible investment, conflict resolution, and entrepreneurship within family enterprises.
Khalid AlJarwan, Executive Vice President of Commercial and Corporate Services at Dubai Chambers, said, “Family businesses are a cornerstone of the national economy and a driving force within Dubai’s business community. Strengthening the capabilities of the next generation of leaders is a strategic investment that helps ensure these businesses continue to thrive, while advancing best practices in governance and management to support national economic growth and future readiness.”
AlJarwan added, “This training programme reflects our commitment to empowering family businesses in Dubai and helping them compete globally. By equipping participants with the latest international insights and exposing them to leading global practices, we are supporting the development of agile business models that can adapt to shifting economic conditions worldwide, while also reinforcing Dubai’s position as the destination of choice for family businesses.”
Majid Al Shamsi, Director of MBRCLD, stated, “The Dubai Family Business Management Programme offers an advanced training platform designed to empower the next generation of family business leaders in Dubai, by equipping them with modern leadership insights and decision-making tools to further enhance their readiness to lead with efficiency, and ensure the sustainability of this vital economic sector.”
Al Shamsi added, “The training programme offers a comprehensive educational experience blending theory and practice. It leverages the world-class academic expertise in the SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan, alongside direct engagement with Italian family business leaders, allowing participants to learn about success stories and leading business models. This allows them to develop innovative solutions that contribute to the sustainable growth of their businesses.”
The programme was delivered by leading academics at SDA Bocconi School of Management, founded in 1971 and recognised among Europe’s top business schools, known for its prestigious MBA and other executive programmes. Participants attended both theoretical and applied sessions covering governance, organisational agility, leadership development, behavioural dimensions of institutional decision-making, corporate communication, and sustainability strategies.
As part of the experience, participants visited several major Italian family-owned companies, including Lavazza, one of the world’s largest coffee producers established in 1895; Mapei, a Milan-based global leader in building materials founded in 1937; and Brembo, a specialist in automotive and motorcycle braking systems established in 1961, with strong partnerships across Formula 1 and the global automotive sector. The group also toured Assolombarda, a prominent trade association representing more than 7,000 member companies.
The programme featured discussions with members of the Garrone family, owners of the ERG Group, focusing on the evolving role of younger generations in leading family enterprises.
These engagements enabled participants to explore international best practices while bridging academic theory with practical experience, highlighting the critical role of family businesses in driving economic development.
The Dubai Family Business Management Programme aims to strengthen leadership capabilities and promote governance excellence to ensure the long-term sustainability of family enterprises. It also examines ways in which family businesses can contribute further to the national economy through enhanced collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Overall, the programme is structured to address the evolving requirements of leadership transitions within family-owned businesses.
