William Goodspeed

Letter from the US: Family businesses investing in the long term

August 8, 2017

The root of family-owned advantage comes from many sources, such as a mutual loyalty with employees and a mission that matters. But a big factor is independence from equity markets and therefore intense earnings scrutiny. This allows management for the long term.

Letter from the US: How does family succession square with a meritocracy?

October 26, 2016

Why appoint family members as directors when the pool of excellent, qualified, independent executives numbers in the thousands?

Why appoint family members as directors when the pool of excellent, qualified, independent executives numbers in the thousands?

The Fourth of July is a US national carnival unlike any other – celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Letter from the US: US grocer Wegmans and the secret sauce of family firms

June 10, 2016

Employee engagement may be dismissed by some as paternalistic and weak, but it is the major weapon in a family business that public or private equity-backed firms struggle to replicate

Employee engagement may be dismissed by some as paternalistic and weak, but it is the major weapon in a family business that public or private equity-backed firms struggle to replicate