Fabian Bernhard

Fabian Bernhard is a Full Professor of Management and Psychology at EDHEC Business School, with campuses in Paris, Lille, Nice, and London. He holds dual PhDs in business studies and psychology, both earned summa cum laude, and serves as a research fellow for family business at the University of Mannheim and for psychology at the University of Frankfurt. His work uniquely bridges emotional dynamics in organizational contexts with family business succession challenges.

His academic credentials include:

• PhD in Business Studies (Dr. rer. pol, summa cum laude)
• PhD in Psychology (Dr. rer. nat, summa cum laude)

Prof. Bernhard's research focuses on emotional dynamics in businesses, preparation of next-generation family business leaders, and psychological attachment to family firms. Drawing from his upbringing in a multigenerational entrepreneurial family, he investigates how emotions like pride, guilt, and moral identity influence succession planning, gender equality initiatives, and organizational decision-making. His work frequently examines the tension between emotional authenticity and professional expectations in family enterprises.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary trend merging psychology, business ethics, and healthcare innovation. His research increasingly explores emotional drivers in digital transformation, sustainable technology adoption, and gender dynamics, often connecting micro-level psychological processes to macro-level organizational outcomes. This cross-pollination between family business studies and emotion research represents a distinctive scholarly signature.

Key professional recognitions include:

• Best Dissertation Honorable Mention from the Family Firm Institute at Harvard University

Prof. Bernhard actively shapes his field through editorial leadership on the Family Business Review and Journal of Family Business Strategy boards since 2014, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Family Firm Institute (FFI) in Boston. His pre-academic career in mergers and acquisitions at a New York financial advisory firm provides practical grounding for his theoretical work, particularly in understanding emotional dimensions of high-stakes business transitions.