Ivan Lansberg

Ivan Lansberg serves as Adjunct Professor and Academic Director at the John L. Ward Center for Family Enterprises within the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Additionally, he is the co-founder and senior partner of Lansberg, Gersick & Associates LLC, a research and consulting firm specializing in family enterprise and family philanthropy based in New Haven, Connecticut.

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. in Social Psychology (1983) - Columbia University
• M.A. in Social Psychology (1983) - Columbia University
• B.A. in Sociology and Latin American Studies (1976) - Columbia University

Research Focus: Ivan's expertise centers on family enterprise governance, succession planning, and multigenerational business continuity. His work explores the complex dynamics of family businesses, examining how leadership transitions, ownership structures, and family relationships impact long-term business sustainability. He has conducted extensive research on family business education, governance architecture, and the cultural aspects of family enterprises across different global contexts.

Publication Trends: Ivan's scholarly output spans over three decades, with his most recent works focusing on educational interventions for family business owners, ownership transfer preparation, and the role of private banks in family business. His research demonstrates a progression from foundational work on family business life cycles to contemporary issues in family office evolution, women's leadership in Asian family enterprises, and governance challenges in Latin American family businesses.

Scientific Recognition:

• Richard Beckhard Award from the Family Firm Institute
• Neal Wehr Award from Connecticut Chamber of Commerce
• Annual Distinguished Award for Research in Family Business from The Chicago Family Business Counsel (1985)
• Junior Faculty Fellowship from Yale University (Spring 1987)

Advisory and Leadership Roles: Ivan serves on the boards of directors of multiple family companies and has been instrumental in establishing family business research and executive education programs globally. He was a founding member of the Family Firm Institute and served as the first editor of the Family Business Review, the premier professional journal in the field. His consulting experience spans family businesses across the United States, Asia, Canada, Europe, and Latin America.

Institutional Contributions: Beyond his academic roles, Ivan has helped establish family enterprise programs at prestigious institutions including the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland; the Montreal Institute for Family Enterprise; El Instituto de la Empresa Familiar in Barcelona, Spain; and universities in Santiago, Chile including Universidad de los Andes and Escuela Adolfo Ibañes.