Abstract

A significant percentage of college students majoring in business come from families that own and operate businesses. As a group, these students face greater risks, opportunities, and challenges. For many, their most significant career decision is if, when, how, and why they should be involved with the family business. Unfortunately, few universities do anything to help this group as a distinct cohort, and yet the institutions that do are more likely to focus on academic study versus practical application. The purpose of this article is to both outline the challenges these students face and suggest strategic advantages for universities willing to better serve this stakeholder group.