Generational transition, access to capital and the protection of family wealth are increasingly shaping the future of Polish family-owned businesses. These issues were at the heart of this year’s Family Business Forum, held on 29 September 2026 at Mała Wieś Palace, which brought together business owners, successors and experts in finance, law and management.

The event opened with a keynote address by Dariusz Duma, President of the Board of the Family Business Network Poland Association. He stressed that the family character of a business is about much more than ownership. Relationships, mutual trust and the ability to distinguish family rules from the principles that should govern the company are equally important. The next generation should not automatically be expected to take over the business; rather, their role should be determined by their abilities, competencies and conscious choice.

This theme was further explored during the first panel, devoted to succession. Speakers emphasized that preparations for a generational transition should begin well before the formal handover of the company. A successor needs to establish their own position, gain experience and earn the trust of employees. The discussion also highlighted the need to professionalize management and remain open to managers from outside the family. The less dependent a company is on a single individual, the more resilient it becomes to change and the more attractive it may be to potential investors. Succession was therefore presented as part of a long-term strategy rather than a one-off event.

The next discussion focused on the capital required to support further growth. Participants compared the opportunities offered by bank financing, private debt and private equity. They emphasized that the choice of financing should reflect the company’s specific objectives, its current situation and the owners’ expectations. Private debt can offer greater flexibility than traditional bank lending, while a private equity investor becomes a co-owner and also takes an active role in shaping the company’s development. External financing is not only relevant to businesses facing difficulties; it can also support companies seeking to accelerate growth, enter new markets or undergo transformation.

The third panel addressed family wealth and its long-term protection. Experts stressed that concentrating an entire family’s wealth in a single business entails significant risk. They pointed to the importance of broadening the investment portfolio and maintaining consistent access to liquid assets. Family foundations also featured prominently in the discussion, as they can help organize succession and establish a framework for managing assets across generations. Their role, however, should not be limited to tax considerations – they should form part of a broader vision for the future of both the family and the business. As wealth grows, so does the need for comprehensive expert support capable of integrating financial strategy with legal considerations and the founders’ interests.

The Forum concluded with a practical workshop led by Dariusz Duma. He noted that companies often grow faster than their managers, meaning that leaders focused on day-to-day operations can neglect their own development and education. One way of addressing this challenge is through developmental agility – the ability to anticipate which competencies will be needed over the next several years, or even the next decade, rather than simply following current trends.

This year’s Forum demonstrated that a family business today needs more than an effective business model. Its longevity depends on the ability to prepare for change, make thoughtful use of external capital, and organize relationships, structures and assets in a way that enables future generations to develop the business on their own terms.

Organizator: Executive Klub