Highlights from the 4th BFFI-ECGI Family Business Conference

The 3rd BFFI - ECGI Conference "Empowering Family Enterprise: Professionalisation and Community Impact" was held at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Latvia on June 9-10, 2025. The event featured 50+ expert speakers and gathered more than 150 participants from 20 countries. 

Bringing together leading academics, advisors, and multi-generational family business leaders from across Europe, the event explored how family firms can balance tradition with innovation in times of rapid change. Sessions delved into topics such as attracting and developing next-generation talent, accessing external capital without compromising family identity, managing complexity in family business groups, and addressing the emotional dimensions of governance and succession. Case-based workshops and panel discussions created a space for open dialogue and peer learning — setting a new benchmark for meaningful exchange within the Baltic family business community. 

We are deeply grateful to our hosts (Stockholm School of Economics in Riga), speakers, participants, BFFI members, ECGI, our general sponsor SEB, and corporate partners Sorainen and ViaClarus for making this inspiring gathering possible. 

The 2nd BFFI - ECGI conference on “The Role of Family Firms in Long-Term Sustainability” offered an insightful look into how family-owned businesses can lead the way in sustainable practices. Held at ISM University of Management and Economics in Vilnius, Lithuania on June 12-13, 2024, this event brought together a diverse group of experts and practitioners to discuss the critical challenges and opportunities faced by family businesses and family offices. 

The event gathered more than 130 attendees from 15 countries: Estonia (22), Latvia (31), Lithuania (57), Belgium (2), Canada (1), Denmark (2), France (1), Germany (3), Italy (1), Netherlands (1), Norway (2), Portugal (1), Spain (2), UK (2), and USA (4).

The conference achieved an impressive blend of family businesses, academics, and advisors, with family business and family office representatives comprising the largest group (70), followed by academics (31), and advisors (31). The event featured enriching presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities, addressing key themes such as family governance, succession planning, environmental performance, and the strategic importance of family offices for intergenerational success.

This conference benefited from the generous contributions of time and resources from a global team passionate about supporting family enterprises in the Baltic region. We are grateful to the conference hosts (ISM University of Management and Economics), speakers, participants, BFFI members, ECGI, and the event sponsors—Baltic-American Freedom Foundation, Signet Bank, Sorainen, and ViaClarus. 

This program was made possible by funding from the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation (BAFF). For more information about BAFF scholarships and speaker support, visit https://www.balticamericanfreedomfoundation.org/     

The 1st Baltic region's premier family business conference took place on June 30 and July 1 in Tartu, Estonia. Over the course of two dynamic days, attendees were immersed in a wealth of enriching presentations, interactive workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. The event brought together a diverse group of 70 participants from 12 countries: Estonia (18), Latvia (19), Lithuania (15), Belgium (1), Denmark (1), Germany (2), Italy (2), Netherlands (1), Norway (3), Singapore (1), USA (5), and the UK (2).

The  conference brought together a remarkable mix  of family businesses, academics, and advisors, with family business representatives comprising the largest group (26), followed by academics (22), advisors (12), family office representatives (5), and other participants from organizations and government sectors (5).

The BFFI - ECGI Conference "Resilience of Family Businesses During Turbulent Times" covered a wide range of topics that emphasized the significance of value creation, professional governance, and strategic planning for transitions. During the conference, several experts shared their insights on various aspects of family business management.

  *****  Insights and Reflections from Conference Participants *****

“It was an extremely well invested two days into our growth as a family business.” -- Natalija Kurganovė ♡, Biržų duona (Lithuania)

“Baltic Family Firm Institute conference was exceptionally well-organized, featuring a thoughtfully designed agenda, influential speakers, and networking opportunities with high profile professionals.” – Maija Treija-Kovaca, GEMOSS (Latvia)

“Event in Tartu was diverse, professionally organized and brought light into deeper waters of what it means to be a family entrepreneur,” Mihkel Tammo, TIFC Family Office (Estonia)

“It was the best family business conference I have ever attended." -- Karolis Montvila, UAB Domeina (Lithuania)

"The conference surprised me - there were really high-level presentations and excellent speakers. It was interesting and I learned a lot of new things that made me think about the future and future of company management." -- Vytautas Jokuzis, PhD, ELINTA (Lithuania)

                                                                   ***

This conference benefited from the generous contributions of time and resources from a global team passionate about supporting family enterprises in the Baltic region. We are grateful to the conference hosts (Tartu University), speakers, participants, BFFI members, ECGI, and the event sponsors—Signet Bank, Sorainen, and ViaClarus.