On September 3rd, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Anne Klein of LuciaDeKlein brought together global experts to tackle the complexities of cross-border family wealth and succession planning. Dr. Stacy Feiner was a featured presenter. During her talk, Stacy emphasized that emotional intelligence is one of the most practical and effective forms of risk management, yet it is often left underdeveloped and not readily available to support succession planning.
Topic: Emotional Intelligence In Succession Planning
Stacy Feiner explained how command-and-control leadership—still present in 90% of businesses—can leave heirs unprepared, foster resentment, and undermine both relationships and business continuity. While emotional intelligence cannot be measured on a balance sheet, it is often the difference between a family pulling together or falling apart. By developing emotional and relational practices, family businesses can adopt a “Me/We” approach, fostering individual growth (‘Me’) while strengthening collective cohesion (‘We’), ultimately promoting engagement, resilience, and sustainable multi-generational leadership.