Episode 45: Legacy, Control, and Socioemotional Wealth with Luis Gomez-Mejia & Ignacio Requejo

On this episode of the Family Business Audiocast, R. Adam Smith welcomes two of the world’s foremost experts in family enterprise research: Luis Gomez-Mejia and Ignacio Requejo. Together, they explore the often-misunderstood dynamics of family firm ownership, from the foundational role of socioemotional wealth to the ways family control affects decision-making, governance, and long-term resilience. Drawing from decades of globally recognized research, including empirical studies on succession, legacy, and control trade-offs, Luis and Ignacio offer a deeply informed conversation on why family firms behave differently and how those differences can be a source of strength. From olive oil cooperatives in Spain to publicly listed multigenerational giants, this conversation redefines what makes family enterprise sustainable in an increasingly complex world.