Episode 49: Kimberly Eddleston on Driving Innovation Across Generations and Families Navigating Legacy

On Episode 49 of the Family Business Audiocast, R. Adam Smith sits down with Dr. Kimberly Eddleston, Schulze Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship and Montoni Research Fellow at Northeastern University’s D’Amore‑McKim School of Business, as well as a Research Fellow with Cornell’s Smith Family Business Initiative. Named in Stanford University’s top 2% of scientists and one of Family Capital’s top 25 family enterprise academics, Kim has dedicated her career to understanding how family dynamics can spark—and sometimes stifle—innovation within family firms.

In this episode, Professor Eddleston reveals her most compelling research on turning family ties into a strategic advantage: crafting governance frameworks that evolve with each generation, embedding creative problem‑solving into everyday culture, and leveraging human capital to drive long‑term value. Drawing on examples from her own family’s ventures in real estate, construction, business services, and hospitality, she offers practical insights for next‑gen leaders and seasoned executives alike—showing how to harness family relationships not just as a resource, but as the very engine of entrepreneurial renewal.