Family businesses are the backbone of the Dutch economy. Yet the dynamics within the group of owners often receive too little attention. Professor Dr. Marta Berent-Braun is determined to change that. On June 13, she delivered her inaugural address as Van Lanschot Kempen Professor of Family Businesses and Ownership Dynamics at Nyenrode Business University.
Berent-Braun has dedicated her academic career to studying family firms, with a special focus on ownership: who owns the business, how do those owners collaborate, and what does that mean for the company’s success? At the heart of her research is what she calls ownership dynamics—the relationships, behaviors, and perceptions of family owners.
“We often see ownership as a structure,” she explains, “but it’s also a social group. The way owners interact with each other has a major impact on the success of the business.” She emphasizes that family owners can take on very different roles—from passive shareholder to active executive or engaged steward.
More owners, more complexity
Recent figures show that 77% of Dutch family businesses have multiple owners. These businesses account for 86% of employment, 93% of revenue, and 92% of added value within the family business sector. “Still, research often speaks broadly about ‘the family’ without clarifying who exactly that includes,” says Berent-Braun. “Are we talking about the owners, the managers, or family members without any formal role?”
She calls for greater precision in both research and practice. “We should not view ownership merely as a legal status, but as a dynamic interplay of people, interests, and emotions.”
Forward-looking ownership
Berent-Braun sees a shift in the questions younger generations of family owners are asking. "They want to know: is our business still socially responsible? What is our impact on climate and society?” She observes a movement from philanthropy toward impact-driven entrepreneurship. “Ownership is not just a right, but also a responsibility.”
From family business to academia
Berent-Braun grew up in Poland, where her parents started a small family business in the early 1990s. “I helped out during the summer holidays, but my parents encouraged me to find my own path,” she recalls. That path eventually led her to the Netherlands, where a lecture on family firms sparked her passion for the topic. “I realized: this is about my parents. And there’s actual science behind it!”
Through her chair, which is sponsored by Van Lanschot Kempen, Berent-Braun aims to deepen our understanding of ownership dynamics and the role of family owners in sustainable business practices. “If we want to help family businesses remain successful, we need to understand how ownership works—and how we can strengthen it.”
Berent-Braun 2025 Inaugural lecture