In mid-March, Beth Fisher-Yoshida, Academic Director of the Master’s Program in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, led an interactive workshop titled “Family Business and the Business of the Family.” The event, organized by the Santiago Center in collaboration with the Columbia Business Alumni Club of Chile, focused on how to effectively prevent and address conflict in family-run businesses.
A recognized facilitator, educator, mediator, and executive coach, Fisher-Yoshida helps individuals and organizations strengthen their negotiation skills and overall effectiveness. During the workshop, she outlined six common sources of conflict in family enterprises, including sibling rivalry, perceptions of unfairness in resource distribution, and the frequent neglect of emotional dynamics among family members.
Using a structured negotiation framework, she introduced a conflict-resolution model and a preparation checklist designed to help participants clarify objectives, ask the right questions, and assess when the involvement of a third-party mediator might be necessary. The session concluded with a hands-on case study, enabling participants to apply the tools and strategies discussed.
Browse the photo gallery of the event.
