News and Podcasts | UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School

Ownership in the Family Firm: What Are Our Roles and Responsibilities?

Family Enterprise Center co-founders Cooper Biersach and Steve Miller discuss the three essential questions every family business owner must answer to create alignment, provide leadership, and shape a shared future. Drawing on decades of experience, they offer practical insights on purpose, responsibility, and long-term stewardship.

The Leap to Independent Governance: Lessons from Mills Manufacturing

In this episode of Family Business Matters, host Peter Begella sits down with John Oswald, Brian Turner, and Robin Turner of Mills Manufacturing, a 3rd generation manufacturer of highly technical parachute systems based in Asheville, NC, to explore the company’s evolution following the introduction of an independent board.

Curiosity Over Conflict with Dr. Shimul Melwani

In this episode of Family Business Matters, host Cooper Biersach sits down with Dr. Shimul Melwani, associate dean of the Undergraduate Business Program at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and professor of organizational behavior. Drawing from her personal background in family business, Dr. Melwani explores how conflict is often rooted not in business issues, but in fairness, relationships, and emotion.

The Science of Sustainable Leadership with Dr. Mike Christian

In family businesses, leadership isn’t just about performance, it’s about endurance, relationships, and legacy. But what if sustaining yourself as a leader wasn’t about pushing harder? In this episode of Family Business Matters, host Cooper Biersach sits down with Dr. Mike Christian, award-winning researcher and expert in human energy and resilience, to explore a different approach: energy crafting.

Family Enterprise Fundamentals: Three Questions Every Business Family Must Answer with Cooper Biersach and Steve Miller

Where should we start? How do we manage conflict? How do we help the next generation find purpose and avoid entitlement? In this episode of the The Family Enterprise Center, host Cooper Biersach is joined by Steve Miller, co-founder of the Family Enterprise Center and former president of the Biltmore Estate, to explore the three foundational questions business-owning families ask most often as they think about continuity across generations.

Student Voices: The Power of Community and Belonging at Carolina with Molly Malek

This Student Voices episode spotlights the undergraduate experience at Carolina through the lens of Molly Malek, a driven student leader whose journey has been shaped by the Family Enterprise Center and the Family Business Club. Molly reflects on her path to UNC, her family business background, and the donor‑supported programs that have helped her find direction, community, and career clarity.

From Anxiety to Curiosity: Tools from Bowen Systems Theory with Dr. Kathleen Smith

Families are powerful systems, and sometimes, they’re anxiety‑creating machines. In this episode of Family Business Matters, host Cooper Biersach sits down with therapist and bestselling author Dr. Kathleen Smith to explore how Bowen Family Systems Theory can transform the way we understand ourselves, our families, and our roles in family enterprises.

How to Invest in Your Rising-Gen with Bess and Jamie McLawhorn

In this episode of Family Business Matters, host Chris Maslin sits down with father–daughter duo Jamie McLawhorn and Bess McLawhorn of Marsh Properties for a candid conversation on what it really takes to prepare the rising generation for leadership in a family enterprise. Together, they share their personal journeys, the intentional steps their family has taken to develop next‑gen talent, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. From growing up around the family business to navigating formal development structures, the McLawhorns offer practical wisdom, honest reflections, and stories that bring their experience to life.

Boundaries: Why They’re Hard and How They Help with Melissa Mitchell-Blitch

This episode of Family Business Matters dives into the role boundaries play in creating healthier relationships and stronger family enterprises. With host Cooper Biersach, our guest, Melissa Mitchell-Blitch, author and family dynamics expert, shares why boundaries are often misunderstood, why they matter, and how they can transform the way we lead and live. Through real-world examples and practical strategies, you’ll learn how boundaries clarify roles, reduce conflict, and help individuals and organizations thrive. Expect actionable insights you can apply immediately to navigate complexity with confidence.

Engaged Ownership: Why Governance Matters with Amy Renkert-Thomas

In this episode of Family Business Matters, host Cooper Biersach sits down with Amy Renkert-Thomas, a lawyer, educator, and former president of her family’s fifth-generation manufacturing business. Amy brings decades of experience in family enterprise governance and ownership to the conversation.

The top of the Old Well covered in snow. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

In other news: December 2025

We celebrate top undergraduate professors, showcase next-gen business leaders and share more highlights from the UNC Kenan-Flagler community.

Lessons on Lacrosse, Life and Returning to the Family Business with Frankie and Stephen Kelly

In this special two-guest episode, brothers Frankie Kelly IV (BSBA ’14, MAC '15 and Stephen Kelly (BSBA '17) reminisce about their Carolina days as Family Enterprise students and lacrosse champions.

Sometimes, Selling the Business Can Be the Right Decision with Nikin Shah

Nikin Shah, founding partner at Front Porch Venture Partners shares his personal journey of growing up around his family’s business, co-leading it with his brother and ultimately making the decision to sell.

Governance Built on Family Values: A Family Business Board for the Future with Craig Stephenson

Craig Stephenson, president and CEO of COC Properties, explores the transformative power of good governance in family enterprises.

Creating a Family Employment Policy that Works for the Family and the Business with Chris Maslin

Cooper Biersach is joined by Chris Maslin, VP of HR and Organizational Development at The Biltmore Company, to unpack the essential elements of a strong family employment policy.