PDFB Presentations 2011

 

Keynote Speaker:

Melissa Lamar, PhD “Advantageous decision making and dementia: When enterprise becomes entropy."

 

Advantageous decision making or optimizing gains and minimizing losses is a key feature to any successful family business. The neuroanatomical and neurophysiological underpinnings of decision making will be discussed as well as the negative impact of normal and pathological aging on this process. Understanding the healthy as well as pathological manifestations of advantageous decision making from a neuroscientific perspective may help the consultant pinpoint areas of intervention to facilitate overall business growth.

 

Brief Bio: Dr. Lamar is Associate Professor of Associate Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the University of Illinois Chicago, Department of Psychiatry. She is both a researcher and a clinician. Being on the younger side (of wherever we are), she represents the cutting edge in the Neuroscience community. Her particular interest is in normal and pathological aging.

 

 

1.  Glenn Ayres and Barry Graff

 "The Deteriorating Brain:  Case Studies and Evolving Modes of Intervention in Family/Business Consulting."

 We will present 3 case studies, 2 involving dementia in the founder, 1 where the founder had Alzheimer's. We will be explicate with the interventions used; their success or lack thereof; and turn to the group to develop principles (or generalities) for practice.

 

2. Kim Schneider Malek: “Thinking, Behaving, and Learning:  Brain Science and Successor Development.”

Leadership, communication, and decision-making are critical functions of family enterprise executives and stewards. This interactive session will explore the impact that understanding different thinking, behaving and learning styles has on enterprising families establishing family constitutions affecting stewards, defining roles and responsibilities for the next generation successors, and setting transition expectations for everyone.

 

3.  Jane Hilburt Davis: “A Practitioner's Guess at Brain Science: Practical Applications.”

Aerobic exercise improves memory; chocolate helps negotiations; singing can help

stroke victims speak; daydreaming can help solve problems. What is a practitioner to do with this daily flood of sometimes conflicting information about our ever-changing brains? In this interactive session, Jane will present her speculations of how we, as change agents, can use this critical, growing, and ever-changing body of knowledge. Discussion is encouraged!

 

4.  Lilli Friedland:  “Factors Influencing Leader's Decisions“        

Most people like to think that leaders make rational decisions and that leadership skills can be taught. Research shows that decisions are influenced by many factors. Discussion about the types of decisions made (individual vs. group); urgency vs. longer-time frame to make the choice; age, gender, and SES of the leader, personality (degree of risk willing to take); whether Gen 1, Gen 2, 3, etc.; as well as type of decision, stage and financial state of the company all impact the way in which decisions are made. The neurophysiological correlates of decisions leaders make will also be discussed.

 

5.  “Nuggets and Insights” Forum

 1. Karen Ostrov: (open forum) Karen will do a 20 minute presentation. The rest of the time will be an opportunity for members to share insights –10 minutes at most each. Topicvs do not have to be related to Karen’s topic. (More to rfollow.)

 

Title: Can you teach an old dog new tricks? What do neuroscience and Ponce de Leon have in common?

 

What neuroscience is learning about neuroplasticity and maturation has influenced a whole new field known as positive aging. I’ve especially been inspired by the work of Gene Cohen, MD, PhD, psychiatrist and neuroscientist, who sadly died a couple years ago. The field opens up new territory to explore with our clients and ourselves. If we in fact continue to generate new brain cells throughout our lives, what are the implications for counseling a founder or owner to “retire” when he/she possesses mental vitality and has more to contribute? Are some people actually wiser and more effective as elders? Let’s think about Dame Judy Dench, Dali, Picasso, Grandma Moses, the list is long. Is  65 the time to  throw in the towel?  Is 85 the new 60? I will share my reasoning in applying these concepts to family business consultation work and more personally, to my relationship with  my aging parents and mother in law. Neuroscience findings are shaking up core beliefs about life’s possibilities over 55 and will reshape our messages to clients and to ourselves.