Under the Aspen Tree

In 1987, Dennis Jaffe and Leslie Dashew, along with their colleagues, co-founded one of the early consulting groups focused on families in business, the Aspen Family Business Group, and a precursor to our nonprofit today. Through their work with families and their collaboration with one another, they identified the importance of families being clear about their values and developing strong communication skills. Dennis’s work has taken him around the globe, where he interviewed 100 families and collected their stories into what would become the book Borrowed from Your Grandchildren: The Evolution of 100-Year Family Enterprises.

More Info

Dennis Jaffe:

• https://dennisjaffe.com/

Aspen Family Business Group:

https://aspenfamilybusiness.org/

We the People, family constitution article:

• https://aspenfamilybusiness.org/we-the-people-to-form-a-more-perfect-union/

Values Unfolding by Ann Dapice:

• https://aspenfamilybusiness.org/values-unfolding-exercise/

Jay Hughes and Leslie Dashew, drawing on their combined experience of more than 100 years, engage in a wide-ranging conversation. On the topic of trusts and control, Jay Hughes suggests that we are all living in “plays” and that it is not natural for human beings to live according to a “plan.”

They also discuss the role of elders, drawing on their own experiences as well as those of other cultures and civilizations, and explore the true meaning of wealth.

More Info

Jay Hughes:

• https://www.jamesehughes.com/

• https://jehjf.org/
• https://jehjf.org/a-reflection-on-the-role-of-elders-in-a-system-of-family-governance/

Aspen Family Business Group:

• https://aspenfamilybusiness.org/