As president of Family Office Exchange, I spend much of my time outside of our Chicago headquarters travelling to far-off locales to meet with families who are part of the FOX community, as well as those considering membership. With FOX members in 20 countries, travel keeps me busy, but it’s a part of my role that I truly enjoy, and this international dimension helps make our membership stronger.

By speaking with families around the world, I’ve realized that the majority of issues they face are universal. Aside from the few topics that are unique to one’s geographic location, it doesn’t matter if a family is based in Sydney or Mexico City--they are likely facing the same critical issues such as governance, philanthropic planning, rising generation education, or leadership succession. However, the important distinction is that even though families face the same issues, their culture and unique perspectives offer a diversity of thought amongst the FOX membership. These interactions greatly enrich our community and encourage dialogue amongst members that might not have ever met otherwise.

Recently, I had the privilege of representing FOX by speaking at several events in India produced by the Family Office Summit India in Bangalore, Delhi, and Mumbai. FOX has been interested in expanding our presence in the region for some time, and my visit confirmed that the Indian market is very promising and becoming global. In addition, family offices and family enterprises in India are developing rapidly and increasing their professionalization.

In an effort to increase FOX’s presence in India, we have agreed to join the global advisory board of Priwexus - an exclusive, ‘by-invitation’ membership forum for Indian ultra-high-net-worth families and single family offices. Some other familiar names on the advisory board include Dennis Jaffe and Barbara Hauser. With the help of FOX’s 28 years of experience in the UHNWI marketplace, the newly launched organization hopes to get up the learning curve faster and bring broader and deeper value to its members by engaging with the FOX community. Priwexus members will also be invited to attend FOX events, and it’s our expectation that their participation will mutually enhance the experience for all FOX members.

While the world continues to become more connected through technology, it’s our aim at FOX to continue to be the place for families around the globe to connect with their true peers. Whether in Bangalore or Mumbai, families can rely on FOX for the peer dialogue, industry insights, and the best practices they need to keep their enterprises informed and stronger for the next generation.