Family businesses are the backbone of many world economies. In the US, family businesses employ nearly 63% of the workforce and contribute 57% of GDP. They are also responsible for nearly 78% of new job creation. It is highly likely that many people listening may be part of a family business or will be working for a family enterprise of some description. There are some good reasons why they contribute so much and that creates special conditions, challenges and characteristics which makes mediation very effective in ensuring the ‘specialness’ is not consumed by disputes. In this program, Amanda Bucklow will discuss what that specialness is, how to identify the early warning signs for emerging problems and what you can do about them, wherever you are in the ‘business’.

Amanda Bucklow has been in full-time practice as a commercial mediator since 1995 and has specialised in negotiation and conflict resolution for most of her working life. She has worked in three family businesses including her own.

Amanda is also an educator and entrepreneur - those two roles mean that she is constantly pushing the boundaries on how mediators are taught their skills so that they are able to practice in the real world as a ‘safe pair of hands’. Her active practice as a mediator feeds the development of her teaching and vice versa.

facilit8: fully immersive online mediation skills and awareness building simulation to help people understand what happens in a mediation. The case is about a family business in dispute with a large corporation and the personal ambitions of the family business owner (2nd Generation).