HSBC Private Bank trains wealthy heirs to tackle succession risks

A six-week digital course with MIT Sloan targets clients aged 23 to 30 entering family business leadership.

HSBC Private Bank has introduced an educational initiative designed to prepare the heirs of ultra-high-net-worth clients to manage family enterprises and inherited wealth.

Developed in partnership with the MIT Sloan School of Management, The Future Family Leaders Digital Programme is targeted at clients aged 23 to 30 who are beginning leadership roles within their family businesses.

The six-week online course consists of six modules—comprising two live sessions and four self-paced units—covering topics such as family enterprise dynamics, ownership mindsets, conflict management, and strategic planning.

The inaugural global participant group will undertake the course from 3 November to 8 December.

The digital offering expands HSBC Private Bank’s existing Family Leaders framework, introduced amidst industry projections that $83.5t in wealth will transfer to the next generation over the next two decades.

The bank held its annual flagship event, the Future Family Leaders Forum, in Athens in May, with over 60 clients in attendance. Further regional in-person events tailored to local markets are planned for later in the year.

Ida Liu, CEO of HSBC Private Bank, stated that wealth transfers frequently fail when heirs lack the necessary management skills, noting that clients prefer their successors to gain practical leadership experience prior to taking over.