Jennifer Strom
Jennifer Strom is a family enterprise and family office advisor who helps multigenerational families make decisions about shared assets, including operating businesses, family offices, real estate, and philanthropic enterprises.
Her work focuses on the points where family relationships and enterprise decisions meet: defining the purpose of a family office, clarifying governance, navigating changes in ownership and leadership, and preparing the rising generation to participate thoughtfully.
A business perspective grounded in family dynamics
Jennifer combines an MBA with formal training as a Marriage and Family Therapist. This background allows her to consider the questions facing a family alongside the histories, expectations, and patterns of communication that influence its decisions.
A disagreement about a role or distribution may involve different views of fairness. A succession conversation may also raise questions about identity and belonging. A discussion about ownership may raise questions about wealth, values, and entitlement. Jennifer helps families understand these connections and address them through clear conversations, education, and appropriate governance.
She works with family members and their advisors to identify what needs to be decided, whose perspectives need to be heard, and how the family can move forward with clearer responsibilities.
Teaching and speaking
Jennifer serves as an Executive in Residence and Adjunct Lecturer at the John L. Ward Center for Family Enterprises at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She speaks and writes about family dynamics, governance, family offices, and engagement across generations. She has been quoted in Business Insider on family business succession.
Education
- MBA, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
- MA, Marriage and Family Therapy, Fairfield University
- BA, University of Pennsylvania
Working with Jennifer
Engagements are tailored to the family’s priorities and readiness. Jennifer may work with the full family, an ownership group, family office leadership, or a smaller group preparing for a broader conversation. She also designs and facilitates family meetings and retreats. She collaborates with existing advisors so that family alignment and governance work can inform the legal, financial, and operational decisions ahead.
The aim is to help families develop the understanding and structures they need to make decisions together over time.
Beyond the work
Jennifer lives in Connecticut and is the mother of twin daughters. She enjoys running, skiing, hiking, and spending time outdoors with her family in the mountains of Colorado.