Before joining the Politecnico di Milano, Emanuela Rondi obtained a Master's degree in Management Engineering and a PhD in Management from Lancaster University (United Kingdom). She began her academic career as a researcher at the Free University of Bolzano and subsequently held the position of Associate Professor in the Department of Management at the University of Bergamo.

Emanuela Rondi's research focuses on strategy and innovation in family businesses, entrepreneurial families, and family offices. Her studies examine how families that own and manage businesses and assets develop strategies for continuity and renewal, addressing the challenges of governance, generational succession, and the transfer of entrepreneurial skills between generations. The results of her work are published in high-profile international scientific journals and contribute to the dialogue between academia, businesses, and institutions on the role of entrepreneurial families in creating economic and social value.

Her work has been published in leading scientific journals, including Organization Science, Journal of Management, Journal of International Business Studies, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Journal of Management Studies, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, Journal of Family Business Strategy, and Strategic Organization. He contributes to the Editorial Review Board of Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Journal of Family Business Strategy, SAGE Business Case, and Pearson Management & Marketing Case.

Published articles in peer-reviewed journals

Ireland, R. D., Chirico, F., Akhter, N., Rondi, E., & Ijaz, R. (2025). The Show Must Go On: Preserving the Legacy Business through Exit in Family Business Portfolio Firms. Academy of Management Perspectives. In press (AIIG Gold, AJG 4).

Debellis, F., Rondi, E., Buckley, P., De Massis, A. (2024). Family firms and the governance of global value chains. Journal of International Business Studies, 55: 962-975.(AIIG Gold Star, AJG 4*, Financial Times Journal).

Rondi, E., Magrelli, V., Debellis, F., De Massis, A. (2024). The evolution of craft work in the strategic development of an entrepreneurial family firm. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal,18: 811-840. (AIIG Gold Star, AJG 4, Financial Times journal)

Rondi, E., Levin, D. Z., & De Massis, A. (2024). The Reconnection Process: Mobilizing the Social Capital of Dormant Ties. Organization Science, 35(2), 573-600. (AIIG Gold Star, AJG 4*, Financial Times journal)

Smith, C., Rondi, E., De Massis, A., & Nordqvist, M. (2023). Rising Every Time We Fall: Organizational Fortitude and Response to Adversities. Journal of Management, 50(5):1865–1910. (AIIG Gold Star, AJG 4*, Financial Times journal)

De Massis, A.; Kotlar, J,; Manelli, L.; Rondi, E. (2023). The drivers of heterogeneity of single family office – An exploratory analysis, The International Family Offices Journal. 3, 20-25.

Rondi, E., Benedetti, C., Bettinelli, C., & De Massis, A. (2023). Falling from grace: Family-based brands amidst scandals. Journal of Business Research, 157, 113637. (AIIG Gold, AJG 3)

Mismetti, M., Rondi, E., Bettinelli, C. (2023). Family business system dynamics in the aftermath of in-law entry: A reflection on emotions and strategic change. Long Range Planning, 56(5), 102250. (AIIG Gold, AJG 3)

Bauweraerts, J., Rondi, E., Rovelli, P., De Massis, A., & Sciascia, S. (2022). Are family female directors catalysts of innovation in family SMEs?. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 16, 314-354. (AIIG Gold Star, AJG 4, FT Journal)

Rondi E., Debellis F., Bettinelli C., De Massis A. (2022). “Family multinationals: A systematic literature review to take stock and look ahead”. International Marketing Review, 39(5), 1029-1051.(AIIG Silver, AJG 3)

Rondi, E., & Rovelli, P. (2022). Exchanging knowledge in the TMT to realize more innovation opportunities: what can family firms do?. Journal of Knowledge Management, 26(2), 350-374. (AIIG Gold, AJG 2)

Magrelli, V., Rondi, E., De Massis, A. & Kotlar, J. (2022) Generational brokerage: An intersubjective perspective on managing temporal orientations in family firm succession. Strategic Organization. 20(1), 164-199.(AIIG Gold, AJG 3)

Rondi, E., Uberbacher, R., von Schlenk Barnsdorf, L., De Massis, A., Hulsbeck, M. (2022). ‘One for all, all for one’: A mutual gains perspective on HRM and innovation management practices in family firms, Journal of Family Business Strategy, 13(2), 100394.(AIIG Silver, AJG 2)

Rondi, E., De Massis, A., and Kraus, S. (2021). Servitization through open service innovation in family firms: Exploring the ability-willingness paradox. Journal of Business Research, 135 (2021): 436-444. (AIIG Gold, AJG 3)

Debellis, F, Rondi, E., Plakoyiannaki, E. & De Massis, A. (2021). Riding the waves of family firm internationalization: A systematic literature review, integrative framework, and research agenda. Journal of World Business.56(1), 101144. (AIIG Gold Star, AJG 4)

Brinkerink, J., & Rondi, E. (2021). When can families fill voids? Firms’ reliance on formal and informal institutions in R&D Decisions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 45(2), 291-318. (AIIG Gold Star, AJG 4*, FT Journal)

De Massis, A. & Rondi, E. (2020). Covid-19 and the Future of Family Business Research. Journal of Management Studies. 57(8),1727-1731.(AIIG Gold Star, AJG 4*, FT Journal)

Brinkerink, J., Rondi, E., Benedetti, C., Arzubiaga, U. (2020). Family business or business family? Organizational identity elasticity and strategic responses to disruptive innovation. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 11(4), 100360. (AIIG Silver, AJG 2)

Kwon, S. W., Rondi, E., Levin, D. Z., De Massis, A., & Brass, D. J. (2020). Network Brokerage: An Integrative Review and Future Research Agenda. Journal of Management,46(6), 1092-1120. (AIIG Gold Star, AJG 4*, FT Journal)

Rondi, E., Sciascia, S., & De Massis, A. (2020). Innovation in small family firms. Piccola Impresa/Small Business, 2020(1).

Rondi, E. & Debellis, F. (2020). Bonding and bridging social capital in family firm internationalization.Sinegie – The Italian Journal of Management, 38(2), 113-131.

Erdogan I., Rondi E., De Massis A. (2020). Managing the tradition and innovation paradox in family firms: A family imprinting perspective.Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice,44(1), 20-54. (AIIG Gold Star, AJG 4*, FT Journal)

Campopiano, G. & Rondi, E. (2019). Hierarchical dyadic congruence in family firms: The interplay of supervisor and supervisee socioemotional wealth importance and familial status. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. 43(2), 320-329.(AIIG Gold Star, AJG 4, Financial Times journal)

Rondi, E., De Massis, A., Kotlar, J. (2019) Unlocking the innovation potential of family firms: an assessment tool. Entrepreneurship and Innovation Exchange. https://doi.org/10.32617/372-5d653a75968b8

Rondi, E., De Massis, A., & Kotlar, J. (2019). Unlocking innovation potential: A typology of family business innovation postures and the critical role of the family system. Journal of Family Business Strategy. 10(4), 1-13. (AIIG Silver, AJG 2)

Rondi, E., Kotlar, J., & Jack, S. (2017). Toward A Process Model of Social Capital Actuation. In Atinc, G. (ed.), Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings. doi:10.5465/AMBPP.2017.178.

Published Books

De Massis A. & Rondi E. (2024). The family business book: A roadmap for entrepreneurial families to prosper across generations. Pearson Financial Times, Harlow, UK.

Rondi, E. & Rovelli, P. (2020). La gestione dell'innovazione nelle imprese familiari. Studi di Management, Finanza e Fiscalità d'impresa, Roma: Eurilink University Press. ISBN: 978 88 85622 97 5, ISSN: 2611-3929. [Collana di monografie accreditata AIDEA]

Published Book chapters

De Massis, A. & Rondi, E. (2024). Innovation. In Elgar Encyclopedia of Family Business, Eds. A. Discua Cruz & C. Howorth. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.

De Massis, A.; Rondi, E.; & Rovelli, P. (2023). A methodological guide to advance family business innovation research. In The field guide to family business research, Eds K. Brigham & G. T. Payne. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.

Crivellaro, R.; De Massis, A.; & Rondi, E. (2022). Passaggio generazionale, non è solo un tema di leadership. In The Golden Book – Il book del wealth management, Eds Associazione Italiana Private Banking. AGF, Milano

De Massis A., Rondi E., & Appleton S. W. (2022). Innovation in Family Business. In Oxford Encyclopedia of Business and Management. Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190224851.013.332

De Massis A., Rondi E. (2022). Do I want to assume active ownership responsibilities for our family business? In P. Jaskiewicz, S. B. Rau (Eds). Enabling Next Generation Legacies. 35 Questions that Next Generation Members in Enterprising Families Ask. Family Enterprise Knowledge Hub Publishing: Ottawa, CA. ISBN: 978-1-7778063-0-9.

Debellis, F., Rondi, E. (2021). How do family firms orchestrate their Global Value Chain?" In Palgrave handbook on family firm internationalization, Eds T. Leppäaho e S. Jack. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN: 978-3-030-66737-5.

De Massis, A., & Rondi, E. (2017). Innovare attraverso la tradizione: Il modello delle Imprese familiari. In Barbieri, L. (Eds.), Vertical Innovation. La vera natura dell’innovazione. Guerini Next, Milano, IT, pp. 45-54

Rondi, E. (2015). Process thinking and family business studies. In Melin, L. and Nordqvist, M. (Eds.), Organizational theories and the family firm, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781783479665.00014

Best paper on conference theme, International Family Enterprise Research Academy (IFERA) Conference. Debellis, F.; Rondi, E.; De Massis, A. "Managing tradition vs innovation paradox for unleashing global entrepreneurial expansion" shortlisted among the 4 best articles

Best Entrepreneurship in Family Business Paper, International Family Enterprise Research Academy (IFERA) Conference. Debellis, F.; Rondi, E.; De Massis, A. "Managing tradition vs innovation paradox for unleashing global entrepreneurial expansion" shortlisted among the 4 best articles

2023 IPDMC Christer Karlsson Best Paper Runner Up Award

2022 Schulze Publication Award given by the Schulze Family Foundation for the EIX family business paper "Women Can Help Family Firms Innovate - but Socioemotional Factors Matter. De Massis, A.; Rondi, E.; Bauweraets, J.; Rovelli, P.; Sciascia, S in the Research Insights category

Family Business Review – Excellent reviewer 2021

Premio Pagliarani – AiIG, 2021

2019 Schulze Publication Award given by the Schulze Family Foundation for the EIX family business paper "Unlocking the innovation potential of family firms: An assessment tool"

(https://familybusiness.org/content/unlocking-the-innovation- potential-of-family-firms-an-assessment) in the Applied/Practice category

"Best paper on conference theme" International Family Enterprise Research Academy (IFERA) Conference Magrelli, V., Rondi, E., De Massis, A., Kotlar, J. "The role of temporal orientations and intergenerational tensions in multigenerational family firms” shortlisted among the 4 best articles

Family Business Review 2019 Outstanding Reviewer Award. (Best reviewer of the journal of the year). November 2018, Miami, FL.

Best Young Researcher 2019 – Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. May 2019. Bolzano, IT

Best Paper Award International Family Enterprise Research Conference. July 2018. Zwolle, NL. Shortlisted among the 4 best articles

Best Applied Research Poster Award. Family Enterprise Research Conference. June 2018. Guadalajara, MX

Best Paper Proceedings Award. Academy of Management Annual Meeting. 4-6 August 2017. Atlanta, GA

Best Reviewer Award. European Academy of Management Conference. 21-24 June 2017. Glasgow, UK.

Ph.D. Dissertation Award. Lancaster University Management School. June 2017. Lancaster, UK.

Emanuela Rondi is actively involved in serving the scientific and professional community in the field of family businesses and family offices. She is Chair of the Research and Development Program and Board Member of IFERA – International Family Enterprise Research Academy. She is also Academic Coordinator of the Next Gen community of Family Business Network International (FBNi).

She is also Coordinator of International Research at the Family Office Observatory of the Politecnico di Milano, member of the Scientific Committee of the Centre for Young and Family Enterprises (CYFE) at the University of Bergamo (Italy), affiliated with the Centre for Family Business Management at the Free University of Bolzano (Italy), and member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the International Family Enterprise Centre at Taylor's University (Malaysia).