August 26, 2025
Governance is the glue that keeps family offices and families together
In this episode of PWM Family Matters, Dino De Vita, president of Global Family and Private Offices at Northern Trust, speaks with Elisa Battaglia Trovato about the growing shift among wealthy families — from simply talking about the importance of governance, next-gen education, and emotional intelligence, to actively investing in them.
Mr De Vita explains that the most effective family offices today are no longer just investment vehicles, but powerful tools for preserving family unity and legacy across generations. He shares how families are adopting inclusive governance frameworks, developing tailored education programmes for the rising generation, and learning to balance openness with protection when raising children in wealthy households.
He also discusses the rising value of emotional intelligence in hiring, and the growing role of external specialists, from educators to psychologists, in helping families navigate sensitive dynamics. Most importantly, Mr De Vita emphasises the need to regularly revisit governance structures to ensure they evolve alongside the family.
