Every family has a story worth telling.

The Family Business Podcast shines a light on the inspiring, often unconventional journeys of family-owned businesses. Through rich conversations and reflections, we explore how families navigate challenges, build legacies, and redefine what it means to achieve generational success. Hosted by Chicago Booth Adjunct Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship Jamie Shah, MBA ’13, a family business leader, educator, and entrepreneur, each episode connects authenticity with aspiration, helping listeners feel seen, understood, and inspired.

Recommend a Guest or Topic: Whether it’s your own family or one you admire, we want to hear who you think we should feature. Contact Paul Cavalieri at paul.cavalieri@chicagobooth.edu.

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Featuring: Jessica Shah and Michelle Ranavat

Join Jamie and her sisters for an intimate kickoff conversation. They discuss their unique paths into (and around) their family business, the dynamics of sibling collaboration, and what it means to grow up inside a company—literally.

💬 “Chem-Impex was so much a part of who I was… even before I realized it.”

Featuring: Elana Schulman, Eli’s Cheesecake

Third-generation leader Elana Schulman shares the story of Eli’s, where legacy meets innovation and values are baked into every bite. Learn how her family brings their founder’s voice to life—even decades later.

💬 “We literally sit around and say, ‘Wouldn’t Eli love this?’”

Featuring: Matt Miniat, South Chicago Packing and Miniat Holdings

Matt Miniat of South Chicago Packing and Miniat Holdings joins Jamie to talk about what it means to steward a fifth-generation family business rooted in one of Chicago’s most iconic industries: meatpacking. From early pivots to product reinvention, Matt shares how the company leaned into its tallow legacy and used the unexpected power of TikTok and direct-to-consumer growth to find new relevance.

They explore the tension between tradition and innovation, the weight of operating under your own name, and how values like long-term thinking and food safety shape every decision. It’s a conversation about staying grounded in where you come from—even as you adapt to a rapidly changing world.