Build a family enterprise that lasts without losing the relationships that matter most.

René helps founders and business families face what goes unspoken, align across generations, and turn succession into a shared path forward.

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ICF Master Certified Coach
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Coaching with Perspective

Your perspective shapes your choices.

We all see the world through mental maps made of experience, beliefs, and assumptions. They help us make sense of complexity, but they are never complete. They leave out possibilities, and they can stop us from noticing what has changed or what someone else sees.

Coaching with perspective is about redrawing those maps. It rarely begins by changing your circumstances. More often it begins by finding new ways to see them. When we question our assumptions and listen differently, options appear that were hidden in plain sight.

For a business family, that may mean recognizing how unspoken expectations shape relationships, decisions, and the future they want to build together. For a leader, it may mean understanding why a capable team has stopped moving forward.

When your perspective shifts, the way you live and lead shifts too.

Invisible Capital
The Elephant in the Family Room
Book cover of Invisible Capital by René Sonneveld with a gold tree and roots on a black background.

Invisible Capital

In Invisible Capital, René Sonneveld, an ICF Master Certified Coach to enterprise families, turns the focus from what pulls family businesses apart to what makes them resilient across generations.

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“It’s these specific models for change and success which make Invisible Capital: What Sustains Enterprising Families Across Generations a guidebook that should be intrinsic to any family business and those contemplating intergenerational business pursuits . . . All these and more form solid foundations for consideration, planning, and enlightenment, making Invisible Capital: What Sustains Enterprising Families Across Generations an exceptional pick.”
Midwest Book Review
“Insightful, sensitive, and practical, René’s work is a gift to families seeking to ensure that their family and their family business interests can be multigenerational forces for good—for the family and for all stakeholders.”
Philip Marcovici

Author of The Destructive Power of Family Wealth and The Transformative Power of Family Wealth

“Gentle yet firm, Sonneveld’s advice positions the reader in the room with a carefully engaged consultant . . . Its empathy and clear thinking make this a useful handbook for people looking to preserve a family business, either by protecting existing structures or rethinking them entirely. An expert framework for revitalizing family businesses and ensuring their longevity.”
Kirkus Reviews
“René Sonneveld has sat at enough kitchen tables and boardroom tables to know how rarely the two are as separate as they may appear . . . In this book, René Sonneveld offers the reader the patience to stay in a conversation when the ledger has nothing left to say.”
Anna A. Tavis, PhD

Chair, Human Capital Management, New York University

“René Sonneveld’s insightful business guide Invisible Capital concerns the unseen assets that sustain a family enterprise, arguing that trust, relationships, and a shared purpose can shape a company’s ability to respond to disruption, preserve its identity, and survive succession . . . [I]ts vocabulary for recognizing the systems beneath family business is often enlightening . . . The astute leadership guide Invisible Capital is about reconsidering what it takes to own, run, and work together to change a family business.”
Foreword Clarion Reviews
“The most valuable things we pass to the next generation may be the things that never appear on a balance sheet. Money and assets can be inherited, but trust, character, reputation, relationships, and a sense of purpose must be built and nurtured.”
Wayne J. Hilmer

Founder, Omni International Jet Trading

“René puts into words the opportunities and challenges facing family businesses today. The reflection questions, field guides, and Power Audit provide a practical way to turn insights into action.”
Emily Schreiber

Chief Commercial Officer, Schreiber Foods International, Inc.

“The true wealth that determines whether a family business endures is often invisible . . . Invisible Capital is an important guide to stewardship, continuity, and what families must deliberately carry forward.”
Nicholas Cafritz

Founder and CEO, Dynasty

“René says it clearly: ‘You cannot tend what you cannot name.’ . . . Here René eloquently names it, and names its components and thus makes the intangible, tangible, very tangible.”
James “Jimmy” Stewart

Founding Partner, Corvalier Trust Company

“Sonneveld reminds us that it is much broader and requires a careful humanistic approach: one that actively engages with human emotions . . . A must-read for family enterprises of any size.”
Carlos Andrés Mattsson

Chairman, CAMCO

“This book is a rare find; it blends deep, hard-won wisdom with actionable, human-centered guidance. It is an essential read for any family looking to navigate the complexities of succession and change while staying united by a common mission.”
Isabelle Chaquiriand

Dean, Faculty of Business Sciences, Universidad Católica del Uruguay

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The Elephant in the Family Room - Managing the of Legacy Business - Book cover

The Elephant in the Family Room

Packed with actionable insights, The Elephant in the Family Room equips enterprise families with the tools to confront silent threats—unspoken resentments, deep-seated insecurities, lingering fears, and misaligned values—that can quietly erode trust and unity. From power struggles to fractured relationships, this book offers a clear path to bridging generational divides and aligning family and business interests.

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Book awards: The Book Revue 5-star rating, Amazon #1 Bestseller, International Book Awards 2026 Award Winner
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“It’s a must-read, particularly because of the focus on emotions which is the most important part and which most family business books do not tackle.”
Maria Elena Lagomasino

CEO and Managing Partner, WE Family Offices

“From constructive ways to manage more challenging emotions like fear or envy to recognizing the interference of cognitive bias, Sonneveld offers an array of hands-on strategies to cultivate a strong emotional core in any family business. [An] astute debut . . . Creative, impactful strategies for coaching and managing family businesses.”
Publishers Weekly Booklife Reviews
“This book is fantastic and among the best written on the complex issues of family-owned businesses. The tone reflects René’s vast experience and his concerned and generous personality. Brilliant!”
James Stewart

Founding Partner of Corvalier Trust Company

“Dealing with business-owning families means mastering human behaviors and sensitivities diligently and managing the interface between family and business governance while honoring the legacy and values that are the backbone of any enterprise. René Sonneveld masterfully guides the reader through the many behavioral aspects that, if left unchecked, can derail any successful business and jeopardize the very foundation of a family’s overall well-being. It's a practitioner’s guide and a must-read for all families facing intergenerational transitions.”
Dr. Kurt Moosmann

Executive Vice-Chairman of Elsa Peretti Holding Ltd. and President of the Swiss Single Family Office Association

“Refreshingly honest . . . Sonneveld’s strength is making abstract emotional challenges feel tangible . . . offer[ing] tools, not just theory. A standout . . . This book is essential if you’re in a family business, work with one, or are trying to avoid becoming your family’s next cautionary tale.”
Manhattan Book Review
“Essential advice from a deeply experienced practitioner who provides real-world observations and guidance.”
Alan F. Heath

Chairman and CEO of Wind River Trust Company

“In family enterprises, what remains unsaid often shapes what endures. Having spent decades inside the emotional architecture of business families, I found that this book  gives voice to rare truths that shape legacy, trust, and leadership across generations. René Sonneveld offers us the courage to look inward and the tools to navigate what truly matters.”
Shweta Handa-Gupta

Board Chair of ICF Global and Chief innovator at QuadraBrain® Transformation Solutions

“The Elephant in the Family Room is a profound and necessary book—one that speaks to the emotional realities behind the strategy, governance, and legacy of family businesses. René Sonneveld brings clarity, empathy, and rare insight to the challenges that so many families face, yet so few dare to name. His work is both a compass and a mirror, guiding families not just to survive, but to grow with honesty, purpose, and connection. Every family business leader—and advisor—should read this book.”
Ruben Azar

Executive Chairman of Grupo RAS

“The Elephant in the Family Room is a transformative guide for business families facing challenges that go far beyond spreadsheets and balance sheets. With honesty and empathy, Sonneveld brings to light the unspoken forces—fear, insecurity, envy, pride, mistrust—that silently undermine even the most successful family enterprises. Through real-life case studies, practical tools, and reflective questions, he helps families confront “the elephant in the room” with emotional intelligence, courage, and shared purpose. More than a governance manual, it offers a compassionate roadmap for those who want not just to preserve a business, but to nurture the family that built it.”
Michel Cohen

Co-CEO Lolita Fashion Group

“In The Elephant in the Family Room, René Sonneveld shares his decades of experience working with global wealth and business-owning families, bringing to light the personal and relational dynamics that are too often overlooked. With insight, compassion, and practical tools, he addresses the ‘soft’ issues—identity, trust, legacy, and conflict—that can quietly undermine even the strongest enterprises. This book is a must-read for families and their advisors who want to foster clarity, connection, and resilience across generations, both in business and in life.”
Philip Marcovici

Author of The Destructive Power of Family Wealth and The Transformative Power of Family Wealth

“An eye-opener to what’s often overlooked, this book is essential reading for anyone involved in a family business—owners, successors, and stakeholders alike.”
Breno Koogan Lorch

Shareholder – Grupo GEN SA – Brazil

“A psychologically perceptive guide for family-owned businesses, The Elephant in the Family Room is about keeping the peace while attaining continuing organizational success.”
Foreword Clarion Reviews
“René Sonneveld does a masterful job at painting the complex and turbulent picture of how emotions permeate and impact every aspect of family enterprises and underlie the unique challenges – and opportunities – family members face as they work together, and offers families a time-tested roadmap and a set of practical tools for achieving long-term success, fulfilment, and harmony.”
Peter Moustakerski

CEO Fox Family Office Exchange

“Replete with psychological insights, business savvy, and unusual examinations of how relationships drive or divide businesses, The Elephant in the Family Room is very highly recommended not just for library inclusion, but for executives and business club members who will find its many insights and suggestions invaluable.”
Midwest Book Review
“René Sonneveld’s The Elephant in the Family Room delivers emotionally intelligent and practical guidance for business families facing challenges that spreadsheets and legal structures can’t solve. Drawing on decades of global coaching experience, Sonneveld explores how resentment, fear, ego, and unconscious patterns silently shape decisions and perpetuate conflict. Blending neuroscience, psychology, and family systems theory, he reframes emotional tension as a source of insight and transformation. This book is both mirror and manual—equipping families and their advisors with the tools to align emotional awareness with governance, ensuring continuity, resilience, and legacy across generations.”
Joseph Kellogg

Head of Wealth Planning, WE Family Offices

“With an elegant intertwining of both strategic complexity and emotional dynamics common in family business, Sonneveld captures the essence of family enterprises. The stories in each chapter elucidate the best practices he has honed from decades of personal experience as an advisor, leadership coach, and even a member of both his own and his wife’s family business, and he offers suggestions and reflection questions to deepen the reader’s learning. What really stands out is his acute sensitivity to cultural tensions, a lens he can uniquely bring as a true citizen of the world.”
Cathy Carroll

Author of Hug of War: How to Lead a Family Business with both Love and Logic

“A fascinating and informative book for those who have family businesses, those who advise family businesses, and frankly, anyone who navigates the complex emotional space of their own family decision-making. René artfully shares family stories of struggles and successes from around the globe while injecting wisdom and guideposts for how to navigate the thorniest of family issues. We all can gain insight into the deeper motivations that drive how we relate and work with each other so that we can build healthier, stronger bonds personally and professionally.”
Sandra L. Stewart

President of SLS Coaching & Consulting and Author of Building the Core Competencies of Change

“What most shines through in The Elephant in the Family Room is Sonneveld’s clear and dispassionate analysis of the case studies he presents with an enlightened compassion, born of a long and wide-ranging professional and personal journey. He sets out to help others navigate the often treacherous waters of attending to the transition of a family business to its younger members.”
Maxi Gainza

Writer and Business Owner

“The Elephant in the Family Room is a masterpiece that deeply and sensitively addresses the emotional complexities within family businesses, challenges they face, etc. Congratulations! As a lawyer, I have gone through some of the situations you describe and I identified clients I advised in the past. The case studies and practical tools you've included provide valuable guidance to anyone that require to surf this wave.”
Diego Baldomir

Partner Guyer & Regules Law Firm

“Sometimes the obvious is right in front of us, yet no one sees it. The Elephant in the Room highlights the importance of confronting our all-too-human instincts with honesty and openness in order to ensure the success of family businesses. What makes this book stand out is its balance between practical insight and deep emotional awareness… It’s for anyone navigating the subtle power plays, loyalties, and expectations that come with working in a family enterprise.”
Manuel van Engelen

Commercial Director Interfood BV

“The Elephant in the Family Room is a clear, insightful guide for enterprise families navigating the complex emotional dynamics of running a family business. Rene Sonneveld combines practical tools, real-world cases, and thoughtful reflection to help families address issues like resentment, envy, and power struggles. A well-structured and engaging book that offers rare and valuable guidance for families in business together.”
— The BookLife Prize
“René Sonneveld's The Elephant in the Family Room: Managing the Complexities of Legacy Businesses is a critical resource for navigating the complex landscape of multigenerational enterprises. Sonneveld's writing is distinguished by its precision and equilibrium. His prose is both direct and lucid, yet it is also imbued with a sense of empathy that makes even the most complex dynamics comprehensible. With eloquence, depth, and practical wisdom, René Sonneveld delivers a book that speaks directly to the heart of legacy enterprises. It informs, challenges, and empowers, offering both knowledge and reassurance for those entrusted with the stewardship of family businesses.”
The Book Revue
“Replete with psychological insights, business savvy, and unusual examinations of how relationships drive or divide businesses, The Elephant in the Family Room is very highly recommended, offering invaluable insights into the emotional realities that shape legacy businesses. Few other business books dare to address the fear triggers, childhood dynamics, and entitlement issues that fracture family enterprises and provide solutions.”
California Bookwatch
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About René

Leadership shows up everywhere, in the boardroom, on the sports field, and around the family table. Executives, entrepreneurs, family-office heads, teachers, parents, and athletes all face moments where the path forward is not clear. René has led publicly quoted companies, guided family businesses, and interviewed leaders worldwide, learning that stepping into leadership is only the beginning. Staying there and evolving takes courage, skill, and constant growth.

An ICF Master Certified Coach, René brings global business experience, deep coaching expertise, and a gift for addressing the unspoken. He works with business leaders, exceptional individuals, family systems, cross-cultural teams, and athletes, with a special commitment to nurturing young talent and helping high performers meet their next challenge.

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What is coaching?

Coaching is where clarity meets action. It is a dedicated space to challenge old thinking, discover new possibilities, and align your life with what matters most. Together we uncover your values, strengths, and untapped potential, then turn that into bold, deliberate moves. Coaching is not just about solving problems. It is about unlocking the person, the team, or the vision you are ready to bring to life.

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Leadership Coaching

Leadership coaching is for accomplished executives who are ready to elevate their impact in complex, high-stakes environments. It is for those who can lead with conviction, yet want to align more deeply with their organization, communicate strategy with clarity, strengthen executive presence, and influence stakeholders at every level from their teams to their board.

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Family Business Coaching

Family business coaching is for enterprising families ready to face what others leave unspoken. It is for those navigating the complex mix of succession, governance, and growth, while confronting the tensions, loyalties, and unspoken expectations that shape both relationships and results. This work balances the needs of individual family members with the long-term health and legacy of the business.

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Team Coaching

Team coaching is about creating highly effective teams. It is for groups that need to align quickly, communicate clearly, and build trust that holds up under pressure, whether in the boardroom or across continents. It turns individual talent into collective strength, enabling the team to achieve more together than would ever be possible alone.

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Stack of rocks in a beach

Mental performance coaching

Mental performance coaching is about building the mental edge needed to compete and win. It is for athletes and teams who want to strengthen focus, resilience, and confidence under pressure, and turn high-stakes moments into opportunities to excel. It equips you to manage stress, sharpen decision-making, and stay composed when it matters most.

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Testimonials

Many of you have already experienced Rene’s coaching style and insight, and you might agree with me that he is a fantastic leadership development coach and provides interesting perspectives and insights. His mind works in a very wise way, and his life and career experience are fascinating. I hope everyone who wants to will be able to find a time to meet with him while he’s here.
Kelly
Kelly O'Brien, Global Career and Leadership Development, Booth School of Business, University of Chicago
"René is both a superb listener and a great synthesizer of ideas. He's a coach who takes in all the fine details of a person's story, then picks out patterns and themes that give a valuable explanatory perspective that the client can't easily see for her/himself, and from there delivers insightful suggestions that lead the client to a more lucid self-understanding with positive action points - which is the true value-add of a great coach."
Anthony
Anthony Nahas, PARIS - France
René is a highly sensitive and empathetic person.  Sharing with him is very nice because you sense a deep relationship and feel accompanied by him. With his breadth of knowledge and experience, he has always something of value to contribute. He has helped me to ask myself questions that I might not have asked if I had not had this space.  As a result, I could develop tools that allowed me to be better prepared to face certain situations in the future. I can highly recommend working with him!
Alex
Alex Komaromi, Montevideo - Uruguay
World Series Poker Champion
"I know René as a man with empathy and a deep tangible interest in the people around him. You can see in his eyes that he senses your emotional state. I know that I can always approach him when I need someone to listen and help me find my way. As everyone, René has had his share of darkness and personal crisis to deal with. During these times, he has sustained himself admirably and continued to passionately care for those closest to him while he was not in a good place. For full disclosure, he has been a friend for many years, since business school in fact."
Markus
Markus Stadlmann, Vaduz - Liechtenstein
"René, thanks for asking questions leading to answers so close to my eyes. Sometimes, you need a guide to find the things you've been staring at for years".
Piotr
Piotr Robak, Warsaw - POLAND
"René Sonneveld has saved me at least 6 months of erratic thinking aimed at shaping my academic career to fit it into the biopharmaceutical sector. He's uncovered values that I had never identified, and he has smartly pinpointed the right questions. Astonishing how René can dissect your needs and provide shortcuts towards accurate answers. No matter what market you are in, seek his coaching. He'll get your money's worth."”
Fernando
Fernando de Mora, Professor of Pharmacology
Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
"After being a project manager for building hotels in Russia and managing a family-owned training institute in Vienna, I started to think about what to do next at the age of fifty-five. It seemed like a perfect time for hiring a coach to see what I wanted to do for the next ten years of my life. I had numerous ideas, and coaching with René helped me put them in the right perspective; to understand the interconnection of these ideas. I probably could not have figured this out by just pondering my brain. Therefore, I can highly recommend his coaching to take a step back and get an objective and refreshing view of things."
Peter
Peter Kutschera, Vienna - AUSTRIA
"Rene coaching sessions have been extremely thoughtful, motivational, and to say the least, life changing. His approach of patience combined with encouragements allowed me to tap into aspects of myself and especially to improve the organization of my days. Rene created a natural environment where I could express myself and explore my potential. With each session I could see tangible results and growth. "
Christophe
Christophe Beaud, CEO peoplefone Group
Zurich, Switzerland
"Rene has a wealth of experience in advising senior teams and company boards that transpire and becomes evident when he is coaching you. When he coaches, he combines a rational side, based on his long experience, with an acute observation of details, emotions and empathy of the person. This holistic combination of "head and guts" makes the coaching doubly effective, uncovering solutions that a simple approach would not have achieved. In summary, it is a very effective pleasure having him as a coach."
Salvador
Salvador Barrio, DHL Supply Chain, Madrid - Spain
Paradigm Shift
‍Every session that I had with Rene had a realization leading to a perspective change and a short term goal to achieve tangible results.

Impact
‍Rene is highly imaginative and has fantastic skills in picking the right detail in a dialogue, and is always positive. He loves coaching, and it is visible in every minute of my discussions with him. Within a few sessions, my emotional construct shifted from extreme stress to highly optimistic and forward-looking.

Connection
‍Rene forms connections at an emotional level. No matter how my emotional state was before a session, I always come out of it highly energetic and with a positive outlook.

Once you get to know him, you connect with him for life.
Aravind
Aravind Kona, Commodities Research, Hyderabad, India
‍“René is a highly qualified businessman, but also a very good coach. He combines his broad experience in different aspects of business and management with his advanced knowledge of coaching using “state of the art” approaches. Being coached by René has been a great experience for me and an invaluable help in different situations.”
Raul
Raul Echeberria, Executive Director at Asociación LatinoamericanA de Internet
Montevideo, Uruguay

René Sonneveld

2025