The Alderson & Griffin Center for Family Business & Entrepreneurship (A&G Center) at the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business hosted its first campuswide NEXGENS (National Exchange for the Generational Enterprise Network of Successors) Family Business Hackathon earlier this spring.
A keystone of the new organization’s launch, the event followed the formal announcement of NEXGENS by members of the Rawls College Family Business Student Organization, alongside delegates from six other universities, at the A&G Center’s spring McCoy Family Speaker Series.
Anish Quenim, director of the A&G Center, says the Hackathon brought together students
from different colleges across
Texas Tech University advancing NEXGENS’ goal to build lifelong networks that support continuity, innovation,
and legacy in family firms.
“Inspired by the Family Business Alliance, NEXGENS is a first-of-its-kind national student organization at Texas Tech designed to unite the next generation of family business leaders by bringing together students from family business backgrounds across the country,” he said. “The NEXGENS Hackathon was created to bring together family business successors from across campus, so it served as the perfect platform to launch that mission.”
During the fast-paced competition, teams worked through an interactive family business simulation licensed from Harvard Business Publishing. Developed and facilitated by management Associate Professor of Practice Claudio Muller, Ph.D., with support from Quenim, the scenario placed students in a fictional, multi-generational company navigating strategic decisions, solving problems, and balancing priorities.
As teams made decisions, the simulation evolved in real time, introducing new variables
and consequences that mirrored the complexity of real-world family enterprises. At
the end of the challenge, each team presented its strategy to a panel of judges.
One participant reflected on the leadership challenges faced during the event, explaining
that the biggest obstacle was aligning diverse perspectives within the team.
“We each came from different backgrounds with individual ideas,” the student shared. “Through careful discussions, evaluating risks and consequences, and considering every perspective, we were able to reach a common goal focused on long-term family sustainability.”
The simulation also introduced the complexity of governance and succession planning in family enterprises. One team initially prioritized family leadership in key roles to preserve entrepreneurial legacy and loyalty; however, as later generations became complacent, internal leadership decisions began to hinder progress. This ultimately led the team to transition toward hiring external professionals, demonstrating the difficult balance between family primacy and business performance.
For students outside traditional business majors, the experience was equally impactful. A petroleum engineering participant noted that the Hackathon reinforced the importance of evaluating multiple inputs before making decisions. The event underscored how cooperation and cross-disciplinary collaboration are essential for improving efficiency and achieving sustainable results in real-world environments.
Muller says the simulation gave students the opportunity to learn where theory and practice meet.
“The Hackathon provided experiential learning in decision-making within a family business context, and taught students how to balance the three systems inherent in a family business, develop strategic coherence and team-based decision-making skills, and strengthen communication and reflection skills,” he said. “The event not only left students with a better understanding of family business strategy and governance, but also with stronger analytical skills and greater confidence in teamwork.”
All eight teams delivered strong presentations, earning praise from judges for work worthy of recognition and for their professionalism, creativity, and strategic thinking under pressure.
Three Teams Recognized for Excellence
Best Learning from Failure
Recognized for honestly reflecting on challenges and turning setbacks into valuable
learning.
From the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering:
- Derek Rodriguez
- Rishika Vats
- Gargi Pathak
Best Governance & Succession Design
Created a strong governance structure and a clear succession plan focused on long-term
success.
From the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering:
- Grace Medina
- Mateo Blondet
- Oluwatoni Amarvi
- Marisol Wen Zhang
Best Overall Family Business Strategy
Delivered the most complete and well-organized strategy of the competition.
From the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business:
- Audrey Heller
- Tori Thorne
- Hannah Lawrence
- Delaney Desparrois
Event Judges:
- Ryan Bain, Texas Tech University Innovation Hub
- Mark Griffin, President & CEO of The Griffin Companies and Pro Petroleum Inc.
- Dann Van Der Vliet, Executive Director of the Smith Family Business Initiative at Cornell University