INVISIBLE CAPITAL

Book cover of Invisible Capital by René Sonneveld with a gold tree and roots on a black background.

What Sustains Enterprising Families Across Generations

By Rene Sonneveld
Every family enterprise carries two balance sheets: one written in numbers, and another in trust. The first measures what the family owns. The second reveals what holds the family together when ownership is no longer enough.
Pre-order
Book cover of Invisible Capital by René Sonneveld featuring a golden tree with roots on a black background.
Drawing of a family arguing
An easy job? Research shows that 70% of family-owned businesses do not survive the second generation and only 13% the third generation. Furthermore, business succession failure also heavily weights on family relationships.

What makes some enterprising families brittle while others endure across generations?

Every family enterprise carries two balance sheets: one written in numbers, and another in trust. The first measures what the family owns. The second reveals what holds the family together when ownership is no longer enough.

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. Trust, culture, reputation, relationships, learning, and purpose are hidden forms of capital that build over time, are neglected at great cost, and prove decisive in moments of transition.
‍
Drawing on decades of work with enterprise families across continents, Sonneveld brings these forces to life through real stories, guided reflections, and a practical Power Audit. Invisible Capital offers families a way to see, measure, and strengthen the wealth that cannot be counted but shapes everything that follows.

Previous Author Awards
“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
“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’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
left testiomonial arrow
Right testimonial arrow
Why This Book Matters

:🌳  Because your family already knows what it cannot name. The trust, resentment and loyalty in a family are real long before anyone finds words for them.

🌳  Because the money is the easy part to divide. You can split a sale between siblings. You cannot split identity, reputation, or belonging quite so neatly.

🌳 Because these moments do not come back.. A succession, a sale, a generational handover — each one is a single chance to get right what has been left unsaid.

Pre-order

Read the First Chapter

Enter your email for a free preview of Invisible Capital. When you enter your email, you'll be redirected to a PDF of the book's first chapter.

1

Read the first chapter

Enter your email to read the first chapter of Invisible Capital, on sale 20 October.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Book cover of Invisible Capital by René Sonneveld with a gold tree and roots on a black background.
René Sonneveld, family enterprise coach and author

About the Author

René Sonneveld is a family business coach and former Fortune 500 executive who has served as CEO, Managing Director, and Chairman across Europe, Latin America, and the United States, including senior roles at UBS, Deutsche Bank, and Citibank, where he led family business governance across Latin America. An ICF Master Certified Coach, he serves as Vice Chair of International Coaching Federation (ICF), Coaching Education Global Board of Directors. He is the award-winning author of The Elephant in the Family Room and Honorary Consul General of the Netherlands in Uruguay.

Learn More

How to define a family business?

A family business is a business whose ownership is controlled by a single family where two or more family members significantly influence the direction of the business through management and governance roles, ownership rights, and family relationships.

Book a strategy call with René
Book a Strategy Call
Ownership - Family - Business venn diagram
Three overlapping fields of interest, as shown in the Circle Family Business Model adapted from Tagiuri and Davis.
Work with René
Every family has its silent challenges. Through tailored coaching, workshops, and advisory sessions, René partners with enterprise families to surface hidden tensions, strengthen communication, and create shared strategies for the future.

Curious if this applies to you?
Book a strategy call and let's explore.
Book a strategy call with René
Book a Strategy Call
If you want to read more about team coaching, you can check out my blogs.

René Sonneveld

2025