This intimate session, led by Joanna Sun, opens the door to a conversation that rarely happens in formal family office settings but is urgently needed. Drawing on lived experience and deep psychological insight, the session explores the invisible inheritance passed between generations—beliefs about worthiness, safety, identity, and belonging that shape every governance conversation and succession plan.
In a confidential setting, through guided reflection, interactive exercises, and open dialogue, participants examine the pressures they carry, the roles they’ve been assigned, and the freedom they long to claim.
Across four arcs—Invisible Inheritance, Identity, Freedom, and Relational Courage—Joanna helps younger‑gen Members articulate who they are becoming, what they want to build, and how to begin the conversations that change family systems. Participants leave feeling seen, lighter, and more connected, with a clearer sense of the legacy they want to pass forward.
This masterclass explores:
1. Understanding the Invisible Inheritance
- Participants gain clarity on the emotional and psychological legacies that shape family dynamics and leadership far more than financial capital
2. Reclaiming Identity and Direction
- Younger‑gen Members explore the gap between assigned roles and chosen roles, building a grounded sense of self that can stand within—and sometimes apart from—the family system
3. Stepping Into Courageous Dialogue
- The session offers practical tools for beginning the conversations that unlock autonomy, strengthen relationships, and shape the legacy they will one day pass forward
Speaker
Joanna Sun
Drawing from her own background as a member of a family office navigating succession challenges and family conflict amongst the Generation 1 to 3, Joanna understands firsthand the intersection of family dynamics, governance needs, and wealth continuity. This personal experience, combined with her expertise in building family office advisory boards, enables her to create governance frameworks that honor both family relationships and business imperatives.
Joanna specialises in designing tailored governance structures for family offices and navigating the complex emotional dynamics of multigenerational wealth transitions. With extensive experience working with global families of significant wealth, she brings a trauma-informed approach to succession planning, recognising how rapid wealth creation and family complexity impact decision-making across generations.
Born in China and raised in Australia, Joanna brings deep cultural intelligence to her work with Asian family enterprises and transnational wealth structures. She focuses on family enterprise planning, succession strategy, next-generation development, and establishing governance systems that support healthy family dynamics while protecting wealth across borders and generations.
Joanna holds a double Bachelor's degree in Business Management and Arts and a Master's degree in Financial Planning. Her specialised credentials include Certified Family Advisor and Advanced Certificate Family Advisor (Family Firm Institute), Certified Executive Chair (Advisory Board Centre), and the Company Director course (AICD).
Booking
Visit the Family Office Congress XVII Masterclass website to book your Masterclasses.
