The Rooney Family Business Playbook: Leading with Legacy

Drawing from the legacy of leadership and values instilled by his father, Jim Rooney hosts a conversation designed to resonate deeply with family businesses. The Rooney family have applied principles that built the Pittsburgh Steelers into a dynasty while sustaining success over multiple generations since the team's formation in 1933. Their leadership approach has been rooted in consensus-building, long-term thinking, and respect for the dignity of everyone in the Steelers system. Jim uses these experiences to help family enterprises strengthen their culture, navigate generational transitions, and foster inclusive leadership. Jim shares stories from both the NFL and his own work to illustrate how enduring success comes from balancing innovation with continuity, and how listening with intention can transform conflict into collaboration. It’s a powerful opportunity for family enterprises to reflect on what makes them unique—and to build organizations that honor tradition while embracing the future.

Jim is the grandson of founder Art Rooney and one of nine children to Dan and Patricia Rooney. He worked alongside his father for decades and is author of the book "A Different Way to Win", co-partner of Rooney Consulting, founder of FirstLink Research and Analytics, and a graduate of Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management's Master's Program in Leadership and Organizational Change (MLOC).