Abstract
This study deals with transgenerational professionalization. This concept revolves around the professionalization of family firms during their life cycle and particularly in the transfer of leadership from one generation to the next. It offers an emerging research framework based on the study of an Italian family firm that has diversified and thrived through the professionalization of family members. The findings prove relevant for the continuity of innovative and entrepreneurial family firms. This study highlights that in family firm generational succession, professionalization and entrepreneurship go hand in hand.