Abstract
In this chapter, the authors argue for more engagement with practitioners in qualitative family business research. They explain how and why an engaged scholarship is helpful to study complex social phenomena in the family business context, and provide an overview of the engaged scholarship approach. They elaborate on the research activities involved, as well as the various levels of engagement between the stakeholders who participate in research projects, among which scholars. They discuss the relevance of the engaged scholarship approach to build relevant understandings of family business topics, and go through the dilemmas and challenges of using an engaged scholarship approach. The final section of the chapter provides some thoughts on how to practice an engaged scholarship approach in family business studies, dealing with some of these challenges.