Prof. Mirela Alpeza, PhD is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business in Osijek, Croatia, and the Director of the Centre for SME Policy Development (CEPOR) in Zagreb, a leading think tank focused on small and medium-sized enterprises. She is a recognized expert in the field of family businesses, business succession, and ownership transfer, topics she has actively researched, promoted, and shaped in public and professional discourse for more than a decade. Over the past ten years, Prof. Alpeza has initiated and led numerous initiatives aimed at supporting entrepreneurs in planning and managing business transfers. Among the most notable are the Senior Entrepreneurs Club (SENTOR), which brings together experienced business owners to share knowledge and mentor the next generation, and the Business Transfer Barometer, the first national research project in Croatia dedicated to analyzing succession and ownership transfer in small and medium-sized enterprises. She is the (co)author of a number of scientific and professional articles on family entrepreneurship and business transfer, as well as two books: Challenges of Business Transfer in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Sleeping with One Eye Open – Growth of SMEs through Acquisitions. Her work bridges academic research, policy development, and practical guidance for business owners. In addition, Prof. Alpeza serves as a Board Member of TRANSEO, the European Association for SME Business Transfer, based in Belgium. She is a certified mediator and an experienced consultant specializing in generational transition, succession planning, and the design of effective exit strategies for business owners and their families.