Special Issue: Women in Family Firms
//March 07, 2022 - Issue #55
The Making of Successful Female Family-Enterprise Leaders Our discussions with 46 women from family firms around the world yielded insights about their challenges, their strengths and their influences -- including grandmothers. 
How Women Can Make it in the Ultimate Man's World A study in Bahrain reveals how women business owners are transcending societal boundaries. A key strategy: establishing personal and market legitimacy, then getting the attention of influencers.
Editor's Pick
Sherri Noxel
One Tough Mother
One Tough Mother is not an academic text but an inspirational autobiography from the late Gert Boyle. It is the story of her inheriting her father’s sporting goods business and the unexpected death of her husband when she was 46. Gert rebuilt the company that is now one of the finest examples of G3 family enterprise ownership of a publicly traded global company.
"One Tough Mother: Taking Charge in Life, Business and Apple Pies” by Gert Boyle, G2 CEO of Columbia Sportswear.
Family Firms Can Optimize Women's Strengths Women often juggle many roles in the business and the family, and typically shun the idea of power because they associate it with dictators and manipulation. 
Being Female Affects Business Loans from Family and Friends A study shows that women entrepreneurs have a harder time getting financing not only from banks, but also from friends and family.
Breaking the Glass Ceiling in a Family Business Despite decades of striving and some progress, women still face challenges. Outdated ideas about primogeniture and a woman's rightful place have not yet gone away, and women still feel too much pressure to prove themselves. 
Women Can Help Their Family Businesses Navigate Crisis Women can be indispensable in times of trouble, but the glass ceiling and the glass cliff still hold them back even at family firms. Seven things to think about. 
Changing the Face of the Construction Industry The construction industry remains stubbornly a male-dominated field, but Emily Bittenbender is giving it a new face and a new approach to managing.
Women Can Cultivate a Leadership Presence "Gravitas" is a personal attribute that helps women carry themselves like leaders and helps others perceive them that way. It doesn't come naturally.
Founder resistance is often more complicated than control. Empathy can help families understand what founders are trying to protect — and what their continued involvement may be preventing. Read more...
Families often struggle to decide whether shares should be divided equally among children or reflect leadership, sacrifice, and “sweat equity.” Read more...
Family businesses often rely on loyalty, long-term thinking and strong relationships. But research shows those same strengths can backfire when crisis hits. Read more...
A study of German family firms shows that regular, meaningful contact between the family office and the family can preserve shared purpose after an exit. Read more...
Editorial offices located at St Thomas University
Supported by the Richard M Schulze Family Foundation