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 Outdated ideas about primogeniture and a woman's rightful place have not yet gone away, and women still feel too much pressure to prove themselves.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.
Rushed decisions tend to lead to bad outcomes. So does avoiding decisions because we’re afraid of conflict. This framework helps businesses think realistically about decision urgency. Read more...
Best Buy Founder Richard Shulze and Ritch Sorenson of the University of St. Thomas explore the opportunities that come with a changing of the guard. Read more...
A family business advisor says a change in leadership is like passing the baton in a relay race. Don't let go too abruptly. Read more...
The capital structure of a firm determines its financial viability and creditworthiness. Families should understand how ownership influences this structure. Read more...
Editorial offices located at St Thomas University
Supported by the Richard M Schulze Family Foundation