Women leaders in family firms: Are they breaking the glass-ceiling and redefining their golden cage?

Elisa Conti and Andrea Calabrò

Chapter 8 in Feminist Perspectives in Business Studies, 2025, pp 197-216 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Women are climbing the leadership ladder in their family firms. However, many gender-based barriers and stereotypes still exist and prevent them from contributing to their full potential. Through 33 interviews with senior managers in family firms and a thorough literature review, we propose three factors that enable women to achieve leadership roles: knowledge and social capital transfer, the power of diversity, and women's empowerment stemming from the multiple roles they hold in society. From the same insights, we find that the obstacles to breaking the glass-ceiling are conflicting perceptions about women's expected roles at individual, family and society levels; women's invisibility in family firms; and persisting gender stereotypes. Future research directions on the obstacles to overcome for having more women in leadership roles as well as actionable policy and business recommendations conclude our analysis.

Keywords: Women; Family businesses; Multiple roles; Obstacles; Gender stereotypes; Generations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035335992
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