Family businesses around the world are increasingly focused on implementing a sustainability agenda in their often tradition-bound companies. Some have gone further than others by embedding sustainability practices and standards at the very heart of their business model, requiring significant changes to supply chain, governance and organisational culture. Koninklijke Van Wijhe Verf, currently led by fourth-generation CEO Marlies van Wijhe, is one of these companies. Not only was Van Wijhe Verf the first company in the Netherlands to achieve B Corp status – an accreditation that guarantees perf ..read more

On this episode of WiFB, Claudia Astrachan, Head of Governance, Generation6, discusses how to embed cohesion into the culture of a family business, highlighting the importance of doing so in an authentic way that works for the family itself. She considers who should take the responsibility of advocating for family cohesion, as well as contributing factors to its potential erosion ..read more

Building an art collection serves not only as an investment and overall asset diversification, but also as a way of creating and preserving a legacy. Although traditionally dominated by high-net-worth males, the art industry is now seeing an increasing number of female collectors who are responsible for a significant share of the market. In the past two years, 34 per cent of female collectors spent more than $1 million versus 25 per cent of male collectors. And in the first half of 2021, as the industry was bouncing back from the Covid-19 pandemic, spending by female collectors increased by ov ..read more

Despite a significant shift in perspectives in the conversation on women in family business, women still face significant challenges when it comes to the roles they are expected to fill. Even today, women are frequently type-cast in positions that provide emotional support to other family members — chief emotional officer, for example — while positions of greater responsibility or influence are taken by husbands, brothers, or other male family members. And for those women who do ascend to top tier positions within their family firms, an entirely new set of complex hurdles lay before them. But ..read more

The Family Office is evolving in MENA and taking forms that are significantly different from the traditional construct first used by European industrial families to manage their wealth. Similar to most business and investment endeavours in MENA, it is the specificities unique to the region, its nuances, growth and dynamism that are also shaping the family office space. And it’s those same regional influences that will likely help define the role women play in family offices over the coming decades. Ekta Tolani is the Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer of Astrolabe Holding and runs ..read more

The Family Office is evolving in MENA and taking forms that are significantly different from the traditional construct first used by European industrial families to manage their wealth. Similar to most business and investment endeavours in MENA, it is the specificities unique to the region, its nuances, growth and dynamism that are also shaping the family office space. And it’s those same regional influences that will likely help define the role women play in family offices over the coming decades. Ekta Tolani is the Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer of Astrolabe Holding and runs ..read more

In Latin America, family businesses are the predominant economic players. Their sustainability is crucial to national ecosystems, as each family brings unique cultural and economic contributions. However, like any regional cluster, these Latin American business families are subject to prejudice, myths and stereotypes that can limit their potential for growth. Financial expert Elaine King, CFP® , founder and president of the Family and Money Matters Institute, is no stranger to these myths. As a Latin American woman in a male-dominated industry, she has had to break through many stereotypes to ..read more

When discussing women’s roles in the family business, we often fail to recognise how different perspectives can change the conversation. A shift towards this recognition is critical for empowering the next generation and promoting a more inclusive environment. Daniel Trimarchi, Director of Family Business Advisory at KPMG Private Enterprise in Canada, conducted in collaboration with the STEP Project Global Consortium, a survey of family business leaders to understand the various perspectives that affect the structure of their companies. These perspectives change from generation to generation a ..read more

Business Consulting Resources (BCR) undertake an annual research project on the topic of women in the family business, creating a platform for women to share their personal experiences and shed light on issues that may have previously been overlooked. Through intimate one-on-one conversations with the participants, a collection of stories of how women in the family business are evolving, learning, adapting and succeeding comes together. For the first time, this year’s study featured male as well as female family business members, focusing on next gens and their perceptions of both their predec ..read more

For Mackey McNeill, owning her own business always seemed like the obvious choice. After many successful years of helping companies make better business and financial decisions, her daughter Sarah Grace joined the team, and the mother-daughter duo entered the world of family business. While this transition was not without its hardships, Mackey and Sarah Grace were able to employ introspection, as well as outside tools and advisors, to better understand not only the business but also each other. Following the success of her own family business, Mackey decided to share her knowledge in a practic ..read more