She is the boss: determinants of legitimacy of women as family business leaders

Purpose Women often face multiple challenges when they are involved in the business. Their situation is even more complex in the family business setting, where multiple family and non-family stakeholders may challenge their legitimacy as a business leader. However, while some women remain invisible, others are able to become legitimate leaders in the family business. This study explores the circumstances that enable women to become legitimate and successful leaders in family businesses embedded in patriarchal contexts. Design/methodology/approach Considering that our research question is aimed at exploring the determinants of legitimacy of women in the family business, we employed a qualitative research approach using multiple case studies. Data were collected through interviews, secondary sources (internal documents and websites), conversations and observations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted separately with three or four respondents from each firm. Findings This study finds that women can have a legitimate “professional” role when they are involved in the business early, when they have outside work experience, when they are provided with equal opportunities for learning and development compared to their male siblings and when they are provided with adequate mentoring opportunities from women role models. Originality/value This study makes several contributions to the study of gender dynamics in family businesses by unpacking the determinants of women’s legitimacy as leaders in family businesses. This paper also expands on the typologies that Curimbaba (2002) provides, while the typology identifies the different roles that women can play in a family business (i.e. invisible, anchors or professionals), it does not clearly delineate why some women are considered legitimate professional leaders, while others are treated as invisible or anchors. Additionally, this study offers novel insights coming from a patriarchal non-developed context, Colombia.