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Mindset matters! The active involvement of women in family businesses: harnessing context through the STEP project

Author

Listed:
  • Samara, Georges
  • Bang, Nupur Pavan
  • Conti, Elisa
  • Mejri, Issam
  • Calabrò, Andrea
  • Jayakumar, Tulsi
  • Jimenez, Rocio Martinez
  • Hernández-Ortiz, María-Jesús
  • Zamora, Francisca Panades

Abstract

Drawing on 23 cases of family firms across 23 countries and four continents, this research explores how different family mindsets shape leadership opportunities for women in family firms situated in different geographical contexts. Adopting a qualitative, interpretivist approach, our findings reveal that families with a fixed mindset create barriers to the active involvement of women in the business. In contrast, families with a growth mindset enable the active involvement of women in family businesses through three main mechanisms: promoting meritocracy, encouraging early involvement of women in the business, and fostering women role models. Our findings enrich the family business literature by unpacking how the family mindset can, in some cases, supersede cultural norms and expectations in shaping the active involvement of women in family businesses.

Suggested Citation

  • Samara, Georges & Bang, Nupur Pavan & Conti, Elisa & Mejri, Issam & Calabrò, Andrea & Jayakumar, Tulsi & Jimenez, Rocio Martinez & Hernández-Ortiz, María-Jesús & Zamora, Francisca Panades, 2026. "Mindset matters! The active involvement of women in family businesses: harnessing context through the STEP project," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:205:y:2026:i:c:s0148296325006897
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2025.115866
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    References listed on IDEAS

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