Family influence on career decisions: perceptions of Latin American CEOs

Purpose - The career is a space where family and work lives amalgamate. The role of work for the individual, and the meaning of work within the culture, will determine the relevance of family. This study investigates CEOs' perception about conjugal family influence on career decisions, and it examines family factors. Design/methodology/approach - Through a qualitative study, 22 Latin American CEOs who work for multinational firms were interviewed in a semi-structured way. Findings - Not all career decisions were influenced by conjugal family. CEOs varied in the extent to which they considered their families when reflecting on their career decisions. Expatriation, joining or quitting an organization and change of area of work were found as those decisions perceived to be influenced by conjugal family. Family support, family structure and family demands and responsibilities were identified as the family factors involved. In spite of the role salience, family factors influenced some of CEOs' career decisions, in part, due to the cultural characteristics of the Latin American environment. The instrumental support of the extended family, as part of collectivist societies, was also evidenced. Practical implications - A better understanding of the family influenced decisions and family factors involved may enhance individual career decision-making as well as organizational career management processes and public initiatives. Originality/value - This study contributes to family and career literature, being the first one to explore the conjugal family influence upon CEOs' career decisions.