The Role of Women in Family Businesses: The Case of Slovenia

While female entrepreneurship is still not adequately developed in Slovenia (considering GEM studies 2003–2010) and behind its density in most other EU countries, it is assumed that women play a very important role in family firms, which is an extremely important segment of the entrepreneurship movement emerging from the economic transition period. Women in Slovenia have reached a high level of equality in both fields of education and employment and it may be expected that they would be able to grasp a crucial role in family firms, as well. The demographic trends over the last decades with a low number of children should enable them to establish themselves as heiresses of family firms as well, which is important since a large proportion of family firms will be entering the succession process from the founding to the next generation in the near future (Glas et al. 2005). In this chapter, the meaning of women in Slovenian family firms is examined considering their role in the ownership, managerial positions, as well as the differences in values, attitudes towards family firms, their managerial styles, etc. Their real contribution seems to be underestimated and undervalued due to the conservative, more patriarchic tradition and the full potential of women is still not well utilized. However, the role of Slovenian women in family firms should be further supported and enhanced to the benefit of their important economic and social role, the family well-being and improved prospects of the development of family firms into the next generation.