Introduction: The Daughters’ Inclusion Challenge

Although multigenerational families-in-business are diverse by nature, not all business-families are inherently inclusive. Why? Because while diversity in the business-family context is a given, inclusion is a choice – and as a choice, it implies awareness, reflection and action.

Family members are innately dissimilar or diverse in terms of their traits and characteristics with regard to gender, race, age, religion, culture, income, knowledge, leadership styles, etc., not to mention their personal preferences which they reveal and reach thru their acts. Hence, the real challenge for business-owning families rests not in how to bring more diversity to their families, or even to their firms, but in learning (first) how to manage, integrate and capitalize the family diversity they are blessed with.