Few studies have been undertaken to identify the gender related barriers and opportunities to succession and top leadership for women in Irish family businesses. This study comprised of interviews with female leaders in family businesses, of various sizes and sectors, from across the Republic of Ireland. Participants were women who are, or recently have been, managers and/or directors of their family businesses in which a male family member of the same generation is also involved in management or directorship. Half of the participants came from family businesses that have not yet undergone succession (i.e. leadership transfer) and half were post-succession firms.

Traditionally, women in family business have played vital, albeit largely invisible, informal and unpaid roles in the business. Although these roles are today much more visible and formalised, with a growing number of women assuming senior leadership positions, there is still evidence that succession by the first-born son remains the norm.

This podcast was produced by Stephen Bergin, SB Video Base Ltd.

NCFB is supported by our partners by Beauchamps, PwC and AIB Bank (October 2020)