10 INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES FROM WOMEN IN FAMILY BUSINESS

10 INSPIRATIONAL
QUOTES FROM
WOMEN IN
FAMILY BUSINESS
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WOMEN IN FAMILY BUSINESS
“
Whether it be as owners, managers, mothers, daughters or other, the influence and
impact of women on the sustainability of the family enterprise is significant. No matter
their position within the business or the family, women tend to hold multiple roles and
responsibilities, some of them recognised and others less so.
Enjoy these ten quotes from women around the world who share their inspiring insights
on managing the intrinsic web of duties and pleasures that come from being part of the
family enterprise.
”

WOMEN IN FAMILY BUSINESS
““What we do at the moment mostly is to encourage
values in our children. It’s extremely important to instil
values from the beginning. We teach them things like
managing their pocket money according to the three
S’s, an idea produced by my brother-in-law Etienne,
which means that part of their money goes into Savings,
another into Spending and the third S stands for Sharing.
Its values like these that instil respect of others. This is an
important factor in making them responsible owners.”
Carole Hübscher
Chairwoman of Caran d’Ache, Switzerland
”

WOMEN IN FAMILY BUSINESS
“
I feel that if you have the ambition and the drive to
create social value and innovation then the potential
of the family business platform is tremendous. Instead
of starting from scratch and spending five or six years
building everything you already have these resources
that you can count on. Many of them are intellectual and
emotional.
”
Priyanka Gupta
Executive Director, MPIL, India

WOMEN IN FAMILY BUSINESS
“
The family’s dynamic is one thing and the business
dynamic is another. The business is subject to the
markets in which it operates, the family is subject to the
individuals, who are part of it. Both parts have different
needs and cycles. It’s important to distinguish these two
and not confuse them while creating processes for the
family business.
”
Veronica Maldonado
Executive Director, GEM, Venezuela

WOMEN IN FAMILY BUSINESS
“
I believe that as owners we are in a unique position to
change the rules in our own businesses. A family-owned
business that values the input of female members as
owners and employees will create a different set of
opportunities and policies that will enhance the personal
and professional lives of their female employees.
”
Patricia Ghany
CFO, Esau Oilfield SupplyCompany, Trinidad and Tobago

WOMEN IN FAMILY BUSINESS
“
I do not think it is a matter of obligation for the spouses
of family members to get involved in the business.
However, I also believe that as a spouse to an active
member of a family business you automatically become
engaged in the businesses complex workings whether
you like it or not. Therefore, understanding your role
within the family becomes important since your attitude
and actions will have consequences for generations to
come, particularly when it comes to the values that are
transmitted to the children. So, educating spouses about
the family business can only have a positive influence on
all family and business relationships.
”
Ana Maria Matallana
Chairwoman Fundacion La Cayena and Co-Founder
WIFB, Colombia

WOMEN IN FAMILY BUSINESS
“
I believe that one of the greatest hurdles to success we
face, as women, is guilt. You either feel guilty towards
your children, for not being at home, or you feel guilty
towards the office, for spending time with the family.
I had to make the conscious effort to let go of that
continuous feeling and be very clear and organised
about how I spend my time. This has enabled me to
make the most of both environments and to be happy
and fulfilled and to be able to enjoy both my family and
my work.
”
Karine Obegi
Managing Partner, Obegi Home, Lebanon and UAE

WOMEN IN FAMILY BUSINESS
“
We have an ageless belief that is as strong today
as it was in our past – we are the environment, the
environment is us. We acknowledge and describe
ourselves as part of the physical environment from
which we hail. The environment is as important as
our community and stakeholders. The environment
is our parent, our family, and will nurture our future
generations.
Mavis Mullins
Owner, Paewai Mullins Shearing Ltd., Newzealand
”

WOMEN IN FAMILY BUSINESS
“
There are many ingredients to a successful business
and family. The most important thing is discipline then
love and passion. If you have passion for everything that
you do then your day is long and you can get everything
done. You create time for your family. (...) If you put your
heart in it then you can do anything. Just don’t let your
energies go into things that are not worth it. It is about
perception. With the right attitude, the day is really long
and you can divide your time productively in order to
tackle all your responsibilities.
”
Mercedes Salazar
Founder “Mercedes Salazar”Jewellery, Colombia

WOMEN IN FAMILY BUSINESS
“
I believe that many factors come in play when making
that decision, most have to do with individual career
choices (i.e. if I want to become a doctor or a painter and
my family business is Electro-Mechanical contracting).
My most honest and important advice however is: do not
make that decision based on your emotions. Feelings
of guilt or duty will be of no help if you are unhappy
working in the family business.
Rawan Issa
Issa Holding, Lebanon
”

WOMEN IN FAMILY BUSINESS
“
Gender shouldn’t be the determining factor in one’s
ability to perform a task. Your knowledge, skill and talent
should speak for themselves. The NAWIC reported
that women make up 8.9 percent of workers in the
construction industry. It may be a very small figure but
at least it’s improving. Women are slowly but surely
paving their way into leadership roles. It makes me very
happy to consider myself as having played a part in this
movement.
”
Ceyda Carmikli
Executive Board Member, Nurol REIT, Turkey

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