Why and how should SHE make her way into the family business boardroom?

The most successful and longest-enduring family firms are progressively encouraging the active presence of women on their corporate boards. Why is the presence of women on boards so importantforfamily firms? And how can policy makers and controlling owners encourage the active presence of women on family business corporateboards?By integrating theliteratureonwomeningovernance andthe goalsof family businesses, we take a step toward increasing shareholder awareness of the economic and noneconomic benefits that women can bring to the family business boardroom.Using theory and empirical evidence, we show thatthe presence of women on corporate boards can be instrumentalforthe controlling owners of a family business to achieve prosperity and success, to preserve family cohesion, and to improve the reputation of the family and business simultaneously. Furthermore, we discuss the socioemotional and economic ramifications of excluding women from the family business board of directors. We conclude with four practical recommendations for encouraging the active presence of women on family business boards.