Bearing Witness? : A legacy of faith in family entrepreneuring

Discua Cruz, Allan and Hamilton, Eleanor (2025) Bearing Witness? : A legacy of faith in family entrepreneuring. Academy of Management Perspectives. ISSN 1558-9080

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Abstract

In this study, we examine the intriguing concept of a legacy of faith in the context of family businesses, providing a new perspective on family entrepreneuring across generations. Recent studies herald the influence of religious faith on entrepreneuring but are limited in providing clarity as to how and why a legacy influenced by religious faith may be created and sustained, and with what impact. Relying on a qualitative approach, we examine empirical data from multiple generations in seven families. We find that families in business generate co-constructed stories that build, and sustain, a legacy of faith. In doing so, we contribute to the understanding of a collective identity influenced by religious faith and enhance the theoretical perspective of cultural entrepreneurship. The study shows how and why co-constructed stories contribute to legacies that influence family entrepreneuring and impact business policy. We interpret these co-constructed stories using the metaphors of a compass, an anchor, and a lighthouse, and propose a model that illustrates a legacy of faith. We further introduce a model capturing a legacy of faith as a manifestation of cultural entrepreneurship and family entrepreneuring over time.