“There Was No Other Option” : An Intergenerational Perspective of Women Resilience in Family Entrepreneuring

Mejia Rivera, Kevin and Paz, Carmen and Discua Cruz, Allan (2026) “There Was No Other Option” : An Intergenerational Perspective of Women Resilience in Family Entrepreneuring. In: Entrepreneurship and Reflexivity - Critical Visions from the Global South :. Palgrave Studies of Entrepreneurship and Social Challenges in Developing Economies . Palgrave McMillan, Cham, pp. 417-448. ISBN 9783031999758

Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to further understand the challenges women face in the intricate interplay between generations in family entrepreneuring. Prior studies have been limited in explaining how and why a family business in Latin America may be developed by several generations of a family when women lead the firm. Employing a qualitative case study approach, this research examines the journey of a prominent Honduran coffee company owned and led by women. Relying on qualitative methods we identify the challenges faced by the three generations of women leading the family business. Our findings led to the identification of internal and external motivations to face crises and to stand out for their entrepreneurial success. Findings revealed the mechanisms through which a collective form of stewardship influences family entrepreneurship. A model is presented to explain how and why this occurs, along with implications for practice and future research directions.