The Levant Family Business Podcast – Marrying Into The Family Business – The “Other” Perspective
Episode 13 – Sitting on the side-lines, A Conversation With Lena Idriss.
Entering into a family business through marriage can be a challenging course to navigate, and one which often requires a steep learning curve. It takes time and perseverance for an in-law to fully integrate into a family business and earn the trust, respect and value of the family members. Consequently, it can require a great deal of observing from the sidelines before an in-law may be comfortable in sharing their input and having their voice heard. As a result, the roles that the wives and husbands of family business members play is often overlooked.
In this episode, we are joined by Lena Idriss whose husband is a part of the WAFIC IDRISS s.a.r.l. family business based in Lebanon. Lena shares her personal experience, insights and advice from her journey over the last 20 years on integrating into a family business from the perspective of an in-law.
What are the main challenges of entering into a family business through marriage?
“Entering into a family business through marriage is a real learning experience that you can’t full comprehend until your integrated into the family. You are marrying the business as well as your spouse, and your life is heavily impacted by the business.” – Lena Idriss
KEY QUESTIONS DISCUSSED IN THE PODCAST
- What are the main challenges for individuals marrying into a family business?
- What role do the husbands and wives of family businesses play and why are they often overlooked?
- What advice can we give to individuals joining a family business through marriage?
- What action can be taken to make the process run as smoothly as possible?
You can listen to the full series of The Levant Family Business Podcast on www.soundcloud.com/tharawat
This episode is hosted by Cherine Debbas, Co-Founder of AGW Family Business Advisory.
This podcast series is designed by The Tharawat Family Business Forum and produced in collaboration with AGW Family Business Advisory. More information on www.tharawat.org and www.agw-advisory.com.