Opening the black box of gender in family business advising

Family firms (FF) seek help from external advisors to address issues such as succession, conflict, and governance. This unique type of advisory service is essentially multidisciplinary, integrating knowledge and expertise from various fields such as psychology, business, and law. In response to current calls for considering gender as an intervening variable in family dynamics and succession, we conducted a literature review of academic articles on family business advising to explore the extent to which gender has been incorporated in this field of study. This review aims to challenge and expand the discourse on gender dynamics within family businesses and advisory practices, as gender is deeply interwoven into the very fabric of FFs. Our inquiry offers theoretical and practical insights into how family business advisors can address gender issues and incorporate a broader gender perspective into their practice to advance diversity and inclusion. We call for more studies in this area to enhance the effectiveness of advisory processes and to foster leadership development within family businesses. We also advocate that family business advisors “walk the talk’’ by employing more diverse teams to best address gender issues in their clients’ practices and policies.