Digital workplace innovation could help more women become leaders of family businesses by making it easier to balance work and family responsibilities, according to new research from the University of East London. The study suggests that flexible digital working enables women to take on greater strategic and leadership responsibilities without sacrificing family commitments, potentially creating a stronger pipeline of future leaders within family-owned firms.

Although family businesses are often viewed as supportive employers, the researchers argue they can present unique barriers to women’s advancement. Leadership succession is frequently determined through informal family decisions rather than formal recruitment processes. At the same time, traditional gender expectations and assumptions that effective leaders must be physically present in the workplace can disadvantage women with caring responsibilities. These factors may limit opportunities for women to be recognised as future successors.

The researchers argue that digital workplace technologies—including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Workspace and cloud-based business systems—can help shift attention away from time spent in the office towards measurable contributions and performance. By making collaboration, communication and decision-making more accessible, these tools allow women to participate more visibly in leadership activities while maintaining a healthier balance between work and family life.

The paper proposes a framework explaining how digital workplace innovation can strengthen women’s leadership prospects through four connected changes: building confidence, creating more opportunities to participate in strategic decision-making, increasing business knowledge and changing perceptions of who is prepared to lead. Together, these factors could make leadership pathways more accessible for women in family businesses.

Dr Ozlem Ozdemir, from the Royal Docks School of Business and Law, said that while family businesses are built on close relationships, this does not necessarily make them easier environments for women to reach leadership positions. She explained that women family members may struggle to be viewed as ambitious professionals. Still, digital workplace tools can help redirect attention from who is most visible in the office to who is making the strongest contribution. Co-author Professor Kirk Chang added that collaboration platforms can create new opportunities for talented women to demonstrate leadership, provided businesses judge leaders by results rather than physical presence.

The authors emphasise, however, that technology alone cannot eliminate barriers to leadership. Family businesses must also foster cultures that actively support women, value performance over visibility and challenge traditional assumptions about leadership. Published in the journal Strategy and Leadership, the paper synthesises existing research to propose a framework showing how digital workplace innovation can improve work-life balance while helping more women become future leaders of family businesses.

More information: Ozlem Ozdemir et al, Women entrepreneurs and their leadership in family business: insights from digital workplace innovation, Strategy and Leadership. DOI: 10.1108/SL-04-2026-0200

Journal information: Strategy and Leadership Provided by University of East London