Transitioning Non-Family Members into the Business

Margaret-Jean Mannix shares her experience of including her spouse in family activities.

So I would say another key example of how we help the transition for non-family members coming into the family business space is, in that family business space, is you know, I think trying to find ways to highlight their skill sets and strengths. Find ways to either have them make a presentation, or find ways they can contribute, I know one time we had an Iron Chef, we’re a very competitive family, so we had an Iron Chef amongst ourselves, and that was a wonderful way I think for some of the spouses to highlight their skill sets, I know my husband for example, he stole my mother’s Cesar Salad recipe and they won the salad competition, and I think he was really quite proud of himself for being kind of a part of that, and I know people recognized him for that. So that’s a fun way of doing it you know that’s not all about numbers and business and that kind of intensity.