Mother’s Day Salute- Matriarchs of Family Business
Less than one week ago I joined the Drucker School to become the Director of the Global Family Business Institute. I am not a Peter Drucker expert(yet), but am now a student of his principles and will look to apply them within the realm of Family Business. As I began reviewing some of his books and articles, I was drawn to an article in the Los Angeles Times published on October 4th 2014. This article was not about Peter Drucker, but it was about his wife Doris. Doris had recently passed away at the age of 103. I’m not sure if it was the fact that yesterday was Mother’s Day in the United States, but I couldn’t help but think of the role Doris played in the success of Peter and their family.
At the age of eighty two Doris started a company to manufacture a device inspired by a challenge her husband faced in the many lectures he gave. According to the article, Peter didn’t have the best hearing and at times his voice would inadvertently drop in volume, making it difficult for people in the back to hear him. Drucker’s daughter Kathleen Spivack shares, “She was there to make sure everyone heard every precious word.” She shares, “She would often shriek out, ‘Louder!’ in her heavy German accent.”
It is from this experience that she developed what was called a Visivox. The L.A. Times reports, “Her idea was a battery-powered device, equipped with a microphone and colored lights, that would give people who were hard of hearing a visual representation of how loudly they were speaking.”
It is said that Peter Drucker is the father of management. How then should we refer to the woman in his life that worked tirelessly to help his voice be heard? Perhaps she is the matriarch of modern management.
A matriarch is an influential leader within a family or society. As I reflect on the matriarchs and stong women in my life, I can’t help but think of the symbolism illustrated by Doris and her invention. She wanted to have the person she loved have his voice heard. She wanted others to comfortably enjoy learning from and being served by his wisdom. As I consider the women in my life, many have done the same for me. My mother has always encouraged me to chase my dreams. My wife has now taken on that role and has led me to share my voice by her serving as a co-author of two books and serving as editor on many articles I’ve written over the years. These same women seek to encourage our children and other loved ones and friends to be heard and seen.
In what ways have matriarchs (strong women leaders) in your life influenced your life for good?
In my role at the Drucker School I pledge to celebrate and spotlight the matriarchs of family business. Whether they powerfully lead from the front, manage from the middle, quietly lead from the back or focus their full-time efforts on the business of the family, they should be celebrated.
I was recently interviewed on the Enterprising Families podcast, hosted by Tsitsi Mutendi where we discuss the important role of matriarchs in family business. If you are interested, I would encourage you to give it a listen. (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dave-specht-share-on-the-family-matriarchs/id1532915112?i=1000503700267)
In the comments, please tag a matriarch that you respect and tell us how she’s played a powerful role in your life.
Dave Specht is the Director of the Global Family Business Institute at the Drucker School of Management. He is the author of, “The Family Business Whisperer.” Follow his Drucker journey and his family business adventures on Twitter @fmlybusinessman or e-mail him at david.specht@cgu.edu.
