Cathy Carroll - How to Lead a Family Business With Both Love and Logic

Phronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders with Scott J. Allen

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Cathy Carroll learned about family business leadership the best way you can – by leading her family business. After a twenty-year corporate career, she left United Airlines to lead her father’s business and instantly recognized a difference between leadership in a family business vs leadership in a large corporation.

Founder and President of Legacy Onward, Inc., Cathy Carroll is a family business leadership coach and author of Hug of War: How to Lead a Family Business With both Love and Logic. She also trains advisors serving in family enterprises as well as coaches who maintain their credential with the International Coaching Federation.

Cathy earned certificates in both Leadership Coaching and Executive Facilitation at Georgetown University, an MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and a BA at Boston College. She is also a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) in the ICF.

An active member of the community, Cathy currently serves as Vice-Chair the Board of the Purposeful Planning Instituteand co-founder & Treasurer of A Leg To Stand On which provides prosthetic limbs to children in developing countries.
Quote From This Episode

• "There are these polarities that live within us that lead to huge blind spots, and our reactive tendency is to double down on our strength, which puts us into 'overuse.'"

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Book: Hug of War: How to Lead a Family Business With Both Love and Logic
• Book: Polarity Management by Johnson
• Book: Polarity Intelligence by Christopherson and Troseth
• Book: Navigating Polarities by Emerson and Lewis
• Book: Family Business as Paradox by Schuman, Stutz, & Ward
• Website: Legacy Onward: Leadership Coaching for Family Business
• Television Show: House
• Quote: "A child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth" - African Proverb
  

About The International Leadership Association (ILA)

• The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025!

About Scott J. Allen

• Website
• Weekly Newsletter: The Leader's Edge
• Blog

My Approach to Hosting

• The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic.

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1. Navigating Family Business Leadership Challenges (00:00:00)

2. Family Business Influence and Leadership (00:16:10)

3. Discovering Leadership Blind Spots (00:28:30)

4. Exploring Political Tension and Social Divides (00:32:32)

5. Navigating Unique Leadership Dynamics (00:44:12)