Katrina Barclay – The Conversation

Running a business and successfully transferring ownership are two very different skill sets. Without thoughtful policy support, Canada risks losing not just businesses, but the jobs and community investments they sustain. (Martin Baron/Unsplash)

November 9, 2025

Budget 2025 ignores the looming succession crisis facing Canada’s family businesses

Katrina Barclay, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa and Peter Jaskiewicz, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

Budget 2025 failed to provide any measures to support and equip entrepreneurs and family business owners for generational transitions.

While family owners can sometimes be bad for business, they can also be beneficial in many ways. (Shutterstock)

April 11, 2023

Corporate social responsibility: Why family businesses get more bang for their buck than non‑family firms

Peter Jaskiewicz, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa; James G Combs, University of Central Florida, and Katrina Barclay, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

By investing in corporate social responsibility initiatives, family-owned businesses can make financial gains while also making positive societal contributions.

Sometimes holding onto traditions can be a hindrance to the success of family businesses, but there are ways to innovate while also honouring them. (Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels)

January 27, 2022

How to manage traditions for the continued success of the family business

Peter Jaskiewicz, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa; Katrina Barclay, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa, and Roy Suddaby, University of Victoria

Traditions shouldn’t be thrown out since they often provide a vital foundation for the family business. But they also shouldn’t be rigidly enforced.

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