What Taylor Swift Can Teach Women in Family Enterprises
I confess I really know nothing about Swift’s music- I am not sure I have even heard one of her songs.
So as I read Kevin Evers book, There’s Nothing Like This The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift (Harvard Business Review Press 2025), I read it through the lens of “what can observing Taylor Swift teach women in family enterprise?”. Her two decade journey offers powerful lessons for women in family enterprises, wealth stewardship, and legacy planning.
Lesson 1: She owns her own narrative.
Swift re-recorded her early albums to regain control of her master recordings and reshape the story of her creative output. Similarly, women in family enterprises must own their narratives. Rather than accepting imposed roles as background supporters, they can define their leadership contributions and claim their rightful place in governance and succession.
Lesson 2: She is a master of reinvention and authentic while doing it.
Swift has reinvented herself across musical genres and life stages while maintaining core authenticity. Family enterprises face a similar challenge: adapt across generations without losing identity. Women, often bridges between generations, can lead reinvention while honoring legacy.
Lesson 3: She builds direct relationships and cuts out the middleman.
Swift bypasses industry gatekeepers by engaging directly with fans through social media, surprise releases, and immersive experiences. In family enterprises, women can cultivate transparent communication with siblings, cousins, and rising generations—reducing reliance on hierarchy and building trust across the family system.
Lesson 4: She leverages intangible assets which all women know and have.
Swift’s greatest strength lies not only in her music but in her storytelling, authenticity, and emotional connection. Likewise, families’ most valuable capital often isn’t financial—it’s reputation, trust, and shared values. Women are frequently the custodians of these intangible assets, ensuring they endure across generations.
Lesson 5. Rather than running away from conflict she turns conflict into creativity.
Swift channels disputes with record labels, rivals, or the media into creative output that strengthens her position. In family enterprises, conflict is inevitable. Women leaders can model how to turn disputes into catalysts for growth, governance reform, and renewed clarity about purpose.
Lesson 6. She leverages philanthropy
Swift leverages philanthropy—supporting disaster relief, education, and social causes—to reinforce her influence. Similarly, women in family businesses often lead philanthropic strategies, aligning charitable efforts with family values and enhancing reputational capital.
Swift is a master strategist: disciplined, adaptable, resilient and poised to go further. Women in family enterprise would be wise to take a page out of her book.