Commentary: The Prequel to Family Firm Culture and Stewardship: The Leadership Perspective of the Founder

This commentary considers the role of the founder in establishing a family firm's culture. Drawing from transformational leadership theory, it is argued that a founder who displays transformational leadership behaviors may be more likely to establish a family firm culture that reflects family commitment, stewardship, and strategic flexibility. As such, this commentary extends the article by Zahra, Hayton, Neubaum, Dibrell, and Craig by linking stewardship theory with transformational leadership theory, and viewing family firm culture as an intervening mechanism between leadership behaviors and strategic flexibility.