Finding Her Voice and Creating a Legacy: Portraits of Pioneering Women Leading Wealthy Families

Who are Today’s Women of Wealth?

It’s a question that’s increasingly asked, but difficult to answer without defaulting to external demographics and vague statements of qualities. These women control a large percentage of the world’s wealth; oversee a significant portion of today’s philanthropic programs and perspectives; and play an increasing role in shaping the philosophies and priorities of future generations. Today, they are becoming increasingly visible leaders, taking their families along new paths, and emphasizing different priorities.

Yet, what do we really know about them? For generations, these women have remained elegant, effective, and ever elusive. But their stories must be told. Their voices must be heard. Far too often, their stories are told through the lens of others: their husbands, their children, outsiders, or even the media. The positions they hold in the enduring sagas and generational successes of wealthy families are every bit as essential as their patriarchal counterparts—maybe even more so.

Today, that’s truer than ever. Across the globe, women have reached the tipping point in assuming positions of power and influence and amassing significant wealth. Women in the United States control more than $10.9 trillion in assets. That number is estimated to triple by 2030. In 2019, there were eleven self-made female billionaires worldwide. Just one year later, there were one hundred. Across countless corners of society, women are embracing a new role in which staid stereotypes and traditional roles no longer apply.

Yet, in the exclusive enclave of ultra-high net worth families, the roles of women remain hindered by longstanding conventions and complex intergenerational dynamics. These traditions, combined with lingering societal inequalities, have created a complicated path forward for women of wealth today.

Authors Amy Hart Clyne and Dennis T. Jaffe set out to uncover the voices and perspectives of this elusive group at this critical time.

What they found were stories both universal and extraordinary. Individuals experiencing the triumphs and tribulations shared by so many women while at the same time navigating massive fortunes and complex legacies. Women as partners and peacekeepers. Caregivers and co-investors. Agitators and arbitrators. Visionaries and voices of reason.

Finding Her Voice & Creating a Legacy shares deeply personal—and profound—stories from these women, uncovers what made them unique, and offers key themes and actionable insights to serve today’s pioneers and the next generation of females leading family enterprises. Stories covered marriage and motherhood, love, and loss; the evolving role of the family and family enterprise; perspectives on wealth, business, and their evolution in both; and the critical role the right advisors could play in family legacy and harmony.

As Chief Knowledge and Learning Officer at Pitcairn, Amy Hart Clyne empowers wealthy families through family education and pioneers research and best practices that elevate the role of advisors to a true partnership. She leads Pitcairn's Gen7 Project®, the firm's thought leadership and learning lab providing unique resources to families undergoing major wealth transitions. Amy has an MBA in Marketing from Columbia Business School, a bachelor's degree from Colgate University, and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.