Book Review
Kerri Harper-Howie is an attorney, an entrepreneur, and now the author of a great new book, The Family Secret: The Business and Franchise Owner's Guide to Building Generational Wealth. She shares her inspirational story of how she travelled her very personal journey to success, entrepreneurship, and building a generational legacy.
Kerri Harper-Howie, the author of the book, The Family Secret: The Business and Franchise Owner's Guide to Building Generational Wealth, is an attorney, and never planned to join her family’s franchise business. But changing life circumstances moved her to leave her successful legal career after 13 years and do exactly that in 2013. Over the next decade, the franchise business grew from 13 to 21 restaurants, and the business successfully transitioned from one generation to the next. The Family Secret tells the story of Kerri and her family’s 40-year business journey and shares insights on how others can build generational prosperity and legacy.
The Family Secret explores the emotional, practical, and logistical requirements of:
Establishing any business properly
Building the foundations of cooperation and communication to turn any business into a family business
Joining and expanding an existing family business – what you need to consider and how best to leverage the strengths and weaknesses of those around you
Navigating the complexities and demands of planning and executing a succession plan
The Family Secret is the inspiring story of a family of Black women who succeeded against all odds, interwoven with invaluable business acumen and insight. Read it to be inspired, and finish it feeling empowered to take your business to the next level for generations to come!
Author Quotes
I did not want to base this book solely on my personal experiences. Therefore I sat down and extensively interviewed other families about their successful family businesses. Their stories are sprinkled throughout this book.
It is hoped that these honest experiences and collection of stories will help you on your path to opening or growing your family business.
When that gut feeling makes its appearance, you know without a doubt that you’re moving in the right direction. You know that if you continue to do this thing you will thrive. Some people call it purpose. I call it a ‘thrive factor’.
About the author
Kerri Harper-Howie is an entrepreneur, lawyer, author, and public speaker with extensive experience owning and operating successful businesses, representing clients in all stages of employment litigation, publishing, and public speaking. In partnership with her sister, Kerri owns 21 McDonald’s franchises in one of the most challenging business environments in the United States. Kerri combines her legal expertise with practical business acumen, offering a unique perspective on workplace issues, business operations, succession planning, and fostering family-like workplaces. Her career is marked by legal victories, innovative business strategies, and a commitment to establishing and maintaining equitable and efficient workplace environments. Kerri's leadership and dedication to excellence have established her as a thought leader in the business community, where she continues to advocate for best practices, sustainable growth, and fair treatment of everyone.
Why LoA loves it…
If you are looking for an inspirational read about fellow women entrepreneurs who followed their dreams, beat the odds, and succeeded in building a business for generations to come, then Kerri Harper-Howie’s new book, The Family Secret, is just what you need. Kerri shares her personal insights and experiences, together with those of her family, on how to build generational prosperity and legacy. This is a great read, with unique perspectives, and valuable for any woman entrepreneur who has a vision to build a legacy business of her own. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa