Tina Knowles has warned of the “difficulties” that come from parents and children going into business together. Family businesses represent a significant portion of companies worldwide, making this dynamic a common challenge in the entrepreneurial landscape.
The 71-year-old matriarch is mother to Beyonce and Solange, and has admitted that there would often be “disagreements” as she helped launch them both into the entertainment industry. Research shows that family businesses face unique challenges, with many failing to survive generational transitions due to interpersonal conflicts and communication issues.
“There are difficulties sometimes because if you’re dealing with your child or you’re dealing with your mother, you know, you have disagreements,” she told Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, speaking on the ‘Confessions of a Female Founder’ podcast. “I’m the one that always caves. I’ve been like that since I was young. If my kids are mad at me, I can’t take it. I’ll apologize.” This dynamic reflects common patterns in parent-child business relationships, where emotional bonds often complicate professional decision-making.
Prior to Beyonce’s fame, Tina worked as a hairdresser and owned a salon in Texas, but it was only in 2024 that she managed to persuade the ‘Single Ladies’ hitmaker to co-found the haircare brand Cécred with her. The beauty industry, particularly haircare, represents a massive global market, with celebrity-endorsed brands showing exceptional growth rates in recent years.
“It has been a dream of mine forever and Beyonce has been a big dream of hers, so we have talked about it for years and years and years but she was just not interested in pursuing another business because in her younger years she completely focused on her singing and her skills and all of that. It took some convincing,” she said. This strategic focus on core competencies is common among successful entertainers, with many delaying business ventures until their primary careers are well-established.
“I was like ‘I’ll work on it, we can work on it together…’ and finally she said ‘Okay, we can start on it’. I didn’t want to do it by myself. I just felt like at this point in my life, I didn’t want to work that hard for once. I wound up working hard anyway but it’s been a labor of love.” Studies indicate that partnerships between family members can be particularly successful when both parties bring complementary skills and shared vision to the venture.
“[Beyonce] is on the stage with hot lights and she wears wigs a lot and she has managed to keep her hair beautiful and healthy, but that is not an easy task when you’re in show business!” The entertainment industry poses unique challenges for hair and beauty maintenance, with performers often facing extreme conditions including stage lighting, frequent styling changes, and chemical treatments that can damage hair health.
Tina’s background as a professional hairdresser provided the technical foundation for their haircare venture, while Beyoncé‘s global influence and understanding of performance demands brought market credibility. The combination of professional expertise and celebrity endorsement has proven highly effective in the beauty industry, with celebrity-backed brands capturing significant market share across various demographics.
The mother-daughter duo’s business relationship reflects broader trends in celebrity entrepreneurship, where established stars leverage their fame to enter lucrative markets. Their collaboration highlights the growing importance of authentic storytelling in brand marketing, as consumers increasingly value products that come from genuine experience and expertise rather than mere celebrity endorsement.
Their success demonstrates how family businesses can thrive when members bring distinct but complementary strengths to the partnership. Industry experts note that successful celebrity beauty brands typically combine professional expertise, authentic personal connection to the product category, and strategic market positioning.
The challenges Tina describes regarding family business dynamics are well-documented in business literature. Family enterprises often struggle with separating personal relationships from professional decisions, leading to conflicts that can threaten both business success and family harmony. However, when managed effectively, these businesses can leverage unique advantages including shared values, long-term commitment, and deep trust between partners.
Tina’s candid discussion about consistently yielding to her children’s preferences illustrates a common pattern in family businesses where parents may defer to adult children to preserve relationships. Business advisors often recommend establishing clear roles and decision-making processes to prevent personal dynamics from undermining professional effectiveness and maintaining healthy boundaries between family and business interactions.
The podcast appearance with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, also reflects the growing trend of high-profile women sharing entrepreneurial experiences and challenges, providing valuable insights for other female founders navigating similar dynamics in their own family businesses and professional relationships.
