Dar es Salaam, Oct. 14 -- A close friend of mine who has known my family and me for the past 17 years asked if I am grooming my son for the family business. She expected a yes. My answer was no.

She looked at me again and asked, “Are you not grooming your son for the family business?” Her tone suggested she already knew the answer. She assumed that, of course, a son would be on a direct path to inherit the businesses Ive spent years building. The look on her face when I gave my honest reply was pure shock. She was certain of her assumption, and my reality was far from it.

The idea that lineage equals leadership, as a business person, does not sit well with me. My take is that this assumption does not protect your business, n...