Strategic planning is a waste of time
I’VE HEARD this from founders who built empires with nothing but instinct and iron will. From patriarchs who turned nothing into something. From partners...
The greatest threat to a family business is the conversation it never had
How Communication, Shared Purpose, and Stewardship Protect Family Unity Across Generations
What is the greatest threat facing family businesses across ASEAN?
Many would point to economic...
The cracks usually appear long before the collapse
Five Governance Gaps That Quietly Divide Successful Families
Most family business conflicts do not begin as conflict.
They begin as discomforts nobody wants to discuss.
A sibling...
The Lopez conflict — and lessons family businesses must learn
Why Strong Family Relationships Are No Longer Enough
I SERIOUSLY considered not writing this piece.
Not because the issue lacks importance. In many ways, it may...
Why ‘we are okay’ are the three most dangerous words in family business
“It is not the conflict you can see that destroys family businesses. It is the tension no one is willing to name.”
EVERY family business...
Why Family Boards Collapse (Part 2)
(When Board seats are inherited, not earned)
The Seat That Came With a Surname
When the second generation formalized the Board, each sibling was given a...
Why family boards collapse: Power Without Accountability (Part 1)
(When roles are blurred, governance begins to fail)
The Boardroom That Felt Like a Drama Class
Antonio chaired the meeting, but it did not feel like...
Directors are not dealmakers
Why Personal Agendas Have No Place in the Boardroom
In many family businesses, the boardroom is often misunderstood. A seat at the table is seen...
Part 1: The boardroom is not a dining room
THE boardroom is not a dining table. It is not a playground. And it is certainly not an inheritance.
Yet in many family businesses, board...
Part 1: The Advisory Board — A training ground for governance
IT IS A question I am often asked by founders and family business owners:
“We’re just an SME — do we really need a board...