Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to attend the BIRLA Breakfast Forum at the Asian Institute of Management. The topic was Traversing the Family Business Path: Insights from Non-Family Leaders. I was there early, so I was able to register and eat brekkie before the event began.
The speakers were business leaders from the Philippines’ top corporations.
I have learned from these leaders that trust is important in a family business. Non-family leaders do not necessarily have to use (and show) their talents all the time. They must be good listeners and balanced thinkers in order to win their employer’s trust and confidence. A family business cannot grow if they will not hire the best talent, and this means expanding beyond their family ties. It is also important to hire people with skills who could complement the family’s vision and values.
I have learned heaps from this morning, which I will eventually apply on my future corporate job. Most of my roles were in family businesses, and as a non-family employee, I did have to earn their trust by listening to their requirements and advice. I look forward to attending more business forums at the AIM.