Q1. You have recently taken over the day-to-day operation of Microdata from your father. How did he train you? A: My father started the company before he got married, so as far as I could remember, I have always been exposed to business. I was raised up thinking that I will one day run the business, so it became an […]
Family Business
Q1: There is always a crossroad with growing family enterprises – that of professionalizing by hiring an experienced outsider or continuing governance within the family. How can you help in this regard? A: When a family enterprise is ready to professionalize, the first things that need to be done are the drawing up of the family governance constitution and the […]
Q1: You introduced two new product categories in the Philippines, Green Cross Rubbing Alcohol in 1952 and Zonrox Bleach in 1954. They are popular products now. What made you think there would be a big market for those products in the 1950s? Back the 1950s, I knew there would be a big market for alcohol because of my experience at […]
Q1: Your company deals mostly with generational transitions. What are some issues confronting family businesses that are usually overlooked by families? To their credit, most of the family business leaders we meet think a lot about succession. The vast majority are very interested in having what they have built continue into the next generation. More than anything else, the senior […]
Q1: You put up the first hypermarket in the Philippines, Shopwise, and while most supermarkets just provided express lanes for those buying a few pieces, Shopwise created the exclusive Elite lane designed to save time as well as reward volume buyers with free snacks. You also have price checkers in skateboard. I really like these ideas, can you share with […]
Q1. Your company is owned and managed by a group comprising of five friends (including a brother). How has this worked out for all of you — in terms of business relationships and in terms of personal bond. Have you worked together in a previous organization or association before incorporating? Jimmy Thai: Johnny and I informally worked together in a family business, […]