Surviving Crisis and Retooling for Growth

Mr. Ramos raised 3 major points which he believes have enabled them to transition affirmatively amid the challenges of the pandemic. He mentioned:

1. Optimism;
2. Timely Decisions and action; and
3. Faith in the mission as key values in surviving the crisis

True enough, Premier has been able to actively acquire clients towards the last quarter or 2020 and in the first quarter of 2021 based on its revenues and appetite for expansion.

Mr. Ramos also discussed in relative detail the 3-Circle Family Business Model for family ownership where he mentioned that leadership crisis may come in several forms. He also mentioned that currently some 67% of family businesses in their study are a parent-offspring partnership and 10% account for professionally managed businesses. In many families in business, it is apparent that many communication problems and other family dynamics account for many challenged enterprises. Having family business professionals support leadership means better management insights in times of crises.

Leadership Crisis and Bouncing Back

Dr. Samuel “Thirdy” Mendero discussed leadership crisis from the perspective of a thriving medical institution Dr. Mendero explained that at the onset, all decisions were made by his Dad. The hospital was registered under a Sole Proprietorship where all major and minor decisions were made and exeuted by his Dad. His brother clashed ideas with his father and a lot of issues ensued with the very centrally controlled enterprise. Upon opening their 2nd hospital their Dad suffered a debilitating disease which changed everything. He mentioned that during this time there was a clash among family members and decisions wer discussed albeit in a very passionate manner within the family. With the help of third party business consultants, the Mendero family realized that they needed to re-tool their whole organization to face the realities of an ever growing business.

He further mentioned that illness in their family triggered succession discussions which became even more urgent with the case of his father who got sick. Family dynamics and decision-making also became a major debacle for the Mendero family as well. In his discussion, he gave insights on bouncing back from the crisis through the help of family business professionals and its significant impact on unifying and aligning decisions towards common goals.

Despite being in the health industry, business revenues went down by 60% during pandemic. With the rising challenges, Mendero family decided to embrace change for the better by overhauling their operations using contemporary technologies, improving service and training their personnel well to rise to the challenge. Soon enough the right systems were put in place, the appropriate management and people systems were put to work.

Today Mendero Hospital enjoys the optimization of the recent changes which have created a better work environment for its personnel, greater management confidence and over-all improvement of competencies to be enjoyed ultimately by its clients.

Opportunities for Growth in Crisis

The central to both these talks center on the fact that despite crises, opportunities for growth are available. In the toughest of times, learnings can be had and family dynamics can be resolved with everyone looking towards an aligned, mutually beneficial and sustainable future. The Asian Family Enterprise Excellence Conference’s central theme was Sustainability and Resilience in Braving the New World. It is indeed a new world, a truly unpredictable and volatile world, but with the right people hand holding each other towards inherent strengths and endlessly searching for solutions, growth will come.