One more power mom speaks
In the last weeks, six remarkable women shared the lessons they learned from leading both business and family. We look at one more.
Alice Liu, chief executive of Golden ABC Inc., and mother of Bryan, Brandon and Amanda:
“Bernie and I are fortunate that our adult children now work with us in the business. It’s a gift to share not just a home but a shared purpose. We spend more time together than most families do, which deepens our bond. But at times, the lines blur quickly between being a parent and being a boss.
“Nurturing good leaders starts with raising good people. It can get challenging to remember which hat you are wearing, so I often preface conversations with our kids with ‘I’m wearing my boss hat in this conversation’ or ‘I’ll be speaking as your mom with what I’m about to share with you.’ This helps set expectations and keeps the conversation clear and fair, both for the kids and myself.
“While no boundary is perfect, our family believes that who you are at home is who you are at work and vice versa. When things get difficult, I remind myself that I’m their mother first. But this doesn’t mean protecting kids from the sobering realities of life. Rather, my role is to ground them in values and principles that guide how they lead, and in turn, live. It’s my job to help them understand not just what we do, but also why we do it. We use mealtimes to align as a family or share business issues that serve as learning opportunities. No topic is off-limits, as long as respect and understanding are not lost.
“Allowing children to lean into their strengths will help them flourish. Once they enter the business, it is essential to see them the way a good leader sees a team, each with their own strengths, quirks and timing.
“Bernie’s mother, our foundress Dame Norma Liu, used to say, ‘The fingers of one hand are not all the same length.’ A simple image, but a powerful truth: we each bring something different to the table.
“That wisdom has guided how we’ve welcomed the kids into the business. They’ve each taken different paths, explored various departments, and gravitated toward roles that align with their interests and abilities, growing as leaders in their own right. It wasn’t forced but rather, something we allowed to unfold.
“Our family constitution states that to join the business, one must be ‘willing, able, and available.’ We never imposed a specific path on our kids, but encouraged them to bring their full selves and contribute in ways that felt true to who they are.
“My hope was for them to truly love the craft and use their gifts in service of our shared purpose.
“Quality time is the foundation for a strong family of leaders. The most important lesson I’ve learned over the years is the value of quality time.
“While the business was growing, so were our children. The kids stayed in Cebu while Bernie and I flew to Manila on weekdays and returned to them on weekends. But we made it a priority to be present on weekends and take annual trips, where the kids were our sole focus.
“We consciously chose not to be too strict, aiming to make our limited time together enjoyable and open. We wanted them to feel comfortable sharing their lives with us.
“Today, I’m proud of who they’ve become. More than being devoted to us as their parents, they’ve grown into genuinely good people and leaders.
“My advice? As leaders, we are bridges for the next generation, so let’s set a strong foundation for them.
“As CEO, part of my role is to build upon the legacy that Bernie and our founders established, while guiding the company toward its next phase of growth. It’s about preparing future leaders to take the organization even further.
“I’ve focused on cultivating a ‘learning-organization’ culture, where continuous upskilling and development are our core.
“As a mother, I hope that my children, who now have kids of their own, embrace this mindset, not only as professionals but as parents and individuals.
“Change is inevitable in every industry, and the key to resilience is a commitment to lifelong learning, staying open-minded and seeking wisdom from others.”
Queena N. Lee-Chua is with the board of directors of Ateneo’s Family Business Center. Get her book “All in the Family Business” at Lazada or Shopee, or the ebook at Amazon, Google Play, Apple iBooks. Contact the author at blessbook.chua@gmail.com.
