Worth reading.

• The principle of meritocracy applies to all family members or professionals, regardless of who the person is or his parentage.

• All family members who want to work for the group must apply.

• Relatives applying must be qualified and have competitive credentials vis-à-vis the professional managers.

• Relatives should have good academic preparation and are first encouraged to work at least two years for other companies outside the group.

• Normally, the clan wants family members to start in operating positions first within the group before promoting them to any managerial positions, so they will know what’s happening with the rank and file, and with the diverse operations. They never start relatives at the top positions.

• Relatives who work with the group are not allowed to have any sidelines or other business interests, but must focus on their duties.

• All relatives who work for the group must retire at age 60, with the goal of encouraging more younger kin to rise and take over important duties or responsibilities.

• The fairness principle must be upheld within the clan.

• Regular meetings, open communications and transparency are promoted within leaders of the clan. It is important to have constant communications.

• Never take any family or clan member for granted.

• Do not forget the moral and cultural values of the clan forebears.

• Clan members are close-knit, often doing things together, traveling on overseas vacations with cousins or sleeping over at each other’s homes, even as kids. Many third-degree Aboitiz cousins consider fellow cousins brothers and sisters, building relationships based on mutual trust and respect.

• The collective family elects the leader of the business conglomerate until he retires at age 60 and another leader is chosen. 

• The whole Aboitiz clan believes in continuously adapting to innovation and new ideas, because a leader said, “If you don’t adapt, one day you might become extinct.”

(Source: philstar.com)