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Monday 8am - 5pm Tuesday 8am - 5pm Wednesday 8am - 5pm Thursday 8am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5pm Saturday 8am - 12pm

Ateneo Family Business Development Center

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Ateneo Family Business Development Center

Ateneo Family Business Development Center (AFBDC)

The Ateneo Family Business Development Center (AFBDC) is one of the pioneers in helping family businesses understand and effectively manage their own unique family dynamics and business challenges. Being a university-based center involved in research, professional training and project assistance services, AFBDC is equipped to help families address the combined challenges of the family and the business.

18/09/2026

Learn from an expert in multi-generational family dynamics: EMERALD JAY "ERALD" ILAC, Ph.D.

Dr. Ilac is a respected expert in multigenerational team management and business leadership, serving as Head of Research at the Ateneo Family Business Development Center.

In every family business, generations sit at the same table — but not always on the same page. Different values, communication styles, and ways of working can create friction that spills over from the boardroom to the dinner table if left unaddressed.

That's what our upcoming Family Business Conversations session is here to tackle. Together with Dr. Ilac, participants will explore:

🔹 What do the values, communication preferences, and work styles of different generations look like — and where do they clash?
🔹 What triggers intergenerational misunderstanding, and how can a personal action plan lead to stronger collaboration at home and in the business?

Join us for Bridging the Generational Gap in Family Business:

📍 JJ Atencio Lighthouse for New Learning, Arete, Ateneo De Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City
📅 October 6, 2026
🕣 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Attend onsite for only ₱3,000.

Register via this ink: https://go.ateneo.edu/fambiz-learning-session

Family and Business, Building Legacies.

11/09/2026

The Ateneo Family Business Development Center launches a practical Family Business Learning Session with the topic: Bridging the Generational Gap in Family Business.

Every family business is a meeting point of generations — each with their own values, communication styles, and ways of working. When these differences aren't understood, they can quietly become potential sources of tension both at home and in the business. This session aims to help families turn that gap into common ground.

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

🔹 Identify the values, communication preferences, and work styles of different generations
🔹 Recognize common triggers for intergenerational misunderstandings and apply practical tools to communicate constructively across age groups
🔹 Walk away with a personal action plan to communicate and work together better — both at home and in the family business

Join us as we sit down with facilitator Emerald Jay ‘Erald’ Ilac, Ph.D. for a session designed to equip family business members with practical tools for stronger, cross-generational collaboration.

Join us at:
📍 JJ Atencio Lighthouse for New Learning, Arete, Ateneo De Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City
📅 October 6, 2026
🕣 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Attend onsite for only ₱ 3,000

Register via this link: https://go.ateneo.edu/fambiz-learning-session

Family and Business, Building Legacies.

04/09/2026

Save the Date: October 6 — Family Business Learning Session

Bridging the generational gap isn't just a buzzword — it's a daily reality for family businesses. Ever wondered how multi-generational family members shape the way a family business is run? Or how communication really happens across generations working side by side?

The Ateneo Family Business Development Center (Ateneo FBDC) is bringing this session next, designed to help families bridge the generational gap and turn it into a source of strength.

Mark your calendars — more details coming soon!

📅 October 6, 2026

Family and Business, Building Legacies.

28/08/2026

What a conversation. 💬

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the first-ever Family Business Conversations session: Marrying the In-Laws into the Family Business, hosted by the Ateneo Family Business Development Center (Ateneo FBDC).

Taking place at Seda BGC last August 25, participants unpacked a topic many families navigate quietly, but rarely discuss openly — and left with a clearer picture of both sides: the challenges of bringing in-laws into the business, and the real, lived experience of those who've made it work.

A heartfelt thank you to our speakers for so generously sharing their insights and experiences:

🔹 Alice Liu, President and CEO of GOLDEN ABC, Inc.
🔹 Ricky Mercado, Founder of Ateneo Family Business Development Center
🔹 Ambassador Joseph Yap, Chairman of the Board, Filinvest REIT Corp.

From candid presentations to an open panel discussion and Q&A, this session reminded us that the strongest family businesses are built not just on strategy, but on honest conversations like this one.

Thank you as well to our co-presenters, Ayala Land Premier and East West Bank, for helping make the day possible.

Family and Business, Building Legacies.

20/08/2026

⏳ Last Call: Family Business Conversations — Marrying the In-Laws into the Family Business

Slots are filling up fast and the event date is almost here — don't miss your chance to be part of this conversation!

Should in-laws be part of the family business? It's a topic many families navigate quietly, but rarely discuss openly. Hear both sides from our panel:

🔹 Alice Liu — President and CEO, GOLDEN ABC, Inc. with extensive experience in fashion retail and marketing. As an in-law, she stepped into the CEO role as part of a multi-year succession plan, continuing the legacy her husband built.

🔹 Ricky Mercado — Founder, Ateneo Family Business Development Center, with over 200 family businesses advised and guided.

🔹 Ambassador Joseph Yap — an in-law himself, he is the Chairman of the Board, Filinvest REIT Corp. as well as a former Philippine Ambassador to Singapore.

Together, they'll unpack the benefits and potential challenges of bringing in-laws into the business — and how families can make either choice work for them, followed by an open Q&A.

🚨 Seats are limited — secure yours now before the event!

Join us at:
📍 Seda BGC, Taguig City (with option to attend online)
📅 August 25, 2026
🕣 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Attend onsite for only ₱ 5,000 or attend online for only ₱ 2,500.

Register via this link: https://go.ateneo.edu/program-interest

The event is co-presented by Ayala Land Premier and East West Bank.

Family and Business, Building Legacies.

14/08/2026

Family Business Conversations: Marrying the In-Laws into the Family Business

Should in-laws be part of the family business? The Ateneo Family Business Development Center (FBDC) launches its new Family Business Conversations series with a topic many families navigate quietly, but rarely discuss openly.

While there's a perception that having in-laws in the business is challenging, real stories show it can also be done successfully. Join us as our panel unpacks both sides — the reasons some families might consider not to bring in-laws in, and the firsthand experience of those who have.

🔹 Alice Liu — President and CEO, GOLDEN ABC, Inc. with over 30 years of experience in fashion retail and marketing.

🔹 Ricky Mercado — Founder, Ateneo FBDC, with other 200 family businesses advised and guided.

🔹 Ambassador Joseph Yap — Chairman of the Board, Filinvest REIT Corp.; former Philippine Ambassador to Singapore

Together, the panel will explore the benefits and challenges of each path — and how families in business can make either choice work for them. The program concludes with a moderated panel discussion and open Q&A, where participants can ask questions and share their own insights.

Whether you're weighing this decision in your own family business or simply curious how others have navigated it, this conversation is for you.

Join us at:

📍 Seda BGC, Taguig City (with option to attend online)
📅 August 25, 2026
🕣 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Attend onsite for only ₱ 5,000 or attend online for only ₱ 2,500.

Register via this ink: https://go.ateneo.edu/program-interest

The event is co-presented by Ayala Land Premier and East West Bank.

Family and Business, Building Legacies.

07/08/2026

Should in-laws be part of the family business?

At our upcoming Family Business Conversations: Marrying the In-Laws into the Family Business, we're unpacking a topic many families navigate quietly, but rarely talk about openly.

Here's what to expect:

🔹 Mr. Ricky Mercado, drawing from his experience assisting over 200 family businesses, will share the common reasons why some families choose not to bring in-laws into the business — and the concerns behind that decision.

🔹 Ms. Alice Liu and Ambassador Joseph Yap will both offer a different lens: their own firsthand experience as in-laws working within a family business, and what that journey has looked like for them.

Together, the panel will explore both sides of this decision — the benefits and challenges of each path — and how families in business can make either choice work for them, whatever they decide.

Whether you're weighing this decision in your own family business or simply curious about how others have navigated it, this conversation is for you.

Join us at:

📍 Seda BGC, Taguig City (with option to attend online)

📅 August 25, 2026

🕣 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Attend onsite for only ₱ 5,000 or attend online for only ₱ 2,500.

Register via this ink: https://go.ateneo.edu/program-interest

The event is co-presented by Ayala Land Premier and East West Bank.

Family and Business, Building Legacies.

05/08/2026

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝟱.𝟬
by Jonah L. Fabul

"The first generation builds it, the second generation maintains it, and the third generation squanders it." It's a familiar line — but is it true? This white paper challenges that notion, tracing it back to a single 1980s study that might have oversimplified how we understand family business continuity.

As family businesses step into Industry 5.0, leadership readiness has become more than preparing one successor to take over. This paper proposes that lasting continuity depends on three interconnected dimensions — the next generation, the family, and the organization — working together, not in isolation.

📄 Read the full white paper here: https://ateneofamilybusiness.weebly.com/leadership-readiness-in-industry-50.html

🤝 Are you a family business owner, successor, or researcher interested in family business continuity, governance or innovation? Message us to learn more about our research initiatives, programs, and opportunities for collaboration.

03/08/2026

In late July, the Ateneo Family Business Development Center (Ateneo FBDC) convened to discuss its research agenda to interested faculty who would want collaboration opportunities.

The meeting focused on the Center's research agenda namely Sustainable Family Business, Human Resources in Family and Organization Development, as well as Family Governance and Leadership.
In addition, it talked about the research grant opportunities open to faculty members of the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM), as well as potential future contributions to white papers and the public programs the Center has.

Discussions also explored new opportunities for collaboration, knowledge creation, and meaningful engagement with family business stakeholders and the academic community.

Grounded in research and informed by real-world family business challenges, these initiatives reflect the Center’s commitment to generating relevant insights, developing impactful programs, and fostering partnerships that support the long-term success of Filipino family businesses.

Interested in collaborating with us as a researcher, practitioner, family business member, or partner?

We would love to connect with you! Message us here.

Family and Business, Building Legacies.

31/07/2026

Learn from one of our panel of experts in Family Business Conversations: Marrying the In-Laws into the Family Business.

Chairman of the Board of Filinvest REIT Corp.(FILRT) and former Philippine Ambassador to Singapore (2018–2022), Ambassador Joseph Yap is a seasoned executive with over 40 years of leadership. In the Filinvest Group, he served as President and CEO of Filinvest Land, Inc. from 2007 to 2012 and was a board member from 1997 to 2015. He also sits on the board of EastWest Bank where he chairs its Trust Committee. Ambassador Joseph Yap is also an in-law in the family business.

Learn from him and join us!

📍 Seda BGC, Taguig City (with option to attend online)

📅 August 25, 2026

🕣 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Attend onsite for only ₱ 5,000 or attend online for only ₱ 2,500.

Register via this ink: https://go.ateneo.edu/program-interest

The event is co-presented by Ayala Land Premier and East West Bank.

Family and Business, Building Legacies.

Address

Room 407, John Gokongwei School Of Management Bldg. , Ateneo De Manila University, Loyola Heights Campus Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights
Quezon City
1108

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm
Saturday	8am - 12pm

Telephone

Telephone: (+63.2) 426.6001 local (5520) • Direct Line: (+632) 928-3503

Website

http://ateneofamilybusiness.weebly.com/

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