FOR Mohammad Firdaus A. Bakar, running the childcare and preschool he co-founded with his wife is a calling.
“After we had our two children, my wife and I were inspired to build spaces that were both safe and inclusive for many,” the 33-year-old told StarMetro,
“After thorough planning, we decided to take the leap into the childcare industry together.”
Three years on, the preschool has nearly tripled its enrolment, but as the business grew, so did the challenges of working with family members.
According to Mohammad Firdaus, there were significant new issues within the family after the business started.
“We also wondered how the business could one day be passed down to our children.
“There was no clear guidance, nothing we could learn from school or training.
“We were also afraid that one day our children would choose not to continue the business we worked so hard to build.”
Seeking clarity, Mohammad Firdaus and his wife attended the Family Business Seminar organised by Institut Keusahawanan Negara Bhd (Insken) at a Johor Baru hotel.
“The experience was eye-opening. We are grateful that the seminar helped us find answers in managing family businesses, particularly on sensitive matters such as employing our own family members.
“We also gained insight into the processes and communication involved in passing on our legacy to the next generation.”
He said that they were surprised to find out that many other family businesses faced the same conflicts and saw other owners attending the seminar to find solutions.
Second-generation entrepreneur N. Yokitha said taking over her father’s nearly 40-year-old catering business presented a different set of challenges.
“In the early 1990s, my father was one of the few Indian food caterers around. It was a wonderful time to grow the business because people relied heavily on him for their events.
“Now, generational gaps have created issues.
“We have different ways of doing things and today’s business models rely heavily on advertising and online presence, which older generations may not always understand,” said the 37-year-old.
Yokitha, who has a background in education and event management, said the seminar gave her a platform to address sensitive issues openly.
“I learnt to communicate and present ideas differently,” she said, adding that at the seminar, she learned how to manage issues with family members for the sake of their business.
The seminar, held under the Madani Entrepreneur initiative, was hosted in Johor as the first stop of a nationwide series, drawing 300 participants from across the state.
Insken chief executive officer Viviantie Sarjuni said four entrepreneurs she spoke to during the event had the same struggles with family conflicts.
“Through this seminar, we addressed many family business taboos such as family members’ dividends, involvement and even allocation issues in polygamous families,” she said.
Viviantie added that Insken’s role went beyond training.
“We constantly guide and coach Malaysian entrepreneurs.
“We also measure the impact of our programmes to monitor outcomes.”
She said the organisation was more than halfway towards meeting its target of raising 20,000 entrepreneurs this year.
