Running a Hong Kong family office is a delicate balancing act, insiders say

“Emotion stays away from the boardroom. That’s critical,” said Mahesh Harilela, a member of his family’s council, speaking at the Post’s Redefining Hong Kong family office conference on Friday. “Boardroom meetings are there to strategise to ensure that we can actually manage crisis.”

His family owns diversified conglomerate the Harilela Group.

As the family has grown over the years, the council has been integral in establishing the Harilela legacy as well as its policies and philosophies, Harilela said.

To ensure the family office can continue to thrive, egos must be put aside, he said.

“When the emotion comes in, the disruption in one meeting actually causes a cascade all the way through, and five years later, you still haven’t implemented a strategy,” said Harilela.