Balancing Act in Hong Kong Family Offices: The Harilela Legacy and the Importance of Emotion-Free Boardrooms

Insiders claim that managing a family office in Hong Kong involves careful equilibrium.

Mahesh Harilela emphasizes that it's crucial to keep emotions out of the boardroom.

"Emotions should be kept out of the boardroom. It's crucial," urged Mahesh Harilela, a representative from his family's council, while addressing the Post's Redefining Hong Kong family office conference on Friday. "The purpose of boardroom discussions is to devise strategies that enable us to effectively handle crises."

His family is the proprietor of the multifaceted corporation known as the Harilela Group

Harilela stated that the council has played a significant role in shaping the Harilela family's legacy, its policies, and its philosophies as the family has expanded over time.

He emphasized that for the family office to remain successful, personal pride needs to be set aside.

Harilela explained that when emotions are involved, it can cause a disruption in a single meeting that can have a domino effect. Even five years down the line, the strategy might still not be in place.