Knowledge@wharton

When your family business involves an extended network of 52 family shareholders as it does for Bukit Kiara Properties a Malaysian real estate development firm simply pulling everyone together for family dinner can be hard work. But N.K. Tong who co-founded Bukit Kiara with his father says there’s just one person to call: ”My auntie.” Tong’s aunt plays a role some scholars describe as ”chief emotional officer ” an informal position usually filled by a family member or close advisor. But the topic is not as warm and fuzzy as it sounds: Not only can the job be stressful it can fall by the wayside as businesses are passed on to succeeding generations. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.