For those fortunate enough to be born into a family that operates a successful family business, it often feels like walking a predetermined path. The goal is clear: to take over from the previous generation, add value to the enterprise, and pass it on to the next generation. More often than not, the journey starts with an MBA, followed by stints working in different parts of the firm. But the pressures of succession, the need to win in a rapidly changing world, and the desire to carve out one’s own path are real. Vincent Fong, a member of the fourth generation of his family’s multimillion-dollar Hong Kong real estate business, understands that tension well: “It’s completely normal to want to prove yourself, if you’re second or third generation in a successful family business.”
