FBA Forum Groups

 

Here is just a sample of what some of our forum group members have to say:

The ability to talk freely about the issues we all face within our family working environments, sharing those issues among a non judgmental group of experienced and knowledgeable peers who are more than ready to share their knowledge and support to those around is a priceless opportunity to benefit from being part of FBA – I would highly recommend you make the move to join a forum right now!” – Kent Aughey, Ashington Investments.

“I was an inaugural member of the first Forum group formed in SA in 2002.  Seven years down the track a number of those foundation members continue to derive enormous benefit from being able to discuss sensitive family business issues with trusted peers in a totally confidential environment.  The benefits come from the wealth of collective experience and perspective and the guidance of a facilitator who is both experienced in the role and in the diverse field of family business.  This is a unique offering which I would confidently recommend to anyone of any age or gender looking for support in a family business context.  But be prepared to contribute: you’ll only get out of it what you’re prepared to put in – and the first requirement is regular commitment.” – Chris Johnston, Kerewong Pty Ltd

Lance  Stringer  of  Lawnswood  Crematorium has  been  a  member  of  the  WA Forum  Group  1  for approximately  6  months  and while  he  entered  the  group  with some  uncertainty  of  what  he  would  get out  of being  a  member  he  is  now  an advocate  of  FBA  Forum  Groups.   Lance  recently attended  a forum information breakfast  at  which  he  talked  about  what  being  a member  had  brought to  him  and his family  business.  

Personal  Benefits:  

1. Professional  Development  –  which  is  often  lacking  in  the  family  business environment

2. Mentoring  from  a  range  of  professionals  with  varied  backgrounds  

3. Emotional  Support  –  being  able  to  talk  to  the  group  in  a  way  you  are  not able  to  talk  to friends or  family  

4. Friendships  based  and  mutual  understanding.  

Business  Benefits:  

1. An  opportunity  to  re‐focus  on  business  issues  –  taking  a  step  back  to  look at  what  issues  are affecting  you  personally  and  the  business.  

2. Insight  into  other  businesses  by  visiting  their  premises  and  learning  how business  is  conducted.  3. Sharing  ideas  with  likeminded  people  who  all  have  a  wealth  of  knowledge  to impart.  4. Getting advice  and  guidance  from  people  who  know the background  of  your business from the  sharing  of information  that  happens  in  the  group.  

5. Encouraged  to face up to the realities of  your business and  the support of the group  when  difficult

decisions  have  been  made.  

6. When  you  listen  to  the  other  group  members  problems,  yours  don’t  seem  so bad!  

In  summary  Lance  said  “Forum  Group  is  what  you  make  it,  you  need  to  commit  to  attending  the monthly  meetings  and  be  willing  to  trust  and  share  with  the  group.   But  without  a  doubt  the  value and benefits  of  belonging  to  the  group  was  worth  far  in  excess  of  the  $2200  financial  investment!”

I have found many benefits so far. Just getting to know other family business people a bit better has helped with the isolation I have felt being in the family business. From a value point of view, I was hesitant about the cost initially but I felt like I got my full year’s value in the first meeting.

Janelle Bulmer, Dynaweld Industrial Supplies, New South Wales

The major benefit has been having a close-knit group of people that can be trusted with sensitive issues.
Andrew Logan, R G Logan Pty Ltd, New South Wales

It’s a means of discussing and solving, both business and personal issues that would otherwise not be discussed. It’s our once a month confessional!
Andrew Mostyn, Craig Mostyn & Co Pty Ltd, New South Wales

There is a unique sense of teamwork in the process used that cannot be achieved with one’s own management team or family members.
Stephen Olsen, H N Olsen Pty Ltd, New South Wales

My FBA Forum provides an intimate and confidential environment, free of judgment, for me to share my inner most thoughts, challenges and experiences. The group of people that make up our Forum occupy a special place in my life. I have come to rely on their wisdom and experience. Their support has seen me grow as an individual, as a husband, father and as a leader in my business. Forum is an integral part of my life and I highly recommend it to all FBA Members.
Michael Carp, CEO Kez’s Kitchen, Victoria

I envisaged meeting new and interesting peers when joining my Forum – I didn’t envisage forming deep and permanent bonds. I anticipated that we would be a useful sounding board for each other’s businesses – I didn’t anticipate the varied and valuable insights and opinions in every aspect of our lives. I imagined that I would enjoy learning about other people’s businesses – I didn’t imagine how much I could learn, but more importantly, how personally fulfilling the opportunity to contribute to others’ business and personal lives would be. I didn’t expect my own crisis – so I couldn’t possibly have expected that my Forum would be such an amazing resource and source of support and strength.
Ashley Kausman, Korjo Travel Products, Victoria

I was initially attracted to the concept of joining a business forum as a means of sharing commercial experiences and of broadening my understanding of issues in business beyond that of my own company and industry in particular. Our CEO Forum has exceeded my expectations. The CEO Forum works best, and is most valuable, when the members are honest with each other and are prepared to share experiences and observations regarding issues in business, and in family, that are common to us all. Our Forum operates in this atmosphere. Our members’ succession planning issues are real life. As are, for instance, issues regarding the remuneration of family members, or the involvement of non-family members in ownership structures, or questions relating to in-laws and their involvement in the business. The topics are endless but as members of family businesses and as forum members we share a common bond and an opportunity to contribute, to listen and to learn. I have found the forums to be frequently entertaining, thoroughly informative and always engaging, and I would encourage FBA Members to take part in the experience.
Bernie McIntosh, Director, Victorian Mortgage Management Group, Victoria

I’m writing to express my delight in being invited to join the CEO Forum group. My intention in requesting to join a Forum group was to learn from the experiences of others, expand both my thinking and my approach to situations and to meet more business people in Melbourne. To date I have gained far more than I could have hoped for. I’ve found Forum to be an excellent way to really know and understand a variety of new acquaintances and develop lasting friendships capable of delivering the enjoyment of a regular friendship but with so much more. I’ve been exposed to an incredibly diverse range of situations and businesses, I’ve had my thinking challenged on far more than one occasion and I’ve had some invaluable input on matters that are important to me both personally and professionally. It is with great enthusiasm that I look ahead to another year with my FBA Forum Group.
Gillian Costa, CEO Costa’s Pty Ltd, Victoria

FBA Forum participation has been, and continues to be, exceptionally rewarding and beneficial to our family, our business, and to me personally. As an active participant of our Forum, I am privileged to be able to contribute to, support and help others achieve improved personal, family and work outcomes. Forum enables me to address issues affecting my own life and work balance. I am able to do so in confidence, given the confidentiality rules of Forum, our Forum Constitution, and the professionalism in which our Forum is facilitated. Forum participation is an inspirational part of my life and I would recommend FBA Forums to anyone who shares the challenges of a family business.
Michael Wittner, Wittner Shoes, Victoria

Forum participation is one of my most enjoyable and rewarding monthly activities. Over the past two and a half years we have reached a level of caring and understanding with each other that would not be possible in many other circumstances. Running the family business can be particularly challenging. Often unable to discuss issues with my staff, board, or family, our forum has grown into a most important outlet for me. We exchange ideas and shared experiences and often challenge each other to strive harder. The emotional bond and great comradeship we have developed over the years has helped me to reach higher goals than I thought possible. Earlier participation in a forum like ours might even have helped to keep our family business in family hands.
Jane S Stott, CEO, Stott’s Correspondence College Pty Ltd, Victoria

I have been a member of an FBA Forum since 2001 and having been involved with a number of my fellow CEO’s, all from a family business environment, I have gained enormous personal and professional insight. Having been a member of other CEO organizations and forums I believe that the FBA Forum is unique in that many of our members have similar family and business issues that we can discuss in an open and frank manner. We learn from each other’s experiences and sometimes hear of their ‘war stories’ and the strategies they adopted to overcome obstacles. Our Forum has evolved to a point where we can support each other in a positive and constructive way and we have a level of trust that we know will never be breached. I highly recommend those who find it ‘lonely at the top’ consider joining an FBA Forum.
Peter Waite, CEO, The Waite Group, Victoria

I’ve been involved in an FBA Forum since early 2001 and have gained enormous personal and professional benefit from the experience. As well as the various extra-curricula activities we organize, I thoroughly enjoy the 4-5 hours I spend every month with the other members of my Forum, all of whom have become lifelong friends, advisers and mentors. The most valuable aspect of my FBA Forum experience is that it provides a positive and constructive environment in which I can explore and address the ‘real’ issues in my professional, personal and family life. I see participation in a Forum as one of the unique benefits of FBA Membership, and can thoroughly recommend involvement to all current and prospective members.
Martin Tobin, Managing Director, Tobin Brothers Funerals, Victoria

It is a special honour to facilitate our Forum, a group of diverse leaders who have a special bond and level of caring for each other. We have a commitment to sharing our business and life challenges, past experiences, future aspirations, ideas and strategies with the purpose of supporting and encouraging each other to improve the quality of our personal and professional lives. From the process of building trust and a safe environment in our Forum over the past two years, we have developed an intimacy and open-ness that is unique. I have both experienced and observed profound shifts in awareness, changes in behaviour and attitudes to life, the members of our Forum. Forum is a highly valued part of my life.
Peter Ernest, CEO, Values Journey, Victoria

 

 
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