The Master of Business Administration Program at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (MBA FEB UGM) once again delivered an internationally enriched learning experience through its Corporate Strategy course for Class 86S. The session featured Professor John C.G. Lee under the theme “From Feuds to Future,” held on March 3, 2026, in Classroom 406, MBA FEB UGM Yogyakarta.
This session was part of the Corporate Strategy course taught by Prof. Amin Wibowo, S.E., M.B.A., Ph.D. In his opening remarks, Prof. Amin extended a warm welcome to Prof. John, stating, “Welcome to our MBA Program.”
In his presentation, Professor John outlined three levels of conflict resolution in family businesses. First, the family council, which serves as a facilitated discussion forum to address issues at an early stage. If unresolved, the process can proceed to independent Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), such as mediation or arbitration, which are more formal and binding mechanisms to ensure fairness and enforceability. Litigation is considered the last resort—or a “nuclear option”—and should be avoided whenever possible, as it signals a severe breakdown in both family and business relationships.
For aspiring business leaders, several key lessons emerged from the session. Resilience is not inherited but built through intentional and structured governance to sustain success across generations. While conflict in family businesses is inevitable, what matters most is the presence of fair and binding processes to manage it effectively. Fairness and enforceability are critical foundations, as confidentiality alone is insufficient to protect a business from unjust outcomes. Therefore, governance architecture—including mandatory ADR clauses—should be established early, before crises arise.
The session was highly interactive, with active student participation exploring various strategic perspectives. The presence of an international academic in this session reflects MBA FEB UGM’s commitment to delivering learning experiences that are relevant, contextual, and globally oriented.
Reporter: Fitrianti Rizqi
Editor: Ayu Aprilia
