Developing next-gen leadership through peer-to-peer learning

SPJIMR CFBE’s signature forum, Adda, provided a raw, peer-to-peer learning environment where the Post Graduate Programme in Family Managed Business (PGPFMB), cohort 39, debated the merits of modern versus traditional business decisions.

For next-generation leaders entering a family-run enterprise, the primary challenge was often relational rather than operational. At the Centre for Family Business and Entrepreneurship (CFBE), a panel of student peers led and moderated the interactive Adda forum, serving as a candid sounding board for real boardroom friction.

5 key pillars of family business transition

During the latest session, participants tackled five critical areas essential for effective family business management:

Earning authority through strategic patience

A central theme of the forum was that next-gen leadership requires more than just a title. Rather than simply venting about generational roadblocks, students shared practical strategies for conflict resolution.

The cohort reached a consensus on the importance of strategic patience and respect for the founder’s timeline. As one participant noted, “Authority cannot be snatched; authority needs to be earned.”

To build crucial rapport and trust, students outlined successful strategies, such as implementing modernisation in niche departments first to provide a “proof of concept” to the family elders.

From learning to leading

The ultimate validation of this approach was evident in a student testimony. After the student proved the value of new automation tools, his father’s introduction of him shifted from “He is learning” to proudly telling peers, “He has introduced new systems… and you should also introduce them in your business.”

By sharing these successes and failures, our students mastered the nuances of family business management, proving that while every business is unique, the path to next-gen leadership is built on shared experiences and mutual respect.