Mentor Mentee Workshop

The New Year began on an inspiring note as the Post Graduate Programme in Family Managed Business (PGPFMB), SPJIMR, conducted one of its most cherished engagements—the Mentor–Mentee Workshop—for batch 38. Facilitated by Prof. Tulsi Jayakumar, Executive Director of SPJIMR CFBE, and Prof. Kamal Sharma, Vice President of Lupin and Executive in Residence at SPJIMR, this marked the first annual edition of the workshop. The event formed a key part of the programme’s mentoring and professionalisation phase, bringing participants and their mentors together on a shared platform for dialogue, reflection, and learning.

Prof. Jayakumar set the tone by presenting on the topic of the ‘what, why, and how of professionalisation’ in family businesses. Her session explored the complexities of integrating professional leadership into family enterprises, touching upon critical dimensions such as governance structures, organisational credibility, talent alignment, and institution building.

Prof. Sharma enriched the discourse by drawing from his extensive corporate experience. Offering an insider’s perspective, he shared practical insights on navigating senior leadership, articulating dissent with maturity, and building credibility while holding divergent viewpoints—ideas that resonated strongly with the mentor cohort.

Adding a strategic financial lens, Prof. Farzan Ghadially presented a comprehensive overview of funding family businesses beyond traditional banking. His session covered a wide spectrum, including mortgaging, equity capital, listed markets, valuation, debt–equity structures, liquidity management, private equity, SMEs, and share purchase agreements.

The workshop witnessed high levels of engagement, with mentors actively absorbing, questioning, and debating the ideas presented. These candid discussions encouraged mentors to articulate long-held visions and strategic concerns—often for the first time—leading to rich peer learning. The programme concluded on a reflective note, underscoring a timeless truth in business: the devil lies in the details.

The Mentor–Mentee Workshop continues to be a cornerstone of the PGPFMB experience, fostering a meaningful exchange of perspectives that blends family values with strategic business thinking. It also serves as a powerful networking forum, connecting mentors and entrepreneurs from diverse industries across India.

Established in 1997, SPJIMR’s PGPFMB is India’s pioneering programme for family-managed businesses. With 37 batches completed, it continues to prepare next-generation leaders to steward their enterprises responsibly while honouring generational legacy.