Orientation Day: PGPFMB 40 (46th batch) begins its journey

SPJIMR welcomed more than 100 participants representing diverse family businesses across India for the Orientation Day of its Post Graduate Programme in Family Managed Business (PGPFMB). The event marked the start of their 15-month journey with the PGPFMB at SPJIMR Mumbai.

The cohort brought together participants from Yavatmal, Bareilly, Ludhiana, Pollachi, Guwahati, Idukki and several other cities, with a shared interest in strengthening and growing their family businesses while staying rooted in their values and legacy.

The day began with Chief Guest Simarpreet Singh, a PGPFMB 16 alumnus, Director & CEO of Hartek Group, and Founder of Hartek Solar. Drawing on his own PGPFMB experience, he spoke about staying connected to one’s foundations, building meaningful relationships beyond networking, and bringing authenticity to both personal and professional interactions.

Prof. Tulsi Jayakumar, Executive Director, Centre for Family Business & Entrepreneurship (CFBE), invited participants to reflect on the balance between entrepreneurial ambition and the values that shape family businesses. She also introduced the cohort to the 15-month learning journey, highlighting the experiences and opportunities that lie ahead.

Participants were introduced to the programme’s specialised electives across sectors, including real estate, infrastructure, retail, manufacturing and services. The day also included an ice-breaker session, giving the new cohort an opportunity to get to know one another and build connections. At the same time, mentors participated in a knowledge session and connected with one another.

Alumni and current participants also joined the conversations, sharing candid experiences and responding to questions from the new cohort about life and learning in the programme.

By the end of the day, the cohort had moved beyond introductions to the first beginnings of a shared community, setting the tone for the learning journey ahead.

The Post Graduate Programme in Family Business (PGPFMB) at S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) is designed to groom new entrants to family businesses, enabling organic growth for themselves and their family businesses. Conceived and launched in 1997, the programme is the pioneer in post-graduate family-managed business programmes in India. It has grown in strength, with 46 cohorts already having gone through the programme.