Board Stewardship Hosts Webinar & Book Launch on Family Business Governance
Board Stewardship, supported by corporate partners DSK Legal and JHS and knowledge partner BoardPac, hosted monthly webinar on the occasion of Onam and Teacher’s Day. The event focused on governance, continuity, and leadership in family-owned businesses and featured the launch of The Family Business Playbook: Lessons in Governance from Centuries-old Family Firms authored by Atul Juvle.
The session opened with a welcome address by Vikesh Wallia, Founder and Managing Director, Board Stewardship, who reiterated the platform’s mission of advancing continuous learning, data-driven opportunities, and meaningful networking. He remarked, “At Board Stewardship, we are committed to building a strong board community through learning, data, and networking. This webinar reflects that mission, highlighted by the launch of Atul Juvle’s The Family Business Playbook, keynote insights from Anand Desai and Mansee Singhal, and panels on next-gen leadership and IPO vs. private growth. We are excited to learn and grow together.”
Delivering the inaugural keynote, Shailesh Haribhakti, Chairman of the Advisory Board, Board Stewardship, underlined India’s unique positioning in global markets. He stated, “Managing family wealth thrives on three anchors: disciplined risk management to preserve capital, strong governance to ensure fairness and clarity, and a culture of stewardship that aligns generations. Together, they transform wealth into legacy—sustainable, transparent, and values-driven across time.”
Further keynote perspectives were shared by Anand Desai, Managing Partner, DSK Legal, who examined the three prevalent models of family offices in India—promoter-led, next-generation-led, and professionally managed. “While strategies, risk appetites, and governance styles vary, the constant is the need for sound governance and tax-efficient decisions to secure sustainable, long-term growth,” he said.
Adding to the discussion, Mansee Singhal, Partner, Mercer, emphasised the importance of resilience and adaptability in family leadership. “Promoters and next-gen leaders are navigating complexity ranging from geopolitics to ESG. Sustaining legacy requires aligning vision, structure, and incentives to balance purpose with performance, ensuring values and long-term goals seamlessly pass across generations while strengthening governance and outcomes,” she noted.
The highlight of the day was the launch of The Family Business Playbook. Speaking at the unveiling, author Atul Juvle observed, “It’s not about how much you generate, but how you endure through generations.” The book draws lessons from legacy enterprises and outlines six practical sutras for effective governance.
A panel discussion on the emerging role of the next generation, moderated by Dr. Mita Dixit, featured insights from K. Jayshankar and Atul Juvle. The session highlighted professionalisation, evolving career choices, and global exposure as critical factors shaping family businesses. Jayshankar remarked, “Today’s younger generation is better educated, globally exposed, and often encouraged to explore careers outside before returning to the family business. This cycle strengthens enterprises by introducing new ideas, professionalism, and adaptability.”
Dr. Dixit added, “Family businesses that successfully transition across generations do so by embedding governance, values, and purpose into their organisational DNA. These elements ensure that legacy and innovation move hand in hand.”
The programme also included a fireside chat between Krishnan Iyer, NSE Emerge, and Akshay Purandare, Kirtane & Pandit LLP, on IPOs versus staying private. Iyer stressed, “The first question is not whether to list, but why to list,” highlighting the importance of clarity in building shareholder value.
The webinar emerged as a comprehensive platform, bringing together perspectives on governance frameworks, risk management, succession planning, and capital strategies, reaffirming the critical role of family enterprises in India’s economic landscape.
