Family Business Succession Planning
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From Sunday Lunch to NCLT: The Architecture of Family Business Succession
The patriarch who divided his company 33:33:33 among his three children thought he had eliminated jealousy. Instead, he manufactured an institutional freeze. The eldest was managing 1,200 plant workers on an outdated salary, the second couldn’t touch her wealth without board approval, and the youngest wanted his equity cashed out to back a SaaS play.… Continue reading
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Family Business Succession Planning: We Are Getting It All Wrong!
Several family business disputes in recent times have raised an uncomfortable question: Are we approaching succession planning the wrong way? From disagreements over ownership and inheritance to disputes over the interpretation of family arrangements, these cases remind us that dividing a business does not necessarily mean resolving the family’s succession. The problem may lie in… Continue reading
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THE CHANGE BEHIND THE CHANGE
There is a scene in English Vinglish where nothing happens. Sridevi’s character, Mrs. Godbole, doesn’t lose her job, her marriage, or her home: no layoff, no divorce, no diagnosis. And yet by the end, she is not the woman she was at the start—the one who needed her family’s approval to feel worthy.Nothing external changed.She… Continue reading
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A 162-Year-Old Jewellery Business Just Made the Smartest Succession Move Possible
Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri — TBZ — traces back to 1864, when Bhimji Zaveri opened a single store in Mumbai’s Zaveri Bazaar. Five generations later, under chairman and MD Shrikant Zaveri, TBZ had grown into a 37-store pan-India jewellery business, with his daughters Binaisha and Raashi Zaveri having helped scale it over the past two decades.… Continue reading
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My Biggest Client Just Fired Me — Because I Don’t Have a Successor
Ramesh Uncle built his business from a single-room godown to a company that today serves clients across three states. Two daughters — both married into good families, both capable, neither trained to run the business. His partner’s two sons — settled abroad, building careers of their own, no plans to return. The business itself? Growing.… Continue reading
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The Most Ignored Part of Succession Planning
You’ve hired the best lawyer. Built a perfect plan. Chosen your successor. Everything is ready except you. The Pattern Founder: “My son is ready. I’m stepping back.” Reality (6 months later): Son has title but no power Father still decides everything Father second-guesses every move Son can’t lead Business stagnates Father is miserable The plan… Continue reading
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The Founder Who Planned Ahead (And Actually Enjoys Retirement)
Rajesh Kapoor, 68, sits on his balcony in Goa with a cup of chai. His phone buzzes. Message from his son: “Dad, just closed a ₹5 crore deal. Remember how you taught me to negotiate? Used it perfectly.” Rajesh smiles. Doesn’t feel obligated to reply immediately. Doesn’t worry if the deal structure is right. He… Continue reading
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A Succession Lesson From Recent Political Transitions
Whether it is a political organisation or a family business, one principle remains the same: People need to know what comes next. When a founder or a powerful leader is the entire identity of an organisation, everyone naturally connects with that person. The workers.The supporters.The customers.The stakeholders. But the moment there is uncertainty about the… Continue reading
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When Financial Illiteracy Destroys Your Family Business
Mehta Uncle built a ₹10 crore business over 30 years. Strong operations. Loyal customers. Growing revenue. His son takes over. Within 3 years, the business is ₹6 crore. Why? Because the son never learned financial literacy. The Pattern I See Constantly: Business Owner (Father): Knows production, clients, operations Never taught son: P&L reading, cash flow… Continue reading
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Growth Is the Best Disguise for a Sick Zone
I was reading a book review in Mint last weekend. Titled Snowed Under, the book is about cancer. A memoir. The author has used two phrases that stopped me mid-sip. 1 – Sick zone. 2- Wellness zone. The author used them to describe the two states everyone lives between — the crisis of active illness… Continue reading
