The Family Managed Business Summit 2025: Honouring Legacy, Inspiring Innovation
Family-managed businesses form the backbone of India’s entrepreneurial landscape. They represent legacy, trust and resilience — yet they also demand reinvention, innovation and adaptability as markets evolve. To celebrate this powerful intersection of tradition and transformation, ATLAS SkillTech University hosted The Family Managed Business Summit 2025 in collaboration with ATLAS INC X Futurepreneurs, bringing together distinguished leaders, founders and next-generation entrepreneurs.
The Summit aimed to give students — many of whom come from established business families — first-hand insights into building purposeful, future-ready enterprises. Through a fireside chat and a dynamic panel discussion, the event offered a deep dive into what it truly means to scale, sustain and lead in today’s rapidly changing business world.
Session 1: Fireside Chat — Scaling Beyond Borders with Indian Values
Guest Speaker: Mr. Nibhrant Shah
Founder & CEO – Isprava | Co-Founder – Lohono Stays | Founder – Themis
Moderator: Mr. Aneesh Khanna
The Summit opened with an inspiring fireside chat featuring Mr. Nibhrant Shah, the visionary behind some of India’s most admired luxury lifestyle brands. His entrepreneurial journey, rooted in Indian values yet globally aspirational, set the tone for the day.
Key Themes from the Conversation
The Power of Trust in Family Businesses
Mr. Shah highlighted the innate trust that exists in family-managed businesses — an advantage that cannot be easily replicated. At the same time, he noted the importance of communication, humility, and the philosophy of “keeping 49 and giving 51” to build collaborative leadership.
Innovation Over Replication
Using examples like Airbnb, he explained how Isprava intentionally avoided copying western models. Instead, the company focused on India’s unique socio-cultural fabric, creating a new luxury category tailored to domestic preferences.
Execution Matters More Than Ideas
According to Mr. Shah, great ideas mean little without thoughtful execution. The real win lies in solving genuine problems “people are willing to pay for” and doing it better than anyone else.
Sustainability as a Business Value
Isprava’s sustainability efforts — from rainwater harvesting to tree transplantation — stem not from trend-driven “greenwashing,” but from responsible, long-term business thinking.
Lessons for the Next Generation
He urged students to first gain external professional exposure before joining their family businesses, build competence, stay ego-free, and embrace resourcefulness over excess capital.
Mr. Shah’s candid insights offered students a rare window into building luxury, brand purpose, and global scale while staying deeply rooted in Indian ethos.
Session 2: Panel Discussion — Tradition to Transformation
Topic: Navigating Generational Dynamics
Moderator: Mr. Amit Bhatia
The second session brought together four accomplished leaders whose journeys reflect the diversity and depth of India’s family business ecosystem:
- Mr. Mahendra Jain – Managing Director & CEO, MINsysT Consulting Pvt. Ltd.
- Mr. Nityam Khosla – Director & Owner, Teamglobal Logistics Pvt. Ltd.
- Mr. Ketan Rajani – Director, DOMS Industries
- Mr. Jeegar Mota – Partner, Mota Chips
Major Insights from the Panel
Integrity and Culture as the Ultimate Differentiators
Mr. Jain emphasised that “Integrity is the main value — without integrity, there is no business.” He urged students to build cultures rooted in trust and long-term thinking.
Competence Over Inheritance
Mr. Khosla highlighted the critical difference between ownership and management, reminding students that leadership is earned through discipline and capability, not lineage.
Gut-Driven yet Strategic Decision-Making
Sharing DOMS Industries’ evolution beyond stationery, Mr. Rajani stated, “You follow your gut as a businessman,” illustrating how intuition and customer understanding guide expansion.
Adaptability as a Survival Skill
Representing a legacy brand, Mr. Mota captured the heart of generational transformation: “It’s not the biggest or strongest who will survive — it is the one who adapts.”
From organic vs. acquisition-led growth to technology adoption and shifting consumer behavior, the panelists offered students a rich blend of practical wisdom and personal experiences.
What Students Took Away
Across both sessions, one theme remained constant: sustainable success is built on the fusion of values, competence, innovation and adaptability. Key student learnings included:
- Culture cannot be cloned — it is a true competitive advantage.
- Competence, not inheritance, defines leadership.
- Adaptability ensures survival in evolving markets.
- Values and integrity shape long-term ecosystems.
- Start small; be resourceful; grow with discipline.
- Avoid debt and structure capital intelligently.
- Innovation beats imitation — build new categories.
- Execution > ideas — solve real problems.
- Leaders must embody the brand they build.
Building the Next Generation of Family Business Leaders at ATLAS
With a large and diverse community of students from established business families, ATLAS SkillTech University remains committed to fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem where legacy meets innovation. Through industry-led interactions, experiential learning, and future-focused programs, ATLAS empowers students to evolve into dynamic leaders capable of scaling businesses while honouring generational values.
