Students of Pillai Institute of Management Studies & Research attended a half day seminar organized by the Pillai Centre of Innovation & Entrepreneurship on the topic “Family Managed Business and Entrepreneurship” on 19th August 2016. The seminar was held in association with Asian Institute of Family Managed Business(AIFMB). Two young entrepreneurs, Mr. Jeffin Johns (Founder – Brandkeeda) and Ms. Sabina Bahnpurawala (Co-owner- Foam Home Matresses Pvt. Ltd) spoke about their entrepreneurial journey. Prof. Samish Dalal from AIFMB enthused students to pursue entrepreneurship as a career and spoke about the many advantages of the same. On the occasion, Dr. Priam Pillai, COO, Pillai Group of Institutions launched the Business Plan Competition and spoke about the initiative and the prize money of Rs. One lakh for the winner.

Jeffin Ani Johns is an Indian entrepreneur and brand consultant and is currently the CEO for J.T.E group of companies; a 30 year old Indian family managed business operating in industrial turnkey projects and is responsible for looking after its business operations on pan India basis.

Sabina Bhanpurawala CEO and Marketing Head , Foam Home is the second generation torch bearer of the family enterprise and has been successfully managing the business for the last 7 years. Equipped with an MBA and having completed a short course from Harvard about Launching New Ventures, she prepares to carry forward the Foam Home legacy to greater heights.She is the youngest member and the only female member in her industry and has been appreciated for her dedication to her family business at an early age by various interviews in popular publications like India today, Society, Savvy and Femina.

Prof. Samish Dalal is a professor teaching Negotiation, Innovation and General Management at the S P Jain School Of Global Management, Dubai, Singapore, Sydney. He has an expertise in understanding the concerns and challenges of Family Managed Businesses and has designed and executed a wide variety of different teaching mediums for the students of Family Managed Business Program. He has developed four indigenous case studies on Negotiation based on real organizational scenarios, of which two of them are published.

The students had a good interaction with the speakers and asked many questions. The event was organized by Dr. Celina Joy, E-Cell member of PIMSR and coordinator of PCIE.