experience

The Dhawan family of India is taking their company SSF Plastics to the next level in family business evolution through initiatives in professionalisation, diversification, sustainability and engaging the next generation.

Saurabh Dhawan (pictured), the second generation family member leading business development, says the Mumbai-headquartered, self-described one-stop solution provider for all rigid plastic packaging needs has also been venturing into multiple startups, with next-gens at the helm.

The nature of the family business human capital is complex. Family and non-family employees have the potential to offer unique and distinct contributions to the firm. Yet some human resources practices might be perceived as a preferential treatment to family employees over non-family ones.

This could be detrimental to the reputation of family business, being perceived as socially irresponsible, and potentially limiting their ability to attract qualified nonfamily employees, which could ultimately affect the company’s long-term performance.

The role sustainable and impact investing can play among families in saving the planet has slowly emerged to the forefront of western thinking, but families in Asia have already been putting theory into practice for years as a matter of survival.

Over the last 20 months, family businesses have experienced unprecedented levels of disruption caused by outside forces. Certainly, Covid-19 has been the leading cause of this turmoil, but a confluence of economic, geopolitical and environmental threats has also caused savvy families to galvanise around resource preservation and the enhancement of family cohesion and reputation.