A prestigious workshop was successfully organized at the Saurashtra University premisesunder the aegis of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), through the joint efforts of theDepartment of Business Management and the Industry Institute of Interaction Cell on Monday, 11th May 2026. The event, titled "Generational Success of Family Business: Building Longevity Across Generations: Lessons from Japanese Family Business," featured world-renowned researcher and family business expert, Professor Toshio Goto, as the Keynote Speaker. The 84-year-old Harvard Business School MBA graduate currently serves as a Research Professor at the Japan University of Economics, Tokyo. Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Goto has served as a consultant to Japanese family businesses that are up to 1,000 years old and has extensively worked on Japanese family business and its governance at IMD, which is widely recognized as one of the world's premier institutions for
family business studies. Notably, he has conducted joint research with Saurashtra University's Professor Hitesh Shukla on the 461-year-old Japanese conglomerate, Kikkoman Corporation, a collaboration rooted in deep personal and professional ties that ultimately facilitated his academic visit to the university. The session was presided over by the Vice Chancellor of Saurashtra University, Professor Utpal Joshi, who emphasized that Rajkot is a prominent industrial hub and that an international expert's visit provides local entrepreneurs with a global perspective to make their businesses sustainable in the long run, with Registrar Dr. A. K. Jadeja also gracing the occasion with his presence.

Delivering his insightful address, Professor Toshio Goto shared profound corporate secrets that captured the headlines of almost all major newspapers the following day. He highlighted that Japan is home to the world's longest-surviving family enterprises, with over 100 companies operating for more than 500 years, attributing this longevity to a steadfast commitment to core moral values, customer trust, and the prioritization of "Social Capital" over mere financial wealth. Drawing on the Japanese "ie" system, he advised business leaders that ensuring multigenerational survival requires adopting a "Business First" mindset, prioritizing meritocracy over bloodlines, implementing disciplined succession planning, and establishing long-term governance frameworks. He further underscored the critical need to balance family expectations with business requirements while integrating adaptive innovation and modern technology without ever compromising on product and craftsmanship quality.

The workshop saw enthusiastic participation from nearly 40 prominent business families, chamber members, and leading industrial associations of Rajkot, including notable industrial stalwarts such as Jaydeep Vadher (R K Silver), Rajiv Doshi (Greater Chamber), Jeet Agrawal (Ahuja), Hitendra Joshi (Service Force), Rameshbhai Vora (Robin Precision), JayRajbhai Shah (EPP), D N Dudhat (Foundry Association), Mitesh Javia (GM Valves), Chandubhai Virani and Shayambhai Virani (Balaji Wafers), Narendrabhai Panchani (REA, President), Amrutbhai Gadhiya and Hansrajbhai Gajera (LUB), Jigneshbhai Akbari and Sorathiyabhai (SNJ Labs), Amiben Barcha and Vivekbhai Barcha (Ashok Machine Tools), Darshbhai Mehta (Bhabha Group), Jimmibhai Daxini (P Prabhudas), Milan Goswami (Confidance Automation), Divyesh Changela (Vishal Bearings), Narendrabhai Mehta (Imitation Industries), Dipbhai Lunagariya (BABU Chuno), Sarvanandbhai Sonvani and Rajendrabhai Sonvani (RK Builders), Rishit Sanghvi (Phonex), Adi Ravani (Bon Engineering), Veerbhai Shukla (Aditya Power Dynamic), Maheshbhai Savaliya (Harmony Laminates), Vipinbhai (Endoc Pharma), Gunvantbhai Patel (Zenith), V. P. Vaishnav (Chamber of Commerce),
Narendrasinh Jadeja (Metoda GIDC Association), Nareshbhai Sheth (President, Aji GIDC), Bharatbhai Hapani (Kich Hardware), Dipakbhai Patel, Hiteshbhai Patel (ERVA), Binaben Detroja, and Gopal Namkeen. The event concluded with an interactive, open-ended Q&A and a personal one-on-one session, where local entrepreneurs directly engaged with Professor Goto to discuss contemporary family business challenges, operational methodologies, and practical ways to integrate Japanese discipline and longevity models into their own family business legacy.