Hi, I'm Sandesh Mestry
For 25 years, I've been walking alongside family businesses across India—helping them grow, navigate tough transitions, and build legacies that last.
Sandesh Mestry
Family Business Consultant & Mentor
My Story
I grew up in a family business. I know what it’s like when business discussions happen at the dinner table. When your father is both your boss and your dad. When family relationships and business decisions get tangled together.
That firsthand experience taught me something crucial: family businesses aren’t just about profit and loss—they’re about people, emotions, relationships, and legacy.
I believe every family business has incredible potential. But that potential gets stuck when families don't have the right conversations, structures, or guidance. My job is to unlock that potential—to help you build something that grows, thrives, and passes successfully to the next generation.
I don’t work with hundreds of clients at once. I take on a limited number of families each year because this work requires deep engagement.
Having worked with Indian family businesses for over 25 years, I understand the unique dynamics of Indian-origin enterprises. Now, I'm extending my services to Indian families who have built businesses in Dubai and the UAE.The challenges of running a family business across geographies—balancing traditional Indian values with global markets, managing succession across countries, and maintaining family unity despite distance—these are complexities I'm equipped to help you navigate.If you're an Indian family business in the UAE, I'd love to connect and explore how my experience can support your growth and continuity.
My Background & Training
Commerce Graduate
Mumbai University (1989)
Advanced Programs
SPJIMR, IIM Ahmedabad, ISB Hyderabad
Author
"Go Fly High" - Business growth strategies
Mentor
CIIE (IIM Ahmedabad), Wadhwani Foundation
But here's what matters more than credentials: I've lived it. I understand the pride of building something with your family. The fear of handing it over. The sleepless nights about succession.
That's why families trust me—not just because of my training, but because I genuinely get it.
Why the Elephant Logo?
Every element of my logo has meaning. It represents what I believe makes family businesses strong.
The Elephant Herd
Elephants are incredibly strong individually, but they always move as a herd. Because together, they’re unstoppable. They protect each other, support each other, and survive for generations.
That’s exactly how family businesses should work. When family members move toward a shared vision—supporting rather than competing with each other—the business becomes far stronger than any individual could make it.
And who leads the herd? The matriarch—the female elephant. She’s wise, experienced, and keeps everyone together. In family businesses, women often play this crucial role—holding the family together, mediating conflicts, and providing the emotional glue.
The Honeycomb Pattern
Look closely at a honeycomb. Every cell is connected. Remove one, and the structure weakens. That’s the power of networking and collaboration.
In family businesses, you can’t work in silos. The family, the business, the board, the advisors—everyone must stay connected and work in harmony.
The grey shading represents the grey areas in every family business— unspoken tensions, unclear rules, and difficult conversations. Successful families don’t avoid them. They acknowledge, discuss, and create clarity.
How I Work With Families
I follow a proven four-phase process that takes families from confusion to clarity, from conflict to collaboration.
Understanding & Education
Before we solve anything, we need to understand where you are. I spend time with each family member individually and together. I learn your history, your dynamics, your challenges.
And I educate you on what successful family businesses do differently— so you know what's possible.
This includes: Family history mapping, identifying communication gaps, understanding roles and responsibilities, and learning proven frameworks for family business success.
Planning Together
Once we understand the situation, we create a clear plan. Where do you want to go? What does success look like? Who needs to be prepared for what roles?
What structures need to be in place?
This includes: Succession roadmaps, governance structures, family constitution drafts, strategic business planning, and leadership development plans for the next generation.
Implementation & Action
Plans are useless if they sit in a drawer. I help you implement—step by step, conversation by conversation, decision by decision. I facilitate difficult family meetings, help you set up boards and councils, coach your next generation, and ensure things actually happen.This includes: Running family council meetings, setting up decision-making processes, implementing governance structures, and coaching family members through their roles.
Ongoing Mentorship
Even after implementation, I stay with you. Family businesses evolve. New challenges emerge. You need someone you can call when tough decisions arise or conflicts flare up. I'm that steady presence—your sounding board, your neutral advisor, your family business guide.This includes: Regular check-ins, coaching sessions, crisis intervention when needed, and continuous refinement of your governance and strategy.
Let's Start a Conversation
Want to see if we're a good fit? Let's talk—no pressure, no sales pitch. Just an honest conversation about your family business.
Get in Touch