BSG Leadership

How are women shaping the future of your family enterprise?

BSG Leadership, in collaboration with Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance and Center for Executive Education (CEE), IBA, Karachi, is conducting an Executive Pulse Survey to better understand the evolving role of women in family business leadership and governance

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐭
Women, Governance & the Future of Family Enterprise

We invite family business principals, board members, CEOs, next-generation leaders, and senior executives to share their perspectives through this confidential 5–7 minute survey

Your insights will contribute to an executive research report - contact us to receive a complimentary digital copy of the report

Share your insights here:
forms.gle/gGkQm76Czv6cmtDQ6

We will also be hosting an 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘦-𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 Family Business Roundtable on this topic.

For participation details or to express your interest, please contact:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Who speaks for the family?

Who speaks for the owners?

Who speaks for the board?

Who speaks for management?

In many family enterprises, those answers are the same person

That works remarkably well - until scale, complexity, succession, or an unexpected transition arrive

This was one of several themes explored during our recent Family Business Roundtable convened with PICG and IBA CEE

Co-hosted by:
Naveen Balkhi
Shafaq Fauzil Azim - PICG
Adeel Shahid - IBA CEE

The discussion brought together founders, family business owners, directors, successors, and advisors to examine questions around governance, decision rights, founder transition, and institutional continuity

Happy to share the report and findings emerging from those conversations with you

At what point does a successful family business become an institution?

Who does the board ultimately serve when family, ownership and management interests collide?

How do you preserve the founder's values without preserving founder dependency?

These are some of the engaging and candid conversations were at the heart of yesterday's virtual roundtable

Hosted by BSG Leadership in collaboration with PICG and IBA

Different perspectives were discussed by:
Naveen Balkhi
Azim - PICG
Shahid - CEE IBA

Thanks to the Founders, Directors, Successors and Advisors who contributed their perspectives

For those interested in continuing the conversation:
1. We'll share the roundtable research findings soon
2. Our in-person roundtable on Women in Family Business takes place in August

Stay tuned!

"Youth need support to navigate these unprecedented challenging geopolitical conditions," said several parents, schools and universities

Our BSG Team is facilitating a series of workshops to build our internal reservoirs to deal with external disturbances

Our Series:
𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐞. 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭. 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞. 𝐈𝐭.
𝐀 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭: 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐲 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬

We're hosting an open registration, complimentary virtual workshop today, Thursday, March 5, at 2 pm Qatar & Saudi | 3 pm UAE | 4 pm Pakistan | 7 pm Malaysia

Youth from 6 countries are participating today. Welcome! Just sign-up for the Zoom link and tools: https://forms.gle/G9MWrwbHARWXcYAm9

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭: 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐲 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬
90-minute Virtual Workshop

Step into a safe, structured space to: Pause. Explore how we respond to turbulence and disruption

In our Circle, we focus on:
• 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭: How stress affects the brain, body & faith
• 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐢𝐭: Shifts in mood, energy & thinking
• 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐭: Grounding & breath tools
• 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐭: Dhikr & reflection as anchors
• 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭: Leave with a personal steadiness plan

Workshop Guide: Naveen Balkhi

See you today! Or for your campus community - connect with us if you'd like to host one in-person or virtually

Every particle of our collective light matters. Protect and strengthen, together.

𝐌𝐚’𝐚 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬: Their global team, headquartered in KL, Malaysia, is doing something rare

Where many are racing, Ma’a stops. They look. They find people actually fixing things

Ma’a practically supports those who stitch communities back together, build online support systems, provide water-access with solar-powered water-pumps, teach in remote villages where there's been no school, offer dignified interest-free loans to B40 families (bottom 40% income)... They find and spotlight quiet gems that make change, one life at a time

BSG has been short-listed for one of Ma'a's grants

For 21 years, we have advised 175+ partner organizations across 17 countries - we've seen that grounded leadership starts with one question: 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘮 𝘐?

Through the 𝐁𝐒𝐆 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, we brought that depth directly to underserved youth through 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘤𝘺.𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 (𝘠𝘓𝘔)

YLM anchors youth to answer: 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘮 𝘐? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘐 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦?

Youth leaders’ journeys include:
1. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞: Disconnection from self and legacy
2. 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡: Rediscovering identity and amanah
3. 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Becoming grounded leaders who act

Youth Legacy.Matters programs are grounded in research, values, use of ethical AI, and courage-over-confidence

Our YLM Alums have done incredible capstone projects to serve their communities, campuses and schools. Hope in the face of gloom

Check-out the good company we’re in - other organizations who’ve been shortlisted along with BSG: Komerce, Indonesia; Kahf Yazılım A.Ş., Turkey; Million Virtue Partners Sdn Bhd, Malaysia; Edvantage Institute Australia; greentech Apps, UK; DynaRaise, Nigeria… and so many more. Teams solving real problems, quietly

While you’re visiting, vote for 𝐁𝐒𝐆’𝐬 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙖𝙘𝙮.𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 (𝘠𝘓𝘔) for underserved youth, or any other projects that tug at your heart-&-mind-strings!

https://award.globalsadaqah.com/profiles/345

Our 2-minute story on Ma'a & YouTube: https://youtu.be/KP0jnHd3jMo

Legacy & Succession in Family Enterprise

𝗔 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿. 𝗔 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲.

Some of the region’s most influential family chairs, principals and board members discussed how 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 intentionality, at the dialogue BSG Leadership co-hosted with PICG last month.

The roundtable, facilitated by our Director, Board Advisory & Global Human Capital, Naveen Balkhi; focused on institutional legacy, dilemmas and practical paths. Family business accounts for 70% of global GDP; driving innovation and stability (McKinsey). Succession remains a complex and emotionally-charged transition.

Chairs shared nuanced challenges of governance that honors tradition, AI/tech, strategy and cross-gen unity:

𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲:
Commercial success is table-stakes. Codifying values and decision-making ensures continuity. Candid discussion on the applicability of 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘴 from Josh Baron & Rob Lachenauer and the three-circle family business model from John Davis

𝗔 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁:
Resilient families agreed that the CV is cultivated (Capability & Values), before authority is transferred

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀:
~60% of conversations remain in the family. Recognition that outside views strengthen governance (primary research BSG conducted)

𝗗𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲:
Women are advisors in some family businesses. Chairs specified how their role is purpose-fully recognized

A big thank-you! to the distinguished leaders who contributed with openness and courage.

Our insights-packed 𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 Research Report is now available. We invite boards, founders, next-gen leaders & governance experts to continue this important conversation.

You’ll also find our 𝗕𝗦𝗚 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱 simple, yet powerful. DM us.

Looking forward to another important conversation at our Q2 Roundtable

Naveen Balkhi, Balkhi KB

A 20-year witnessing

A glimmering campus hallmarked by cloud-reaching arches, emerging next to the rushing Lalyani Canal

A testament to a larger-than-life brotherhood: Akhuwat

This is the (monumental) beginning of Akhuwat University…

Walking through these grounds, Naveen Balkhi and Balkhi KB met dreamers and leaders alike. Countless legacies seeded, watered, blossoming

A campus where every hallway echoes dreams seen, and realized, for others - greater than our.selves

Courtyards that invite reflection, intend conversation

Every corner reflects Akhuwat’s mission: to serve, to rise with ایمان, احسان, اخلاص, انفاق -The Values these dreams manifest tall on: faith, excellence, sincerity, giving

All illuminating the promise of a brighter tomorrow: our young leaders. Youth from all over a proud nation, standing tall on a February afternoon, their stature inspiring hope for our own legacy. Unabashed pride, in each brick, in each face

Founded by Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib, with the belief that: if we can offer loans without interest, we can offer world-class education without fees. Akhuwat campuses build on Akhuwat Foundation’s millions of debt-free cycles, spreading dignity, hope, and opportunity

A campus reminiscent of Córdoba, Spain

Magnificent arches

Campus guides who share their institution's values in 19 languages

Circular architecture to cool the cluster on hot summer days

The convenience store run entirely on the students' honor system

Dorm rooms where students are paired for diversity and inclusion...

This sanctuary of learning is the crown jewel of Akhuwat, the world’s largest interest-free microfinance movement

Founded by Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib - a mission that has lifted millions out of poverty through interest-free loans

It is here that the cycle of debt ends and a journey of dignity begins for the next generation of leaders

Every blade of grass seems to stand taller saluting the compassion and vision that created the Akhuwat University

Two of our senior leaders' visit to Akhuwat, and their stories, lit up our collective hearts - Naveen Balkhi, Balkhi KB

Sharing the inspiration with you :)

What do you do when you feel left out? When plans collapse, or pressure builds? When grief strikes?

Last week at Deodar (BSG Leadership x Kiran Foundation), we focused on something often overlooked: Emotions & Resilience

Daaris don’t get ‘lectures’. We absorb examples

From Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Lady Khadija, Syedna Umar to Mandala and Greta…
… and saw how steadfastness, courage, and deep-running rivers of purpose carry us through inevitable challenges

Daaris practiced tools, noticed how their bodies respond under stress, and named-to-tame the emotions that arise in difficult moments

We reflected on what hurt, confused, or unbalanced us. We learned to steady ourselves and move forward with purpose. The bough that bends…

Resilience isn’t about being ‘strong’ or unchallenged…

It’s about falling, feeling, and bouncing back without losing yourself

This is leadership-in-motion at its beginning - managing ourselves before leading others

Deodar equips youth with the awareness and the tools to act with clarity, and lead with confidence

Want to know more?
+1609.532.8788

Deodar: DNA of Leadership

BSG Leadership launched Deodar, an on-campus Youth Leadership Program in partnership with Kiran Foundation, built on action, self-awareness, and compassion, anchored in Islamic teachings.

Kiran Foundation is a 20+ year old nonprofit working in marginalized communities. Kiran’s work begins with a trauma-informed preschool (Ibtedai), where children and their mothers learn and heal together before entering mainstream education. Kiran now has multiple thriving campuses - one of which hosts Deodar, at it's Blue Peace Lounge.

On campus, Kiran anchors their work in lived reality. BSG brings decades of experience across g.local leadership environments.

Our exercises challenge assumptions, uncover blind spots, and put influence directly in Daaris’ hands.

Across the multi-session journey, Daaris are immersed in four practical pillars - stay tuned for details on these…

Join us as we witness the Daaris’ sparkle, glow and incredible capstone projects already underway.

Sabina Khatri, Naveen Balkhi, Balkhi KB