Vladimir Komarov, Managing Partner of GRATA International St. Petersburg, took part in the ClubFirst expert meeting

On November 25, 2025, a working group dedicated to issues of business succession and legacy took place at the Four Seasons Lion Palace Hotel in St. Petersburg.

The event was held with the support of GRATA International and Ksenia Diodorova, co-founder of the studio Gonzo-Design. The session opened with a presentation by Managing Partner Vladimir Komarov, who outlined key aspects of legal and corporate succession.

The discussion focused on the concept of business as a cultural and family system capable of preserving meaning and values amid generational transitions and external challenges. Ksenia Diodorova shared her research in visual anthropology, emphasizing that corporate rituals and traditions serve the same function as folklore — helping teams “process” change and relieve tension. Special attention was given to the role of language, symbols, and rituals as means of transmitting corporate values and rules of conduct.

Participants discussed the importance of integrating formal governance tools (such as trusts, holding structures, shareholder agreements, and management bodies) with an anthropological approach to family and corporate culture. This synthesis allows the ownership and management framework to operate sustainably over the long term, ensuring both business continuity and the preservation of the family name.

The event reaffirmed the importance of viewing business through an anthropological lens: traditions, symbols, and shared culture form the foundation of trust and resilience that enables a company to endure change while maintaining its identity.