75 Years of Quality, Not Quantity

One Employee's Personal Account of What Makes Mahindra So Special

On October 2^nd, The Mahindra Group turned 75 years old. To celebrate, I set out to itemize the 75 reasons why I love working for Mahindra, or 75 things I’ve learned while working here. But while I made it pretty far with both lists, I realized that I was telling the wrong story. I had made the quantity the focus, when the true story of what makes Mahindra special lies in the quality of what they have to offer. So, instead, I thought I’d open up a bit about my journey with Mahindra, and how over the past 6+ years they’ve continued to earn my loyalty and admiration.

Values
When I first started working with Mahindra (at their micro-mobility startup, GenZe), I had written off corporate America for employment options. My background was in advertising, and I came to realize that most big businesses didn’t align with my values and commitment to making the world a better place, and I struggle to market something I don’t genuinely believe in. But Mahindra found me, and offered me a position that aligned with my strengths, my interests, and how I wanted to engage with the world. And I loved it! I was so passionate about the work, that their success was my success, and I was willing to go above and beyond to ensure they succeeded.

Trust
As an employee (really in most aspects of life), when I feel valued and respected, I’m at my best. And at Mahindra, I have found that support is offered at every level. They hire some amazing people (more on that in a moment), have a corporate culture that is warm and accessible, and genuinely want you to succeed.

One of the highlights of my tenure with Mahindra was the work I did for the Global Climate Action Summit. The event took place in San Francisco (where GenZe was headquartered), Anand Mahindra was a keynote speaker, and it was all about sustainability, so I was given the broad task to “figure out how we can be a part of it.” But you couldn’t buy tickets, and sponsorship options were way out of my budget, so I had to get creative. My solution was a lofty one: convince our local micro mobility partners to provide free transportation to all attendees, and offer a free ride day to the entire city of San Francisco to include them in the celebration. Somehow, I was able to get everyone on board and make it happen. The emissions saved through the offering helped the event achieve their carbon footprint goals, my boss and I were able to attend the event with our partners, and together we were all able to demonstrate how sustainable personal transportation is truly the way of the future (and get a lot of free PR out of it). It was a perfect reflection of the trust, teamwork, innovation and altruism that makes Mahindra so special, and is a memory I will treasure always.

Teamwork
If you haven’t experienced it personally, you may underestimate the power of a truly solid team. During my time with Mahindra, I’ve been fortunate to have it at every level. My former boss and I still keep in touch, and have evolved from trusted colleagues to close friends. My current team has been immensely supportive through the challenges faced as a result of the pandemic and the wildfires here in California. I believe I am able to do better work as a result of this support, and in this new isolated existence we’re living in, it feels great to know that people have your back.

Loyalty
Good brands have the power to conjure up emotion in you. Great brands feel like someone you know, a friend or family member that is safe and cherished. Mahindra feels that way to me. I grew up in the Midwest, and when I care about someone or something, I am fiercely loyal. Mahindra has earned that loyalty, and I feel that loyalty is reciprocal.

Innovation
Some of the fundamental pillars of what makes Mahindra different is their commitment to pushing the limits, thinking differently, and driving innovation. They’re always growing and shifting, expanding their products and capabilities, and bringing in new businesses and offerings. So, as an employee, I’m constantly learning and growing as well. In many ways, it reminds me of everything I loved about advertising, without any of the setbacks.

Altruism
CSR has almost felt trendy in recent years, as employees are starting to expect it from their employers. But Mahindra has been committed to CSR since the beginning. They inherently do business for good, and are committed to rejuvenating the planet, supporting the communities where they do business, and making a positive impact. I consider myself extremely fortunate to work for a company that actually cares, and gives back in ways that matter.

So, thank you to everyone at Mahindra, who has helped build and shape this brand over the past 75 years. I feel so proud to work for such a stand-out organization, and look forward to supporting the business, and watching it continue to grow and evolve.