Wednesday, 27 August 2025

📘 Howard Gardening Story #16 — Nandu, the Unofficial CEO

 




When Nandu joined us in his late 20s in a global mobility role, no one imagined he’d soon lead one of the most spirited movements in our company.

We bonded quickly — mostly because of his deep involvement in Syntillations, our employee-led engagement wing.

The first thing he did? Call for a secret ballot election for the committee — something we’d never done before. I said “Sure,” curious to see where it would go.

Next thing I knew, Nandu had formed his own party, written a manifesto, and launched a full-on campaign — unit by unit, speech by speech. Of course, he won. Decisively.

What followed was a masterclass in engagement. Under Nandu, Syntillations became a cultural force. He curated events, ran clubs, and hosted a grand film awards ceremony where employee-made short films — all on sustainability — took center stage. (And this was before the UN’s SDGs were even a buzzword.)

But his real gift? Creating belonging. Every induction included a Syntillations segment where newcomers joined clubs matching their interests. They didn’t just join a company — they joined a community.

Today, Nandu is a Vice President — and still a force for good. He’s been a COVID warrior in Bangalore, works with traffic police on civic issues, and remains deeply involved in CSR. I sincerely hope we have many Nandus around us — to inspire us, and to lead us.

💡 HR & CSR Leaders — Would you spot a young Nandu if you saw one? Would you nurture them to run like a CEO, even without the title?

The future is already in your workforce. The question is — are you looking?

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Bangalore, Karnataka, India
My purpose is to manufacture success and happiness