Change is constant and changemakers keep the flow going. Anjali Pandey – Vice President, Engine Business and Components Business, Cummins India proves that she is one. With her, ‘what you see is what you get’ – be it at work, home or in social settings. Sarada Vishnubhatla probes further to understand the simplicity behind her strong persona in this report!
Being present with your whole self in a harmonious manner in every situation of life is a gift. And Anjali Pandey is truly gifted. She pours her harmonious self into her work, team, and her life. And, that is what makes here a changemaker!
She believes in ‘executing one’s functions right even when no one is watching’. Born in Varanasi, Anjali Pandey – Vice President, Engine and Components Business, Cummins India finds inspiration primarily in her highly educated parents. With 2 younger sisters, Anjali took her role as the responsible path finder seriously early on in life.
Freedom of thought and a naturally curious nature helped Anjali to question the status quo. She understood the value of ‘pushing the envelope at every stage’ and to ‘disrupt trends to see possibilities’ being revealed. A scientific atmosphere at home further nurtured her interest in understanding how things ‘work’.
Anjali shares: “Our home environment growing up was that of hard work and focus. I opted to study mechanical engineering from the University of Pune and my career choice naturally came about with manufacturing as my main interest.”
Anjali joined Cummins India in 2001 and has grown with it – from working on the shop floor, to moving on to purchasing department and after more such moves, Anjali chose strategy as her area of expertise and came into her current role less than 2 years ago. She feels that her career at Cummins India is a ‘perfect marriage between the professional and the institution’.
For Anjali, success is short-lived without sustainability. It translates into having the right people on the job working the processes right on a daily basis.
She explains: “As a leader, it is important to leave legacy behind which the team and the organization can take forward. And in line with that, I was fortunate to have helped grow our different businesses in the market multifold.”
According to Anjali, a woman executive is only contained by the imaginary glass ceiling, for none exists otherwise. But she does agree that being a woman is ‘harder in this industry’. There have been times in her career when she has had to spell out that it is her and not the accompanying male colleague who is the decision maker. Things are changing now for the better, she feels. And she is all for the inclusion of diverse talent where gender has no role to play.
Anjali believes in connecting with her team, clients and everyone else in her life at both the heart and the mind levels because only then an organization can succeed in all aspects. And a pre-requisite for this is to delve deep into oneself which, in turn, needs one to spend time on self-improvement.
Anjali confides: “The COVID pandemic and the subsequent lockdown has taught me not to take things for granted by way of health. Slowing down and unlearning multi-tasking has given me the breathing space and clarity.”
For Anjali, leadership is about taking actions that make a difference with perseverance, loyalty and commitment. And most importantly by being true to herself!