Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra has once again captured attention with his thoughts on liberal arts education and work-life balance. Speaking at a Firstpost event, Mahindra passionately advocated for the importance of arts and culture in professional decision-making.
"Even if you're an engineer or an MBA, you must study arts and culture," he said, highlighting the role of a well-rounded education. "We support art and culture because I believe it helps make better decisions by engaging the whole brain."
Mahindra stressed that understanding arts and culture enhances decision-making. "If you're not spending time at home, with friends, or reading, how will you bring the right inputs to your decisions?" he questioned.
Witty response to L&T chief’s 90-hour work week remark
Mahindra also addressed the viral remarks by L&T chief SN Subrahmanyan, who advocated for a 90-hour work week. Subrahmanyan's controversial comment, "How long can you stare at your wife?" sparked debates on work-life balance.
(Also read: ‘How long can you stare at your wife?’: L&T chairman says he wants employees to work on Sunday too)
In a cheeky response, Mahindra quipped, "My wife is wonderful, and I love staring at her." He took the opportunity to underline the importance of quality over quantity in work. "Don't ask me how many hours I work; ask me about the quality of my work," he emphasised.
The role of social media in Mahindra's strategy
{{/usCountry}}In a cheeky response, Mahindra quipped, "My wife is wonderful, and I love staring at her." He took the opportunity to underline the importance of quality over quantity in work. "Don't ask me how many hours I work; ask me about the quality of my work," he emphasised.
The role of social media in Mahindra's strategy
{{/usCountry}}Mahindra, known for his strong social media presence, also shared insights about his approach to managing his X (formerly Twitter) account, which boasts 11.4 million followers.
"I'm not on X because I'm lonely. My wife is wonderful. I spend time with her. I'm here because this is an amazing business tool," he explained. He highlighted how social media offers real-time feedback from millions, enabling informed decision-making.
(Also read: 'I love staring at my wife': Anand Mahindra takes a swipe at L&T chairman’s 90-hour workweek call)
Addressing concerns about time management, he clarified, "People often ask if I have a team managing my account. I respond to comments like, 'Why are you on Twitter?' or 'Why are you wasting time?' It's about leveraging this platform effectively."
The L&T work culture debate
Subrahmanyan's comments advocating a 90-hour work week, including working on Sundays, have reignited the work-life balance debate, which Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy had sparked earlier with his 70-hour work week suggestion.
An L&T spokesperson later clarified that the comments were reflective of the company’s ambitious goals and not a literal mandate. “Extraordinary outcomes require extraordinary effort,” the statement read, while reiterating L&T’s commitment to fostering a culture of passion and performance.