Born in Mumbai, India, in 1955, Anand Mahindra is a fourth-generation scion and the current Chairman of the Mahindra Group, one of India's largest and most diversified conglomerates. His lineage is prestigious; he is the grandson of Jagdish Chandra Mahindra, a co-founder of Mahindra & Mahindra. His upbringing was highly cosmopolitan and intellectually rigorous.

Mahindra attended the elite Lawrence School, Lovedale, before pursuing a distinctly liberal arts path in the United States. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1977, with a degree that focused on filmmaking and architecture—fields seemingly distant from heavy industry. He then cemented his business credentials with an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1981. This unique academic combination of arts, architecture, and business strategy gave him a creative, multi-disciplinary lens through which he would later lead the industrial group, bridging the gap between design and engineering, and tradition and modernization.

Anand Mahindra joined the family business in 1981, initially working at Mahindra Ugine Steel Company (MUSCO). He steadily climbed the corporate ladder, gaining operational expertise, but his true impact began in the 1990s when he took a leadership role at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., the flagship maker of off-road vehicles and tractors. His vision transformed the group from a solid Indian industrial house into a globally competitive, diversified conglomerate.

His strategy was based on bold acquisitions and diversification. He initiated the Group’s entry into new business areas, including real estate, hospitality, and IT services (Tech Mahindra). In 2012, he took the helm as Chairman of the Mahindra Group, succeeding his uncle, Keshub Mahindra. Under his stewardship, the Group has expanded into international markets through strategic purchases like the acquisition of the South Korean SsangYong Motor Company and global design firm Pininfarina. Known for his digitally-savvy and eloquent public persona, Anand Mahindra has successfully branded the Group as a modern, forward-looking enterprise, earning him international accolades as a 'World’s 50 Greatest Leader' by Fortune Magazine.

Anand Mahindra is a leading voice on corporate social responsibility in India, believing that business must be a force for social good. His philanthropy is highly strategic, focusing on education and uplifting marginalized communities.

His most enduring personal project is Project Nanhi Kali, a non-governmental organization he established in 1996 dedicated to providing educational support to underprivileged girls in India. This initiative has supported the education of hundreds of thousands of girls, empowering them through literacy. Additionally, he serves on numerous educational boards and cultural trusts, leveraging his Harvard and B-School connections to improve India’s educational infrastructure. His active presence on social media is often used as a platform to highlight social issues and promote grassroots innovation, embodying a blend of corporate leadership and public advocacy.

Anand Mahindra’s personal style is refined, intellectual, and effortlessly cosmopolitan. He embodies a perfect blend of the traditional and the modern, often seen in immaculately tailored suits or classic Indian attire, such as bandhgalas, chosen for high-profile business and political engagements. His look is consistently sophisticated, reflecting his Harvard background and his stature as a global corporate statesman.

His lifestyle reflects a pursuit of intellectual stimulation and cultural enrichment, not just material indulgence. While he maintains luxury residences, his true indulgence is his highly active digital presence and his dedication to fostering innovation, often through his personal investments in startups and new technologies. He is a connoisseur of global culture, and his travels are often a blend of business (overseeing his global companies) and cultural engagement, maintaining the image of a 'thought leader' as much as a business leader.