Anand Mahindra’s New Year 2026 Vision: The Rise of the ‘Gold Collar’ Worker
As 2025 draws to a close, Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, has released a New Year message to employees that serves as both a victory lap and a strategic roadmap. Reflecting on a year defined by market leadership across the Group’s diverse portfolio—from automotive and farm equipment to financial services—Mahindra’s message pivots toward a future where the definition of "prestige" in the workforce is undergoign a radical transformation. The centerpiece of Mahindra’s address is his bold assertion that "blue collar is the new gold collar." While much of the global conversation around Artificial Intelligence (AI) centers on the fear of displacement, Mahindra offers a contrarian and optimistic view. He argues that AI will act as an "accelerator" for practical, hands-on skills rather than a replacement for them. According to Mahindra, as intelligent systems take over repetitive and routine tasks, the value of the "maker"—the person who ...