Velusamy R President Automotive Technology and Product Development of Mahindra & Mahindra – Leaders In Tech & Auto

1. What’s your leadership mantra in the fast-evolving auto landscape?

Framing and communicating the story of mobility’s next chapter—spanning SDV, Autonomous, and AI technologies and inspiring innovation that drives meaningful change for all stakeholders.

2. How do you inspire and motivate your team during a challenging time?

Helping employees recognize the opportunities hidden in adversity, while showcasing their strengths and what they are capable of achieving together, will inspire confidence. Honesty and transparency will further motivate the team.

3. Tell us about a major screw-up in your career—what went wrong and what did you learn?

I missed milestones multiple times, and the delivery often fell short of real-world expectations. Through these experiences, I learned the importance of listening deeply and creating psychological safety for teams to raise red flags. I realised how underestimating the complexity of cross-functional alignment and failing to create space for dissenting voices can significantly affect the quality of the final delivery.

4. What’s a mistake you see many young auto leaders making?

The auto industry is a deeply interconnected ecosystem comprising regulation, global supply chains, and evolving customer behaviors. Young auto leaders may sometimes underestimate the importance of systems thinking. While navigating this complex web of interconnectedness, it is crucial not to overlook stakeholder alignment.

5. What’s the next big disruption you foresee in the auto industry?

Integration of software-defined vehicles with AI-driven personalization and real-time connectivity is key. Whoever succeeds in building the intelligent mobility stack that seamlessly integrates hardware, software, and services will lead the next era.

6. What books, podcasts, or quotes changed your perspective on leadership in Auto?

I read a book recently, Winning from Within by Erica Ariel Fox. The book highlights how every leader has an array of inner minds – the Dreamer (Strategist), the Thinker (CFO), the Warrior (Execution), and the Lover (HR). A leader’s ability to listen to each of these minds and take a balanced approach, like a captain, defines the path to success.

7. As a veteran in product development, what excites you the most about the next generation of Mahindra vehicles, from a purely engineering standpoint?

What excites me most about the next generation of our vehicles is how we are engineering beyond the mechanical systems- Integrating software defined platforms, electrification and smart mobility systems to create vehicles that evolve. It’s not just product development anymore, it’s ecosystem Engineering.