Triumph 2020 – Celebration on a Global Stage

Months ago, it seemed there was little hope of holding Triumph 2020. The pandemic has caused us to live in isolation, cancel travel plans and postpone large in-person events like Triumph.

But if this year has taught us anything, it’s how much we need each other. We are eager to embrace every opportunity to come together in celebration and to showcase our collective humanity.

Since its inception in 2012, Triumph has been an annual celebration of Bristlecone employees. During multiple galas in cities where employees live and work, standout individuals and teams are recognized through the presentation of various awards, including the Dare to DreamXtra MilerBrilliant BeginnerDiversity Champion, Innovation, Team Excellence and Kaizener of the Year awards, among others. Triumph also celebrates loyalty by honoring employees who have spent 10, 15, 20 or more years at Bristlecone.

COVID-19 derailed our Triumph plans for 2020. But because our people believe wholeheartedly in the Mahindra Rise philosophy – accepting no limits, alternative thinking and driving positive change – they saw the pandemic as a catalyst for change, an opportunity to evolve Triumph into something different, better and truly amazing. What resulted was an incredible celebration on a global stage.

Triumph 2020 was a three-hour virtual extravaganza attended by the Bristlecone leadership team, employees and their families, customers, and other special guests. The event saw record attendance, with thousands of people tuning in from around the world.

“We’re here to celebrate you – all of you – your hard work and perseverance during challenging times, your good nature and willingness to rise to the occasion and bring your best, no matter what,” Bristlecone President and CEO Nirav Patel said in his opening remarks as he welcomed Team Bristlecone to the first-ever virtual global Triumph, and his first Triumph since taking the helm a few months ago.

Patel also welcomed and thanked families who were invited to watch the livestream event with Bristlecone employees, all working from home since March. “It is because of your patience and support that your loved ones have been able to continue to work diligently through these unprecedented times,” he said.

Awards were presented by members of the leadership team, and many of the award recipients appeared on camera from their homes with their families.

“Welcoming families from around the world to our Triumph celebration for the first time in the event’s eight-year history was a special perk of us being able to hold this event virtually, but it’s also a sign of the times. With all of us working from home this year, the lines between our work and family lives have become increasingly blurred,” said Krishna Bhakar, VP, Global HR and WPS. “It was very heartwarming to see our employees with their spouses, children and other family members enjoying Triumph 2020 together.”

It was also heartwarming to see the many ways employees have come together to drive positive change in their communities, as highlighted in the Social Welfare @ Bristlecone video unveiled at Triumph 2020. This year, our people have taken special interest in supporting COVID-19 and California Wildfire Relief efforts.

The online venue opened early with pre-event activities, including interactive games and videos, and concluded with comedian Anshu Mor taking the virtual stage. After 18 years in the corporate world, Anshu Mor quit his job as the head of the Xbox division at Microsoft India to become a full-time stand-up comedian at the age of 44. His unique storytelling style and big business experience made for an engaging, laughter-filled comedic session and a fun way to wrap up Triumph 2020.

Triumph 2020 brought us all together to celebrate our achievements, to relax and have fun as one global Bristlecone Family – and it also served as a valuable reminder that though we may be socially distant and virtually connected through technology, more importantly, we are connected by heart.