The Anderson Human Capital Group had a reunion in Goa over the weekend. It was a short two-day catch-up, but it turned out to be far more meaningful than the calendar suggested.
For anyone who came late to the party, Anderson was once one of the premier consulting firms, with a strong human capital consulting practice. When Anderson flamed out, the practice in India got merged with E&Y. Over the next year or so, most of the Anderson folks moved on. In a way, this reunion felt like the first real meeting after that merger chapter closed and everyone’s careers took their own turns.
At its peak, the group was fewer than 40 people. This time, 12 showed up, including two who flew in from overseas. Given that a large chunk of the team (maybe over 50%) now lives outside India, and that the trip was planned only in December, the turnout felt solid. We also had a few hiccups: a couple of people dropped out due to emergencies, and one person had a bereavement in the family but still managed to come for a day. That effort alone tells you what this group still means to each other.
It started with an advance party arriving on Friday and doing what consultants do best: recon. Venues, menus, logistics, the whole works. By Saturday evening, most people had landed, and we met for dinner at Calamari by the sea at Candolim. Great food, even better company.
After dinner, we took a short walk to the sea and it looked like we’d call it a night. It was already 11:30 pm. But a few brave souls stayed up chatting and sipping till 5 in the morning. I’m pretty sure they solved at least half the problems threatening the planet. When someone asked them later what the top recommendation was, their answer was simple: meet again in 18 months. That’s the kind of decision-making that only happens after a long night and an early morning.
Sunday started late (as it was bound to), and we left after 10 for a boat cruise. We went along the Mapusa river, which joins the Mandovi and takes you out to the sea under the Mandovi bridge, towards Reis Magos, and around the Aguada jail and fort. We anchored for a bit, had a drink, and headed back—easy, unhurried, and just the right pace.
A lot of people said they wanted proper Goan food, so we landed at Souza Lobo around 3:30 pm for a delayed lunch. Let’s just say we left nothing behind. Not a single piece on the platters survived. I’m not sure Souza Lobo has had customers who did such complete justice to their food.
After that came a small siesta, and then plans split depending on who was ready when—some folks heading out to watch the cricket match. The match was almost the “activity” on paper, but honestly it was more of a formality. The real point of the weekend was everything that happened in between.
Because what stood out most was how we engaged with each other. We shared war stories. We laughed at old moments, felt bitter about a few things, and felt genuine joy about others. A couple of people who stayed on with E&Y are now partners, having put in about 25 years. They spoke about the help they got from seniors early in their careers, and how that shaped the way they lead teams now.
When people think of consulting, they often imagine polished slides and smart talk. But this group was built on intensity. Fifteen or sixteen-hour days were normal. Anyone who’s a votary of “balanced life” may not agree with that approach, but it’s what it was. People learned fast, worked hard, built real expertise, and used that to create strong careers.
There are plenty of memories and insights from that time that aren’t for the public domain, so I’ll leave them unsaid here. But if you’ve lived through that kind of phase—high-pressure work, tight teams, sharp learning curves—you’ll know exactly what I mean. And if this reunion proved anything, it’s that the work may have ended, the firm may have changed, but the bonds and the shared history still show up when you give them a place to breathe.
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