Citigroup

Our place is on V R Pillai Street in Triplicane, which is an area with a lot of history in Chennai. Being at number 151, we are surrounded by old buildings and the busy streets that lead towards the beach. The air is almost always salty and warm. Inside the office, things are pretty simple. We have the usual desks, some old files that have been there for years, and a small corner for making tea. It isn’t a polished corporate headquarters; it’s just a local branch where we handle things for Citigroup. We see a lot of regular people coming in throughout the day. Triplicane is a crowded neighborhood, so there is always noise from the street—scooters buzzing by and people talking loudly. We’ve grown used to it. The staff here is mostly local, so we speak the language and know the shortcuts to avoid the worst of the traffic. Sometimes the electricity acts up, but we just wait it out and get back to work. We don’t have any big mission statements on the walls. We just come in, do what needs to be done, and try to help anyone who walks in with a question. It’s a very grounded way to work. We appreciate the small things, like a cool breeze or a good lunch from a nearby mess. It’s just a regular day-to-day operation for us. We are just here doing our jobs as best as we can.