The document provides an overview of the culture and values of Cactus, a global business. It describes Cactus as having a client-centric, fast-paced and diverse business that is continually growing. It emphasizes the values of integrity, trust, excellence, innovation, communication and fun. Employees are given freedom but also responsibility, and are expected to have a strong work ethic, focus on quality and meeting deadlines, and be tech-savvy.

1. Our culture and values

2. Through this presentation, you will discover what business we are into, how we work , how we relate to people, and what it takes to succeed at Cactus .

3. Our culture & values Our business How we work How we relate to our team Our values

4. Our business

5. Our business is growing. It cuts across geographies and cultures. It is client-centric and fast-paced . What does this mean for you?

6. Our business is global. It spans numerous time zones and cultures. Regardless of what role you play at Cactus, you will find yourself interacting with people representing varied geographies and cultures. You will thrive if you feel at home with this diversity.

7. Our business is fast-paced. Our customers expect us to respond immediately and deliver at high speed. Be prepared to match this pace . At times you might run out of breath !

8. Our clients are both corporate & individuals . And they return to us again and again. Because every client has a unique need, you will have to tailor your work accordingly. Plus , you will need to remember their preferences the next time they request our service. You need to be client-centric , and process-centric

9. Growth is a way of life at Cactus . But growth also brings change . If you want growth, you have to become comfortable with change.

10. To be successful at Cactus... You need to be fast and accessible You need to have a strong client focus You need to work with people across cultures and geographies You can question change but don’t resist it

11. How we work

12. Freedom and responsibility With Freedom comes Responsibility . You will enjoy a high degree of operational autonomy and ownership. Simultaneously, you will often be expected to demonstrate a great sense of responsibility. Micro-managing is not our style.

13. Work ethic The unpredictability of our business is best surmounted by a good work ethic. Good work ethic means working with integrity - being reliable, being responsible, and taking initiative. Talent is worthless when unaccompanied by a sound work ethic.

14. Simplicity Simplicity fascinates us. It is possible to keep things simple and still achieve great results . Anything that gets complicated could perhaps be done differently.

15. Flexibility We have minimum rules. And we take pride in being flexible. We bend backwards and make exceptions to accommodate our clients and our employees. But we also expect you to be flexible when we need your support.

16. Our culture is informal, not casual ; understanding this distinction is vital. For example, everyone is on first-name basis and you can wear whatever you feel comfortable in. Being informal is a choice – being professional is a necessity. Informality

17. Confidentiality Our clients trust us with their work. Gaining trust is difficult - all the more due to geographical and cultural barriers. Not handling any client or company information with confidentiality can amount to a breach of trust.

18. Win-Win solutions We are not into sports, where someone must lose. It is possible for everyone to win . Look for win-win solutions. But when faced with a conflict of interest, always put the customer first.

19. Communication Open communication is encouraged. (Does that sound clichéd?) We’ve added ‘ responsible’ to it. This means you can question anything and anyone. But be prepared to stand by what you say. And use a constructive tone to get the desired impact.

20. Decision-making Many of our decisions are collaborative. This can get frustrating. Because reaching a consensus is difficult and time-consuming. But collaborating before is better than debating after. Once a decision is made, you just move on. Even if you disagreed with it in the first place. The keyword is collaborative and not consensual – you can agree to disagree.

21. Quality Quality is what differentiates us from the competition. Our focus on quality has brought us this far: A sizable proportion of our business comes from clients who appreciate our quality. So, always deliver quality, no matter what role you play. Meeting deadlines doesn’t mean compromising on quality.

22. Deadlines Timely delivery is a basic requirement. We are fanatical about meeting deadlines. We honor our commitments despite power failures, floods, riots, and worse.

23. Tech-friendly Being tech-friendly is a must . Use automation to your advantage. It will leave you time to focus on the more important tasks. If you are not comfortable with technology, you need to get comfortable fast or you’ll find yourself handicapped.

24. Feedback Feedback is our binding glue. Whether it’s with clients, supervisors, team members, or peers, giving and receiving feedback is crucial. You must be receptive to positive as well as constructive feedback. We’ve seen it help us grow as individuals and as professionals.

25. Relationships We are a team and not a family. The relationships you develop with your colleagues should help—and not hinder—your work. Recognize the thin line between personal and professional relationships at work, and act in accordance.

26. To be successful at Cactus... Use your freedom to build the organization Stay simple Take decisions for Cactus as if they are for yourself Use all resources to the optimum Agree to disagree

27. How we relate to our team

28. An ideal Cactizen is… Positive Passionate Modest A Self-learner Sensitive Open Responsible Curious Courageous

29. Who is hired? While hiring… More weightage is given to talent/potential and work ethic than to experience. Experience is always welcome, though you might be required to unlearn and relearn several things. We aren’t brand conscious: If you have the talent and potential, you’ll fit in regardless of your grades and educational background.

30. We look for people in sync with our culture and values . This is so important that we have not extended offers to some candidates with plenty of experience and knowledge simply because they did not fit in.

31. Getting started You might find your first few months at Cactus quite difficult . We select people carefully and we expect them to come up to speed fast. Obviously, we will help you along the way.

32. Designations If you attach great importance to designations , you might feel undervalued at Cactus. Here, designations will not earn you respect. Your capabilities will.

33. Compensation When you join Cactus, your compensation will be determined based on internal structure. After you have acquired depth in your role (which could take at least a year), you will find your pay exceeding market standards . This becomes possible because you start adding higher value.

34. If you aspire for great compensation, be prepared to deliver great performance . Tenure Compensation Growth for tenured employees Growth for performers

35. Who gets promoted? People who are thought leaders or people leaders OR create an astounding impact at work OR enjoy building systems Plus ...

36. are constantly driven, have a high level of ownership, and consistently live our values.

37. And if you are keen on fast-track growth , you might just have the opportunity. Being a vibrant and growing org., there is often scope for new things if you are passionate and persevering. Here, a great work ethic will serve you well. Fast Growth

38. Becoming a manager is not the only way to grow. The managerial and technical tracks run parallel at Cactus. Becoming a technical expert can win you as much recognition and growth as that of a manager. Career Paths

39. We acknowledge people’s need for variety and change . You will find people who have transitioned successfully from one role to another. We support such moves, where possible. Career moves

40. When an individual fails to perform, we follow these three approaches: 1. Provide feedback 2. Provide training/coaching 3. Find a more suitable role If nothing works, we part ways amicably. Consistently poor performers do themselves and the org. no favors. Performance issues

41. To be successful at Cactus... Consistently deliver good performance so that your juniors and peers can rely on you. Self-improvement is the key. Don’t shy away from spelling out your career ambitions.

42. Our values

43. Our Values Why do we have values? To define the character of the org.: A core through which it grows and stays healthy. To define the type of relationships we build internally and externally. To create a common thread of understanding and work principles that guides us.

44. When recruiting, we look for people whose values are aligned with ours. We educate people on our values. And we publicly recognize those who practice them.

45. Integrity Trust Excellence Innovation Communication Fun Our core values

46. Integrity You do what is expected of you even when no one is watching . You are reliable and responsible in all circumstances. You don’t need written rules to help you differentiate right from wrong. You have the courage to admit to mistakes.

47. Trust You begin relationships with trust , not suspicion. You trust that people are generally good and do not mean harm. You make yourself worthy of gaining the trust of people you work closely with. You are as open and transparent in your dealings as you can be.

48. Excellence You raise the bar in everything you do. You exceed client expectations. You refuse to accept sub-standard output. You can be depended on for seamless execution.

49. Innovation You find new and better ways of doing things. You strive to improve our business continuously. You think laterally. You challenge the obvious.

50. Communication You listen well. You have an opinion but it is conveyed without offending others. You spot gaps in communication and strive to close them. You speak out ; you don’t remain a passive spectator.

51. Fun You find ways to enjoy your work. You can be yourself at work. You celebrate diversity. You have a life outside work .

52. Living our values and sustaining our culture are the keys to success and growth—For Cactus and for each of us

53. Thank you