“Published in the Fall 2015 FAPEO Update Newsletter”
Fresh out of college, entrepreneur-minded Anurag Dandiya jumped at the chance to take on a failing hotel and turn it around. Managing a hotel opened Anurag’s eyes to the reality that human capital is the highest expense for businesses. It also opened the door to a chance meeting that changed the course of his career.
“I was asked to turn around a hotel that was bleeding funds due to several reasons,” Anurag recalls. “It was a three-year project right out of college, and I accepted the challenge, as there was no better way to learn American business compliance requirements and liabilities.”
Anurag was born in India. He attended The Air Force School in New Delhi and then the elite St. Stephens College, known for producing a long line of distinguished alumni since its establishment in 1881 by Cambridge University, England. After earning a degree in business administration, Anurag traveled throughout Europe to broaden his cultural awareness, visiting 18 countries in 12 months, finally settling in the United States. His first job continued his education.
“My compensation was tied to operating net profits,” he says. “For the first two years, I supplemented my income with odd jobs, including washing cars and serving as a camp counselor for school children.”
Then the young manager was approached by a PEO at the hotel he was managing. This serendipitous meeting laid the groundwork for what would become a satisfying career for Anurag in human capital management. Anurag researched the PEO industry and approached one of the industry’s forefathers, Wilbur H. Boyd of Employee Services. Anurag served a one-year apprenticeship with Employee Services, and then, in 1997, the young entrepreneur began to piece together his vision for an HR outsourcing service, founding Anthros, Inc.
Anthros, Inc., draws its name from the Greek νθρωπος (anthropo), which means of or relating to humankind.
“It was about making a difference for humankind by providing ‘Excellence in Human Capital Management,’” Anurag says. “I needed to give back and contribute in a way that would make a difference for employers that wanted to leave a legacy in their respective industry.”
Anurag founded his company to help eliminate what he calls a “massive deficit and disconnect” between employer and employee relationships, as well as a lack of tools to bridge this gap.
“I have friends that are leaders in their respective industries that had inevitably lost direct touch with their employees as their companies grew,” Anurag says. “They all mentioned that there was not a source in the marketplace that would realign their human capital and revive their company culture. I saw PEO as a tool to bridge this gap by providing additional services such as leadership training and development curriculum, brand management and brand awareness.”
True to his company’s name, Anurag has a simple one-word reply to the question “What do you enjoy about the PEO industry?”
“Humankind,” he says, and then goes on to elaborate, “The Anthros client base consists of friends and well-wishers that I get to interact with every day. I have the opportunity to witness client growth as well as individual development of employees at client locations. I often travel to client sites to interact one on one with both employer and employees.”
Anurag sees growth opportunities and the ability to retain clients for the long term for PEOs that focus on target industries where they excel. The key, he says, is for the PEO to develop its internal human capital to best facilitate client/industry-specific services. Anthros, Inc., provides a consolidated platform with all features, products and services while striving for excellence in human capital management service delivery.
In a time when other PEOs have gone under, leading to negative press that has left a black mark on the industry, Anurag points to FAPEO as a bright spot for the industry, citing the association’s advocacy efforts. He particularly appreciates “Mike Miller’s continued advocacy for a regulatory environment that allows PEOs to succeed.”
Anurag is married to Mirella, who was born and raised in Cannes, France, and moved to the United States when she was 16. They have one son, Aidan, who is 9 and is preparing to go to boarding school in Windsor, England. This well-traveled family will continue to spend time on both sides of the Pond, traveling to and from their home in Orlando.
In 2011, Anurag Dandiya was awarded Rookie of the Year in the Ferrari Club Racing Association and has since won several podium finishes. In 2012, he went on to win the celebrated Daytona Race in a 360 Ferrari Challenge.
“I get to spend a lot of time with friends who are also clients and travel extensively to Europe and Asia each year to visit family and friends,” Anurag says.
He also stays busy with charity work, combining one of his favorite pastimes, auto racing, with raising funds and awareness for underprivileged children.
“I have been a donor for Make-A-Wish Foundation for over a decade,” he says, “and I serve as the advisor to the board of Covenant Kids Manor Covenant (www.kidsmanor.org).”
Kids Manor Inc. is a 501(c) 3 publicly supported foundation that was established as a foster care group home provider.
Anurag was named an honorary founding member of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Foundation in Houston (www.HCSOF.org/founders) to assist and support the men and women of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office in carrying out their law enforcement mandates in the safest and most efficient manner.
You can learn more about Anurag Dandiya and Anthros, Inc., at www.AnthrosInc.com, www.Facebook.com/AnuragDandiya
