At the end of this week I will be heading to Boston for my HBS Reunion!  I am so excited about seeing my friends and their families.

The other thing I love about our reunions are the case studies that drive new learnings.  One of the case studies I cannot wait for is on the Taj — in particular, the bravery and resourcefulness shown by the rank-and-file employees of the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower luxury hotel during the terrorist attacks that took place in Mumbai, India, on Nov. 26 2008.

It will be a lesson in customer-centric leadership including the hotel’s history, its approach to training, and the “guest is God” philosophy inherent in Indian culture.   It is interesting that the Taj employees stayed at their posts, jeopardizing their safety to save hotel guests.

Can this level of loyalty and dedication be replicated and scaled elsewhere?  I will learn their secrets!

View the case at http://courseware.hbs.edu/cases/taj