My Panda Story: Mohit Sharma, Area Coach of Operations

Congratulations to Mohit on his recent promotion to becoming an Area Coach of Operations!

I was born and raised in Mumbai, India. Growing up in the city of dreams, I learned about being competitive and doing whatever it takes to better my life.??

I still remember in 6th grade when my older sister and I would walk three miles to school every day. One day, I asked her, “Why can’t we afford to take public transportation?” She replied, “Don’t focus on the situation now, focus on the future. Challenges are always temporary. Focus on dreams. Be determined and you will achieve it.” Coming from humble beginnings has taught me the values of continuous learning and adapting. I am grateful to my parents for teaching me kindness and resilience. I graduated with a bachelor's in mechanical engineering and was working as a project manager when I decided to move to America for better opportunities.??

My very first meal in America was Panda Express. I felt so welcomed, it reminded me of home, and I decided to give it a try as a career. I have been with Panda for eight amazing years.

I started out as a Kitchen Help in 2015, grew to a General Manager in 2017, became a Training Leader in 2020, and am now an Area Coach of Operations. Panda taught me to have a mindset of “No Best, Only Better” and always inspired me to focus on being a better version of myself. I am happy to share that I am a homeowner and own my childhood dream car, a Mercedes.?

I am very thankful that I was able to meet our founder several times. I still remember the very first time I met Co-Founder, Andrew Cherng, in 2018. A day before my vacation to see my family in India, Andrew wrote a personal note to my mother. When I showed my mother the note, she got emotional and said to me, “Making money is easy, but it takes trust and loyalty to win hearts.” My mother is forever grateful that our founders care so much about me.?

I would like to express my gratitude to Andrew and Peggy for creating this amazing organization for me and others to have a better life. I am very thankful to all the leaders for adding value and investing in my growth. At Panda, I feel so much love with a sense of belonging and unconditional support. My goal is to stay humble, continue to grow, and pay it forward to the people around me.?