What began in 1996 as a gaming destination in southeastern Connecticut with a handful of Team Members has expanded into a premier entertainment enterprise with over 10,000 Team Members across the globe. What drives our success is the centuries-old philosophy of the Mohegan Tribe “The Spirit of Aquai”. Its principles of welcoming, mutual respect, cooperation and building relationships have shaped our culture, and serve as the foundation that we live by with every guest and Team Member interaction today, and for generations to come.
1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT
Our leadership is transparent and takes the time to link every Team Member to the organization’s vision — how each role contributes to the future of the company. That, combined with a multi-channel communications strategy, helps get the word out and connect everyone. An example includes inviting the GMs/Team Members to participate in the creation of a new strategic plan. There are many opportunities for voices to be heard (engagement surveys, focus groups, open-door practices, etc.) which culminates in mutual respect, a sense of pride, and excitement for the possibilities for Mohegan. Team Members feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves … the sustainability of the Tribe for 13 generations forward.
Our centuries-old Spirit of Aquai principles (being welcoming, mutual respect, building relationships, and cooperation) resonate with our Team Members – it is how they believe people should be treated. When you add our core values of guest service, teamwork, developing passionate and dedicated employees, and earning trust and loyalty, employees are compelled and driven to be a part of this. In the end, culture is the competitive advantage that sets us apart. Our rich Mohegan heritage provides the foundation for how we operate our business and guides our commitment to our employees. As one GM said, “I didn’t know our culture when I was hired but now I realize this is who I am.”
Living our Spirit of Aquai principles of being welcoming, mutually respectful, building relationships, and by being cooperative. Our CEO represents the Mohegan way by modeling ethical and professional behavior, expecting the same and holding to account his Executive Leadership Team, going the extra mile and investing time in hiring for culture addition. He also demonstrates the values of the company by reliably leading the team to think through the experience lens of the customer and the Team Member, having an open-door policy, and providing quarterly updates.
Fostering an employee-focused workplace, we create opportunities for Team Members to have their voices heard by conducting Team Member Engagement Surveys, Staff Meetings, Town Halls, and regular Team Member Updates. Each property has additional methods of ensuring ideas are heard such as the Bright Idea Program to Breakfast with the President. Voices are also heard through various diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and workshops. Ideas are welcomed and discussed especially when it is time to create and execute action plans after Team Member engagement surveys or doing Kaizen events when processes are reengineered to set up Team Members for greater success in delivering extraordinary guest experiences.
Coming together to create new businesses, work through issues, improve processes, start-up and launch projects, etc. We align on outcomes, then include the appropriate stakeholders, engage in robust dialogue, and achieve consensus before moving forward. This happens at all levels from property to property, with Executive Leadership and the Tribal Council and Government. Common vehicles used to collaborate include our cross-functional work teams such as Culture or Diversity committees to leverage ideas, Town Halls, daily newsletters/huddles, annual functional summits and regular meetings with senior leaders to leverage and maximize synergy. We also use Kaizens to provide a formal, consistent, and collaborative approach to process improvement.
Team Members are part of the family at Mohegan and partake in some meaningful and fun perks! In Connecticut, there’s an on-site walk-in medical center, fitness center, pharmacy, dry cleaning, employee store, free meal on workdays, tickets to our WNBA Connecticut Sun basketball games, and Employee Appreciation Days hosted at Six Flags. At Mohegan Pennsylvania, there’s “Catch a Fake and Get Steak” for identifying fake IDs. ilani provides massage chairs for Team Members and an onsite retail store. Canada provides an Employee Appreciation Day at Safari Niagara as well as bursaries and scholarships for dependent children and the Sunshine Fund to help Team Members in financial hardship due to an unforeseen traumatic event.
