Diversity: A Rich Multi-Cultural Heritage

Diversity has become a hot-button topic in the workplace, with organizations everywhere rushing to pay lip service to the concept. Everybody agrees that diversity is a good thing, but nobody really explains why. In this article, I’d like to explore the advantages that diversity offers not only in a business context but on a personal level as well. Diversity can bring:

• New Perspectives
• Respect
• CuriosityEmpathy
• Compassion
• Authenticity
• Awareness
• Creative Opportunities
• Better Engagement
• New Friendships
• Unique Experiences

Being exposed to diverse cultures can help an individual develop an open mind about humanity and the world in general. Exploration, travel, and study are all paths that anybody can take to broaden their awareness of other lands and other people. This is an especially important message given the divisive current political climate in America. While it is true that all individuals hold unconscious biases, we need to do our best to see what binds us together as a species instead of what holds us apart. Tolerance for diversity is the first step in building a bridge of trust.

My Story

My own life has been marked by cultural variety from the very start. For that reason, I’d like to take you on a journey through my past to illustrate the value of diversity on a personal level. Let’s start at the beginning of my journey. My ethnic heritage is Indian, but I have lived all over the world. I was born in Africa, moved to India, and eventually migrated to the United States. I still consider Africa as my homeland and love the many cultural traditions of that continent. However, I was unaware of my own rich cultural heritage before I moved to India.

THE LESSON: Experiencing African, Indian, and American culture gave me a very tolerant perspective toward others. This mindset has helped me feel comfortable with a broad range of people in the workplace and in my social life.

Family History

In terms of my family history, I like to tell people that I am a princess. My mother’s family is descended from the king of a small village in India who reigned 700 years ago. The king’s dynasty is called the Kandas family and is still well known among the six “top-tier” villages in Gujarat. I use the term “top-tier” because the caste system still exists there. The Kandas family once possessed abundant land and money, but times have changed, and the wealth is gone. Still, the cultural connections are just as rich today as they were back then.

My dad comes from a family of educators and warriors. My grandfather was a school principal, and my father was a doctor. We also have engineers and lawyers in our family. Did this create a degree of social arrogance? Yes, but it also brought an obligation to acquire the expertise and skills needed to serve the community. One of my cousins trained fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force, and another cousin was a world sailing champion.

In Africa, my father was a family physician for the Aga Khan family in Uganda. My mother was a stay-at-home mom. From her, I learned how Indian women interacted and helped other families prepare food for dinners and celebrations. My mom would host events like rolling papadum, and ten to twelve women would show up. She participated in her own little community that was held together by the bonds of loyalty and friendship.

THE LESSON: My parents’ contrasting lineage and life experience taught me that everyone has a skill that is of value to the community, whether in the home or in the business world.

Cultural Events

During my childhood, my father took the family to a variety of artistic events. I learned to appreciate classical music, traditional dancing, and theater. I loved the fusion of music from different cultures by artists like Philip Glass and Enigma. After I came to America, I was able to recreate that experience at events like the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival. I have attended opera galas and symphony concerts, but I love amphitheater shows and live bands just as much.

THE LESSON: Being exposed to many musical forms expanded my appreciation for them all. People whose focus is narrowed to a single genre forget that music and dancing have a way of touching everyone’s souls and hearts.

Social Classes

When I was a child, my parents had servants. They employed Aboke when he was nineteen and his wife, Mary. They had three children of their own, and my father paid for their son’s college tuition so that he could make a better life for himself. Aboke was our housekeeper while Mary took care of the children. They were given a small living space behind the house. We also had a chauffeur named John. We took care of all of them just as they took care of us. We formed a bond that was unbreakable.

THE LESSON: I learned that religion, race, color, gender, and caste are just labels that do not need to be a barrier to love and kindness.

Clothing

From a young age, I loved dressing up and dancing. I have adopted Indian, African, and American fashion trends that tend to feature bright colors and unconventional designs. I have sewn my own African kaftans using kitenge, a cotton fabric that features big, bold patterns. As a bonus, I discovered that kaftans happen to be the most comfortable of outfits.

When I wear kaftans, some people are shocked because I stand out while others admire and appreciate the unique design. This gives me an opportunity to explain the significance of African kitenge, an Indian sari, and why we wear dots in the middle of our foreheads.

THE LESSON: Clothing from other cultures can act as a springboard for opening conversations that lead to a better understanding and tolerance of other traditions.

Ethnic Cuisine

I was introduced to international cuisine by my roommate and a friend in Chicago. It didn’t take long for me to discover American, Italian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Ethiopian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and French food, each with its unique flavors and history. It is amazing how many cuisines have similar dishes with only a few variations in ingredients. Ethiopian sambuusa is similar to Indian samosas, but the dough and filling are slightly different. Eastern European pirogies follow the same concept, but they are boiled like dumplings.

I was introduced to fine wine and spirits by a friend in the Bay Area, and I have had some great adventures exploring the wine country. My favorite was the day I learned how to stomp grapes.

Over the years and more so in the past few, I have mastered my culinary skills. I experiment with spices and flavors to create international fusion dishes and share my recipe photos on Twitter. All my friends love my cooking, and no one goes home hungry. (This is a deep cultural tradition in India.)

THE LESSON: Rather than being fearful of “foreign food,” I cultivated an appreciation for dishes from around the world and expanded my skills as a chef.

Facing Challenges

I inherited a bold spirit from my dad’s side of the family that might explain why I have participated in adventure sports, including skydiving, hang gliding, rock climbing, white-water rafting, and mountain climbing. I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2000. My choice of sports is an indicator of a can-do attitude. I always barreled ahead regardless of the obstacles that I encountered.

When I first moved to this country, I wanted the American dream, though it was a bumpy road to success as a software sales professional and an entrepreneurial business consultant. Because I do not have a college degree, my ability to perform and my subject matter expertise were always questioned. I used to be dismissed by management as “the pretty brown woman.” I have been the target of mansplaining and yelling by superiors just because they could. This behavior made me more tenacious, and I have taught myself all the skills I needed for leadership and success. I built my personal brand in the Salesforce ecosystem. I excelled at every job and overcame every challenge. My story inspired other women to pursue their own dreams and ambitions.

THE LESSON: Diversity is a frightening prospect to the status quo, and some people will push back against it. I learned to persist in the face of obstacles and managed to succeed anyway.

Serving the Community

I always found my best opportunities through a small group of people who believed in me. Their generosity and support developed my desire to give back to the community. I love coaching and contributing to society through pro bono work. Years ago, I recognized a need for support among people who were struggling to gain certification, so I launched a Salesforce Certification Study Group with nine instructors in 2013.

Our pioneering study group concept empowered over 450+ members to receive their certifications. This format inspired other community groups to offer similar programs, and these are currently thriving with their own mentors and leaders.

THE FINAL LESSON: As an immigrant, I have achieved my American dream. Over the course of this journey, I also helped others achieve theirs. I know my struggles and successes are not unique. As a society, we need to recognize and celebrate the contributions of all people. If we keep an open mind and support each other, our diverse experiences of life can benefit all of us in the workplace and in our personal lives. Love and kindness have no limits. Let’s remember to love and accept each other just the way we are.