Posts tagged Delhi

Delhi, Dec. 2, The Park Hotel

In partnership with The Park Hotel, “Upworldly Mobile” was launched at New Delhi on a lovely Friday evening, at a landmark event graced by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, MP, and Mr. Andrew Levermore of Bharti Retail (Walmart), among others.

A select audience of about 150 leaders from the business, diplomat and society circles listened enthralled as Dr. Tharoor took them on a journey through modern Indian history. In a speech that was humorous and at the same time intellectual, the former Minister of State for External Affairs, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nation and prize-winning author of twelve books,  stressed the need for Cultural Intelligence in today’s globalized India. Starting at India’s Independence in 1947, he talked of the decades when India stood outside the precincts of global economy, refusing to connect with the world, suspicious of every foreigner who set foot on its shores, and ended with the present scenario, where we are moving towards creating an India which is truly integrated to the global economy of the 21st century.

Emphasizing the important role the country plays in today’s world, he said a need for Cultural Intelligence has clearly emerged through the process, as Indians engage more and more with foreigners and foreign companies – with people who don’t look, dress, sound, speak, eat or behave like us, but with whom we have to get along.

“Ranjini Manian’s book Upworldly Mobile, is a self-improvement book, among the rare ones in India,  where she shows the pitfalls of cultural misunderstanding and opportunities for cultural engagement; it is not just a useful book, but necessary” said Dr. Tharoor.

I was grateful for his encouragement and honoured by his words as I knew them to be sincere.  I encourage you to watch his entire speech which was riveting. It runs for just 11 minutes.

We followed that with an engaging fireside chat with Mr. Andrew Levermore, COO Bharti Retail, (Walmart) who explained the significant steps he had to take to manage a team differently in India and understand the role that hierarchy and collectivism plays in this culture.

Chairperson Priya Paul of the Apeejay Group, Park Hotels, handpicked by Fortune Magazine as one of the Top Businesswomen of the year, graciously encouraged Upworldly Mobile and my work at Global Adjustments with her presence.

Send me your comments if you get a chance, and do spread the word on Upworldly Mobile!

Thank you,

Warm Regards Ranjini

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