Colorful Minds: Interview with Sajit Gangadharan

Sajit: Of course. I am Sajit Gangadharan and I come from India. I moved from India with my family to Germany in 2022. Currently, I am working as Senior IT Consultant in the msg automotive division.

Sajit: Diversity promotes equal opportunities for all employees, ensuring everyone has an equal chance to succeed and grow in an organization, regardless of gender, religion, color, ethnic background, or sexual orientation. When employees feel valued and included, they are more likely to feel secure and motivated to contribute their best work. By embracing diversity, organizations expose themselves to a wealth of diverse viewpoints and ideas, which can spark creativity and innovation. It acilitates the emergence of creative ideas from all walks of life. Essentially, diversity means having access to a broad range of talents and skills.

Sajit: Diversity holds significant importance to me. I made a life-altering decision to relocate from India to Germany, a country with a vastly different ethnic and cultural landscape. I was acutely aware that my appearance and speech differed from the European norm. Adapting to this new environment presented its challenges, some of which persist to this day. However, the inclusivity at my workplace greatly facilitated my adjustment to this new life. I am involved in all aspects of project decisions as a valued member of the team. Despite my country of origin, I have never felt out of place.

Sajit: In my view, my primary strength lies in my accessibility. I foster an environment where everyone in my workplace can approach me without fear of judgment, regardless of their shortcomings. I uphold strong values of diversity and believe that a leader should lead by example. It’s not enough to merely express care for their team members; a leader should also ensure a safe and secure work environment that enables everyone to perform to their fullest potential.

Sajit: Working with a diverse group of people from different cultural backgrounds presents unique challenges. For me, the most significant challenge is overcoming the language barrier, especially when learning a language that is unlike my mother tongue. Another significant challenge is understanding cultural differences. As someone from a different cultural background, it’s crucial for me to understand the cultural context of the people I interact with. I strive to ensure that I neither offend others nor take offense at remarks that may seem insensitive but could stem from ignorance.

Sajit: My journey at msg has been fascinating. Prior to msg, I had never worked or interacted with Europeans, and my understanding of European people and culture was quite vague, primarily influenced by movies, news, and social media. msg served as my gateway to European experiences, unveiling a world I had never imagined. Each day brought new learning opportunities, helping me realize the unique differences among people. I discovered that we can truly understand and appreciate different cultures when we open up to each other. This enlightening experience was made possible due to the open nature of msg.

Sajit: ...By adopting the positive aspects and strong points from various cultures and value systems, we can enrich our own perspectives. The more diverse your team is, the greater the potential for bringing about significant change.