Culture plays a vital role in any company, but in an international company with a multicultural workforce, this topic becomes even more highlighted. Thus, almost two years ago, the Sixsentix Office in Germany introduced Culture Sessions into their monthly team meeting. Having a workforce that represents over 15 nations, they serve as a platform for fostering understanding, collaboration, and inclusivity in the team. At Sixsentix in Germany, Romina Pierce recognized the importance of enhancing cultural understanding and devised our unique approach to address stereotypes and celebrate our diverse heritages. Together with the multinational team, the Culture Sessions were born and became what they are today!
“Our differences make the difference” (Romina Pierce)
The inspiration for the Culture Session came from a blend of governmental and non-profit influential initiatives. These initiatives aimed to bring together diverse communities and bridge the gaps between them. It became evident that, despite having unconscious bias or prejudice, people had an unspoken desire to truly understand one another.
With this insight, our multinational Sixsentix team in Germany and other entities share a common aspiration to gain a deep understanding of each other's cultures. We explored how to merge existing practices and develop our unique approach that would bring us closer together. As a result, and led by our magic value #trust, we decided to address stereotypes head-on in our Culture Sessions and engage in meaningful conversations about our respective heritages.
Food speaks volumes about the culture
Each team member can act as an ambassador for a specific culture of their choice, ideally enabling them to share their cultural background, traditions, and personal anecdotes with the rest of the team, and answer pre-collected questions. As an example, one of the first culture sessions we implemented focused on Turkey. This session not only delved into Turkish culture, traditions, and dispelling stereotypes but also provided a culinary experience with traditional cuisine.
We have now also expanded our horizons beyond representing only our native countries or places of birth. Team members can serve as ambassadors for other countries they are intimately familiar with, further enriching our understanding of diverse backgrounds. Food, unquestionably, offers profound insights into the richness of a culture. Different flavours and spices can vividly describe the national character and temperament, granting a deeper understanding.
Later we adopted the practice of asking the pre-collected questions in a suggestive way. This enables the session's owner to share insights and clarify or bridge misconceptions, facilitating a greater understanding of unfamiliar cultures. It further creates a deeper awareness of the nuances in multicultural communication, in such a way that how we address someone and wish to be addressed is all rooted in our cultural DNA.
Operations,
Sixsentix Germany
I was truly impressed by one of our Culture Sessions, led by our colleague from Afghanistan. He spoke passionately about the Afghans’ love for poetry and the unique way they greet each other by asking, 'How is the state of your heart?' Appreciating the depth of his personality, I realized that his cultural background influences his thoughts and adds a special dimension to our team.
Celebrating Our Cultural Mosaic Globally
Culture Sessions bring us closer as a team, they bridge and help us embrace our collective identity. Through our culture sessions, we deepen our understanding of different cultures and forge stronger connections, fostering a sense of belonging and unity within our team. It's incredible how our diverse heritages bring us closer and enrich our experiences together.
Furthermore, we started to celebrate diverse religious holidays together, such as Ramadan, Bayram, and the light festival of Divali. During these occasions or dinners, our colleagues enlighten us on the significance and meaning behind these festivities within their cultures, enhancing our appreciation for their traditions.
Operations,
Sixsentix Germany
In today's society and market, it is inevitable to have a different approach to how you perceive and treat employees. We are all colleagues, despite different levels of responsibility. We all are complex human beings and want to be seen and appreciated as a whole not only for parts of us. That is what we at Sixsentix have understood, we see beyond the CV.
At Sixsentix, we deeply care about our people and believe in considering the whole person, not just their performance. Culture sessions serve as a lens through which we can appreciate the entirety of our team members, acknowledging their diverse backgrounds and experiences. By nurturing a culture of diversity and inclusivity, we recognize that our employees come equipped with unique perspectives, which contribute to the richness of our organization.
We are delighted to see that more branches of Sixsentix have embraced this initiative, adapting it to their own internal team events, as they also understand the value of looking beyond performance and recognizing the full potential of their team members.
With nearly 14 conducted “Culture Sessions”, our experiences have shown that when individuals feel valued for their unique backgrounds, they are empowered to contribute their best to the team. As we continue this enriching journey of cultural exploration, we are confident that our Culture Sessions will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our organization, attracting top talent, and creating a workplace where every individual can thrive.