Meet the IDD Global Peer
Mohit Kanade
Each month we ask a member of the IDD’s Global Community of Practice* to share more about their reflections, inspiration and hopes for the field.
Following are reflections from Mohit Kanade, whose world spans the corporate and education sectors: Based in Germany, he is a senior consultant at Cognizant, a multinational information technology services and consulting company, and lecturer in intercultural communication at the Aachen University of Applied Sciences. Mohit has been part of the IDD Global Community of Practice from the start, supporting us in co-creating a virtual space for connections and inspiration. [Interview edited for clarity.]
What project are you working on now that has you most engaged? What is the biggest benefit you see it providing to whom?
I am working on several initiatives and assignments: First, as a lecturer in intercultural communication at Aachen University of Applied Sciences, I share my knowledge of this field with bachelor and master students studying technical courses.
And in my daily work I make every attempt to commit to implementing superior communication practices as a strategy consultant at a multinational organization where I continuously interact with people from a wide array of cultural and professional backgrounds.
Having a genuine interest in spreading awareness about Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), I conduct seminars and workshops on several topics related to DEI. I believe more employees of international companies should become aware of DEI, as it can certainly improve the overall performance of an organization.
What inspired you to join the IDD Global Community of Practice and how have you benefited from it?
Dr. Nadine Binder introduced me to the community and I realized right away that we share the same passion and interests — intercultural communication, social psychology, physical and mental wellbeing, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion.
My participation in the IDD Global Community allows me to express my opinions and share my views with fellow experienced participants openly. I meet experts from a variety of backgrounds and get to know their perspectives on the discussion topics.
This community promotes best practices for intercultural communication, diversity, equity, inclusion, global competence, and global learning. And among its most appealing features are the personal interactions between the participants. The experience has indeed been very enriching.
On a rough day, what inspires you to keep doing the work you’re doing?
I believe that people are gold mines — the deeper we dig, the more incredible qualities we discover.
As human beings, we all have some uniqueness, and I am always seeking to discover that uniqueness in myself and others. I always seek inspiration from others and learn from them. I constantly push myself to explore the best of everything I encounter to incorporate key aspects into my own personality. This helps me grow and strive to become a better person each day. And, the individuals I interact with consistently express appreciation for my work; this appreciation fuels my drive to continue.
What is your most memorable experience from when you encountered a seemingly insurmountable difference?
In my opinion, it is not fair to comment on such experiences because I will be able to give my viewpoint and as a reader, you are likely to have a greater empathy for me since the other character is not present… However, I can certainly share what I’ve learned:
Instead of telling any one specific experience, a multitude of incidents and a cautious reflection on those from different perspectives have taught me the significance of curiosity, respect, having a non-judgmental attitude, empathy, gratitude, kindness, generosity, patience, and acceptance.
In my opinion, we either learn or win. As a result, I focus on learning about my own — as well as others’ — values and intentions when it comes to insurmountable differences. I try to respectfully disagree with others’ opinions and avoid being disrespectful when working with those whose views are very far apart from my own.
How would you sum up your professional philosophy in 50 characters or less?
It’s our attitude, not just aptitude, that determines altitude!
You can meet Mohit and other peers at our next IDD Global Community of Practice calls on March 23, 2023 and every other month throughout 2023.
In March, our topic for reflection and discussion will be “Overcoming (our own) Ethnocentrism”.
*The IDD’s Global Community of Practice is an informal, non-commercial setting in which we connect, discuss, and share timely and timeless topics with passionate, experienced “Differences” peers from different backgrounds, regions, age groups, and focus areas.
Do you have topic ideas for future IDD Global Community of Practice gatherings? Would you like for us to consider profiling you in a future edition? Get in touch with our Community Lead Nadine Binder.