Businesses thrive in diversity

For this reason, they can hold a mirror to the rest of society why it works perfectly Special to Gulf News

our innovative capacity, unleashes the potential of Siemens’ employees and thereby directly contributes to our business success.”

Whether in business or social settings, our focus should not be on race, religion, gender or culture, but on what each individual — no matter where they come from — can contribute to the world around us.

We should ask ourselves: What solution does someone bring to a problem? Does he or she make a meaningful contribution towards helping us achieve our targets?

Power of collaboration

Harnessing the best out of our differences is what makes us stronger, whether it’s to achieve higher profitability and greater innovation in business, combat climate change, cure diseases, eradicate poverty or preserve our environment. Now more than ever, the power of diversity and collaboration cannot be ignored.

In the UAE, where I’m based, the rulers have recognised this. After all, the country is home to some 200 nationalities that have contributed in their own ways to its incredible development. I believe the Emiratis’ openness to new ideas, regardless of who proposes them, and their adaptive nature have propelled the country forward and put it on the world map.

Regardless of your nationality, they are willing to listen and keep an open mind. I personally continue to enjoy working in an environment that encourages this kind of openness, where coexistence and tolerance are celebrated.

Today, the voices of companies, big and small, could be decisive in building a bridge of understanding between different worlds and in shaping our future.

The onus is on us, businesses leaders, to voice our unwavering commitment to inclusion and diversity, to resist building barriers and instead focus our efforts on breaking them down.

The writer is CEO of Siemens Middle East and UAE.