There’s a common belief among anthropologists that you must immerse yourself in an unfamiliar world in order to truly understand your own.
– Annie Braddock, The Nanny Diaries
At Gramener, we pride ourselves on being a diverse team, hailing from different backgrounds, faiths, and persuasions. We actively hire talented individuals across the globe and have a great mix of people across varied countries.
We respect the capability and competency of each team member irrespective of the number of years of experience. Each of us is appreciated for our value and is an equal partner in Gramener’s success story.
“I joined Gramener fresh out of college and didn’t know what to expect in a workplace environment. On my first day, I was introduced to most of my team members by my buddy, which brought in the feeling that Yeah! I have a family/peer group now,” says Rhitamjeet Saharia, Sr. Data Scientist, who is from the scenic Northeastern city of Guwahati in Assam.
Gramener assigns a “buddy” for every new joiner, who helps them adjust to the new workplace and city.
Gramener is the first workplace for several Gramenerites, and with its welcoming workplace atmosphere, it has become an extended family for many like Shubra Sinha, Sr. QA Engineer.
“Coming from Bihar to a new city, I soon realized that it is not just a job that I am doing at Gramener. We are a family, and I am contributing as a family member.” ~ Shubhra Sinha, Senior QA Engineer
Kriti Rohilla, Assoc. Data Science Engineer, has a similar experience. Coming from Chandigarh, she had never visited south India before, and it was her first job after college. She says, “Gramener has been very supportive from the beginning. My manager helped me find Paying Guest accommodation on a Saturday, even while he was in Pune! It’s easy to blend in with the culture as we have people from across India.”
Calicut in Kerala is home for Mohammed Niyas, Lead Data Science Engineer, and moving to Bangalore after college was his first time living in a big city.
“The people at Gramener were very welcoming. Even though I was a fresh graduate, my colleagues encouraged and helped me to attend multiple events.” ~ Mohammed Niyas P, Lead Data Science Engineer
While diversity helps people understand and bond with those from different cultures, it also exposes them to different technical expertise levels. Working in an inclusive team, people get to realize that there are multiple ways of approaching the same problem according to each person’s strengths.
Even for a seasoned urban nomad like Akshay Verma, our Sr. Data Science Engineer, the transition has been smooth. “I moved to Bangalore from Indore. This is my 6th transition to a new city, and I must say, it has been the easiest. Whether it was about finding a new home, or any essential services, the team was always there to help,” he says.
“Forming good friendships became easy because of this. From a professional perspective, diversity provides a great potential to learn, but it also opens a great window to understand the rich cultures across the country.” ~ Akshay Verma, Senior Data Science Engineer
According to a 2019 United Nations report, openness to diversity widens access to the best talent and inclusion allows organizations to engage talent effectively. Together, this leads to enhanced innovation, creativity, productivity, reputation, engagement, and results.
In fact, businesses that have people with a good mix of backgrounds are 33% more likely to outperform their competitors.
Gartner’s research tells us that a more diverse and inclusive workforce improves individual performance by 12% and intent to stay at the organization by 20%.
“In my many interactions with colleagues, I learn a lot, not only in terms of technical knowledge but also new ways of thinking and approaching problems. It has helped me in firing up my own imagination and brought a lot of excitement to the work I do.” ~ Rhitamjeet Saharia, Sr. Data Scientist at Gramener
Information Designer Chandni Murmu, from Mosabani, a small town in Jharkhand, says that teamwork happens no matter where you’re from. “People at Gramener are cooperative and supportive – I think that’s the culture we follow here,” says Chandni.
“I have learned that teamwork can happen even if there are no commonalities in your demography. Whenever I feel any challenge, my team helps in the best possible way,” ~ Chandni Murmu, Information Designer
The diversity of people at Gramener makes it easier to approach and know each other.
Gramener, with its global footprint, has offices in India, North America, and Singapore. We ensure that the same workplace integration and work culture are present uniformly across our offices.
For Nikhil Kabbin, Assoc. Principal Data Scientist, moving from India to New Jersey, meant that everything was initially new and unfamiliar. With time, he started adjusting, and his fears slowly dissolved.
“The leaders at Gramener helped me settle quickly with tips on adapting to the new culture and lifestyle. Everyone here greets you with a smile while passing by and asks, ‘How are you doing?’ There is a focus on health and enjoying work-life balance.” ~ Nikhil Kabbin, Associate Principal Data Scientist
Zubin Dhingra, VP of Sales, also based in New Jersey, says that he had anticipated Gramener to be a significant change, as he moved from a massive organization to an early rise firm.
“I was expecting a lean, innovation-led, and fast-paced organization driven for results. I realized all that was enabled by a culture of inclusion, people-first, openness, and respect. Gramener is as much accessible as it is remote.” ~ Zubin Dhingra, VP of Growth & Customer Success
In India, despite being from so many different places on the map, Gramenerites have come to love the city they stay in and have integrated with the local culture.
For instance, Rhitamjeet was happy to find a lake near every place he lived in Bangalore. Taking walks and jogging became a regular part of his routine, and it became his way to enjoy the calm and respite from a bustling city.
For Niyas, the ‘at home’ moment came when he learned to give an address with the correct Layout and Cross to the auto drivers in Bangalore. “I particularly enjoy getting together with friends in the small cafes in Indira Nagar or Koramangala,” he says.
“I admire the simplicity and authenticity in the culture here (In Hyderabad). The more time I spend here, the more I am able to notice that behind all the language barriers, it’s the same heart and soul inside.” ~Kriti Rohilla, Associate Data Science Engineer
At Gramener too, we are from different places, varying locations, and each with a unique personality and skill set. But we have converged into a single entity and beat synchronously as a single heart and soul.