Vivek Gupta, Chief Executive, Global Infrastructure Management Services, Zensar Technologies

In today’s increasingly global business landscape, employees interact with colleagues, customers and prospects from different parts of the world on a regular basis. The ability to connect with people from various cultures is key to creating strong business relationships. But it can be difficult to form a bond without an understanding of cultural nuances. CEOs of global organizations must have an understanding, beyond just the obvious factors, of the cultural nuances of the different regions in which their business operates. This takes more than just a few weeks of travel to a foreign country. Certain customs are ingrained from birth, which the casual observer probably wouldn’t notice. If not handled correctly, these cultural differences can lead to misunderstandings, conflict in the workplace, and ultimately lost revenue or profit.