We are witnessing the birth of a multipolar world that will deny the return of British, Spanish or American empires. For this reason, European companies, especially those which aspire to operate on a global scale, will have to embrace and be more affirmative about other cultures if they genuinely think about tapping into cultural diversity. Unless we properly focus on this aspect in Europe, we are going to suffer a business failure over the next 30 or 50 years,” Krzysztof Domarecki, the founder and main shareholder of Selena Group, said during the diversity management debate which took place at the Open Eyes Economy Summit in Kraków.
Krzysztof Domarecki at the Open Eyes Economy Summit
“From the point of view of cultural diversity, as a company that sells its products to over 100 countries around the world and that has its own sales or production structures in 18 countries, we operate in countries rooted in four civilizations: Euro-Atlantic, Muslim, Indian and broadly understood Chinese, and at the same time, our teams are based in five religious systems. In business, such cultural diversity can be both a source of tension and creativity. It is up to executive teams to manage this area, but the key rule is to learn about and understand the culture of another human being and, at the same time, to be aware of the basic concepts of that culture,” Krzysztof Domarecki emphasized.
Krzysztof Domarecki, main shareholder of Selena Group
“A dialogue that concerns only intra-European culture is completely obscure to our Hindu or Muslim colleagues, and even Orthodox Catholics, as these are very different civilizations. The understanding that local religious paradigms have become the foundation of individual cultures and taking them into account in the relationship with other people is the basis for establishing a dialogue, including in business. Having said that, from a strategic perspective, if we want to talk about creating truly global inclusiveness, then the invariably xenophobic Europe will sooner or later have to answer the question of how it approaches other cultures, other dogmas, other concepts today, and whether we are genuinely inclusive. And if today we, business people, will be able to show Europeans that the world is changing before our eyes and looks different than 50 years ago, then as Europeans we will have a better chance to participate in the new multipolar civilization that is being born as we speak. Because as for now our place in this civilization is increasingly modest,” Krzysztof Domarecki summed up.