Description
Community Business is delighted to partner with Catalyst to facilitate a bold discussion on religious diversity in the workplace in India.
In addition to presenting highlights from its pioneering research on this topic, Community Business will facilitate a panel discussion with subject matter experts, including Mark Fowler, CEO of Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, to explore why and how companies should address religion as part of their overall D&I agenda in India.
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This event is open to Catalyst Supporters. To register, click here.
Download Community Business' pioneering research, Fostering Religious Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace in India.
Event Speakers
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Freeda Fernandes
Director – APAC Sales, Singapore, Aperian GlobalRead More -
Kate Vernon
Executive Director at Community BusinessRead More -
Rev Mark Fowler
CEO, TanenbaumRead More
Freeda Fernandes
Director – APAC Sales, Singapore, Aperian Global
Freeda Fernandes is responsible for Aperian Global’s business growth and client relationships across APAC and has been with Aperian Global for over 9 years. She played various roles for the first two years in Bangalore where she supported clients in leveraging GlobeSmart by collaborating on internal communication and promotional strategies. In her current role she 'practices what she preaches' by applying cross-cultural strategies everyday as she works with clients in Europe, India, South East Asia and Australia.
Since her move to Singapore and in her current role at Aperian Gobal, Freeda is on the Management Team at Aperian Global driving strategic growth in APAC and for the organization. She manages Sales in the South East Asia market and consults with clients on cultivating inclusive workplaces in a globally consistent and culturally relevant way.
She partners with large corporates in the areas of Culture, Global Leadership Development, Inclusion and Diversity, Global Mobility and Global Teamwork and strongly believes in the foundation of getting to know oneself, understanding other's perspectives and maintaining an open-mind to learn new ways.
Prior to Aperian Global, she has worked in Technology and Business Process Outsourcing organizations in Business Development and Marketing roles. She has always held a keen interest in technology and people and continues to be fascinated by both. Freeda has completed her Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering from R.V. College and a Diploma in Business Management from T.A. Pai Management Institute.
She holds a keen interest in psychology, sociology and mindfulness and enjoys seeing life through the eyes of her young daughter.
Since her move to Singapore and in her current role at Aperian Gobal, Freeda is on the Management Team at Aperian Global driving strategic growth in APAC and for the organization. She manages Sales in the South East Asia market and consults with clients on cultivating inclusive workplaces in a globally consistent and culturally relevant way.
She partners with large corporates in the areas of Culture, Global Leadership Development, Inclusion and Diversity, Global Mobility and Global Teamwork and strongly believes in the foundation of getting to know oneself, understanding other's perspectives and maintaining an open-mind to learn new ways.
Prior to Aperian Global, she has worked in Technology and Business Process Outsourcing organizations in Business Development and Marketing roles. She has always held a keen interest in technology and people and continues to be fascinated by both. Freeda has completed her Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering from R.V. College and a Diploma in Business Management from T.A. Pai Management Institute.
She holds a keen interest in psychology, sociology and mindfulness and enjoys seeing life through the eyes of her young daughter.
Kate Vernon
Executive Director at Community Business
Kate Vernon is Executive Director at Community Business. Since 2005, Kate has played an instrumental role in building Community Business as an organisation, driving its strategy forward and establishing its position as a leader in advancing responsible and inclusive business practices in Asia.
A recognised authority on diversity and inclusion in Asia, Kate has authored extensive research and developed a variety of benchmarks and tools to help companies promote more inclusive workplaces in Asia - including Asia’s first LGBT Workplace Inclusion Index. A strong advocate of ‘adopting an Asian lens’ to the discussion of D&I, Kate is passionate about the need to better understand local market dynamics in order to develop an approach that resonates with key stakeholders.
Prior to Community Business, Kate worked for 12 years in the private sector, holding senior international marketing positions for global companies such as Reed Elsevier, Aspect Telecommunications, Cable & Wireless and PeopleSoft. Kate has always had a passion for Asia and holds a first class degree in Chinese Studies from Durham University. After spending 8 years in Hong Kong, she now lives with her family in England.
A recognised authority on diversity and inclusion in Asia, Kate has authored extensive research and developed a variety of benchmarks and tools to help companies promote more inclusive workplaces in Asia - including Asia’s first LGBT Workplace Inclusion Index. A strong advocate of ‘adopting an Asian lens’ to the discussion of D&I, Kate is passionate about the need to better understand local market dynamics in order to develop an approach that resonates with key stakeholders.
Prior to Community Business, Kate worked for 12 years in the private sector, holding senior international marketing positions for global companies such as Reed Elsevier, Aspect Telecommunications, Cable & Wireless and PeopleSoft. Kate has always had a passion for Asia and holds a first class degree in Chinese Studies from Durham University. After spending 8 years in Hong Kong, she now lives with her family in England.
Rev Mark Fowler
CEO, Tanenbaum
As the CEO of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, it is a privilege to reflect back on the many years of partnership in which Tanenbaum and Community Business have engaged. Through numerous years, countries and projects, Tanenbaum has been proud to support Community Business’ endeavours - and this current body of research is no exception.
Tanenbaum promotes justice and builds respect for religious difference by transforming individuals and institutions to reduce prejudice, hatred and violence. Even as “workplaces” have evolved rapidly during the past year, this much remains true on a global scale - religious diversity needs to be part of our strategic approach to addressing diversity, equity and inclusion and, far too often, it is not.
For many, the concept of religious diversity sounds uniquely American and inapplicable to India. And yet, as with many aspects of identity and culture, it can be easier to see the relevance or applicability in other places than to see how those same or similar challenges are present in our own societies and workplaces. While religious diversity may look different in the United States or India, while we may use different terms to discuss or relate to it, we are all human and, therefore, we are each made up of complex identities.
When we arrive to the workplace, or join our colleagues online, we bring those complex identities with us. When we connect with our colleagues and clients, we do so from the lens of our lived experiences - which often includes a relationship with religion and/or spirituality, including perhaps through culture, practice, or belief. The more we intentionally increase our awareness of this lens, to consider the influence our identities and the complex identities of the people around us have on each other, the more respectful we can be to our colleagues and ourselves.
Tanenbaum promotes justice and builds respect for religious difference by transforming individuals and institutions to reduce prejudice, hatred and violence. Even as “workplaces” have evolved rapidly during the past year, this much remains true on a global scale - religious diversity needs to be part of our strategic approach to addressing diversity, equity and inclusion and, far too often, it is not.
For many, the concept of religious diversity sounds uniquely American and inapplicable to India. And yet, as with many aspects of identity and culture, it can be easier to see the relevance or applicability in other places than to see how those same or similar challenges are present in our own societies and workplaces. While religious diversity may look different in the United States or India, while we may use different terms to discuss or relate to it, we are all human and, therefore, we are each made up of complex identities.
When we arrive to the workplace, or join our colleagues online, we bring those complex identities with us. When we connect with our colleagues and clients, we do so from the lens of our lived experiences - which often includes a relationship with religion and/or spirituality, including perhaps through culture, practice, or belief. The more we intentionally increase our awareness of this lens, to consider the influence our identities and the complex identities of the people around us have on each other, the more respectful we can be to our colleagues and ourselves.