Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month: Creating an Inclusive Company Culture

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is an annual celebration recognizing AAPI contributions to American history, society and culture. 

AAPI Heritage Month began in 1977 when the 95th Congress introduced five resolutions proposing that a week in May be designated to commemorate the accomplishments of Asian/Pacific Americans. In 1992, under the George H. W. Bush administration, May was designated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. It was renamed AAPI Heritage Month in 2009.

In celebration of the heritage month, our JAMS employee resource group, AAPI@JAMS, has facilitated a program as well as number of activities to build community and empower Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander associates and their allies. This resource group strives to build a community with associates of Asian descent across various geographies by sharing experiences and providing access to networking and opportunities for education and belonging.

As we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month at JAMS, we are taking the opportunity to illuminate our commitment to our associates and professional development at the company. This year, the theme of AAPI Heritage Month is “Advancing Leaders through Innovation.”

With this theme in mind, the DE&I team and AAPI@JAMS connected with Duc Huy Tran, curator of “How to Work in Multicultural Environments.” With his rich background in leading Fortune 500 tech companies through growth and transformation, we felt his insight aligned well with our focus at JAMS. His presentation delved into the impact of communication styles, leadership and cross-cultural thinking in business in order to understand and enhance effectiveness in cross-cultural collaboration.

This engaging program provided a deeper look into the skills and attitudes that foster understanding, respect and effective collaboration among individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. The workplace is becoming increasingly multicultural, which brings a wealth of diverse perspectives, ideas and approaches, but it also requires sensitivity and adaptability. Understanding these diverse perspectives requires individuals to focus on three key concepts:

1. Cultural Awareness

Understanding your colleagues' cultural backgrounds is crucial. Learning about different customs, traditions and communication styles helps avoid misunderstandings and fosters a respectful environment. Cultural awareness can be developed through training and lived experiences.

2. Communication

Effective communication is the backbone of any successful team. In a multicultural setting, clarity is essential. When learning to communicate across cultural lines, you should focus on verbal and nonverbal communication. It is essential to understand that communication is filtered through many dimensions, from the perspectives of both the speaker and listener. Therefore, active listening is vital. Pay attention to nonverbal cues and confirm understanding to ensure everyone is on the same page.

3. Adaptability and Flexibility

Flexibility and openness in your approach can bridge cultural gaps and foster collaboration. The best practice is to approach cultural differences with curiosity rather than judgment. Being open to new ideas and perspectives can enrich your understanding, and respecting differences will create trust and enhance your business and colleague relationships.

Working in a multicultural environment offers unique opportunities for personal and professional growth. By embracing cultural awareness, developing strong communication skills and being adaptable, you can create an inclusive and productive workplace. Embracing multicultural backgrounds enriches the workplace and can drive innovation and success in today’s globalized economy. By following these strategies, you can contribute to a positive and dynamic work environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

In addition to the presentation, AAPI@JAMS will also host a “Taste of Culture” event. This event celebrates AAPI heritage and allows us to indulge in the rich and diverse culinary traditions of the AAPI community. The “Taste of Culture” event allows us to patronize restaurants within the local community in alignment with our JAMS supplier diversity initiative, which calls for the inclusion of diverse suppliers (businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, LGTBQ+ people and those with disabilities) among the various partners and vendors we utilize.

To learn more about JAMS and our DE&I efforts, please visit the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion section of our website.