Growing Friday Engineering in a Globalized Economy: Crossing Cultural Barriers

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ganesh Thummer, chief executive officer of Friday Engineering, faced a daunting challenge. Friday Engineering, which is a multinational manufacturer of medical devices, had recently partnered with a European firm. But the Indian and European teams, collaborating for the first time, were encountering significant conflict. Thummer decided to intervene but was facing resistance from his Indian office staff who wanted to maintain their traditional practices and beliefs. Thummer had to figure out how to bring the teams together while respecting the values of both teams, encouraging collaborative efforts, and providing inclusive leadership to foster a harmonious and motivated workforce.