Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Colleague Spotlight: Ritesh "Tesh" Patel

During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we're celebrating our AAPI community at Actalent and the rich cultures they contribute to our company.

We’re partnering with our Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) employee resource group to highlight a few of our colleagues and learn more about their cultures and how they have shaped who they are. Today we hear from Ritesh "Tesh" Patel, MBA , practice lead. Read on to learn more about the influence his AAPI heritage has on his personal and professional life.

What is your family’s heritage and what is a fun fact about that country that you would like to share with others?

I’m a second generation Indian American – my parents immigrated from India in the 80s. One fun fact about India is that that the Indian film industry “Bollywood” is the largest producer of films and movies in the world.

How do you feel your Asian/Pacific Islander heritage has influenced your value system and the way you see the world?

My value system revolves around an unparalleled work ethic, as well as contributing to the lineage and legacy of my family and culture. As a result, I'm always striving to make things better than I found them in order to create future opportunities for my family, my friends and my colleagues.

What do you look for in a company culture?

The biggest thing I look for is an environment that welcomes everyone and embraces inclusivity unequivocally, all while having a ton of pride and passion in everything we do – this culture and mindset is so similar to the one within the Indian community.

What drives you to be successful and how does Actalent play a role?

In my life and my career, I strive to achieve the unprecedented and redefine what’s possible personally, professionally and financially, and our organization has allowed me to do this for eight years. Being a part of Actalent / Aston Carter has genuinely made me a better son, brother, friend and business partner, and our organization continues to help me evolve into the most authentic version of myself every day.