A small world became even smaller!

My son and I decided to take to the skies again this half term break after a year of much needed stability and quiet in our lives. I never thought that Saudi Arabia would make it on the travel list this soon, but as fate has it, it's become the meeting place for family and friends.

It seems, the expats in the family have swapped places with the die hard Londoners in our family; my sister, Tari Matarira , who now lives and works in Riyadh has been hosting us this week in true Saudi hospitality style. We were also lucky that our trip coincided with Alejandro, my son's godfather's work trip, who we hadn't seen for 3 years thanks to Covid19. What a wonderful reunion!

But what inspired this post is that through our #growingauthenticorganisations course, Kevin Bazeley and I teach businesses about being aware of #stereotyping, yet this week it was clear that the lesson was written for me! I have been so surprised at how warm, welcoming and friendly the locals are since arriving in Riyadh late on Saturday night. But what did I expect? Well, like most, I have heard about all the don'ts and very little about the things one can and should look forward to!

So let me summarise what I've found most insightful about being here:

1. Women do not have to cover their heads with a scarf - it comes down to personal choice.

2. All the Uber drivers are locals! You heard right - we are being driven around by professional, well-spoken, English-speaking and really humorous Saudi nationals. And yes, in exquisite cars.

3. Men and women mix in public spaces and freely talk to each other.

4. They are some of the most humble and down-to-earth people you will ever meet in your travels. And did I mention funny?

5. The atmosphere is stress-free, relaxing and super peaceful!

Who would have known? But I guess that is the point, right?!

Until we have met and interacted with #people from a #diverse background compared to our own, we tend to be influenced by hearsay and what's dictated by mainstream media. We form generalisations in our minds and oversimplify the ideas we have about other people without that authentic reference point. And one such reference point came in the form of meeting Khulaif Abu Shaiba , a master's graduate of 英国赫特福德大学 's Business School, as he and his staff served us in the cafe he manages! I mean what are the chances of bumping into a graduate of the UK-based university I lecture at, in Riyadh??? A small world became even smaller in that moment as he asked after several of my colleagues, including Dr Rachelle Andrews ! What a joy!

I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to remain open-minded and allow ourselves to explore different people and cultures even when we have preconceived notions about them. Next time you find yourself making a judgement about people with conviction, ask yourself:

" Have I myself got sufficient knowledge about this group of people?" and

"How might my preconceived ideas about them be interfering with the limitations I place on my interactions with them?"

It may be the difference between localisation and globalisation of your organisation! Dare to redefine your boundaries. #diversityandinclusion #travelstories #riyadhseason #redefiningboundaries