Celebrating the rich culture of our colleagues

Held every year on 21 May, the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development celebrates the richness of the world’s cultures.

We spoke to some of our colleagues who have shared a bit about their culture and what World Day for Cultural Diversity means to them.

Sejuty Chowdhury, Investment Strategist

Tell us a bit about your culture

I am of Bengali ethnicity. A strong part of my identity comes from the 1971 independence war which gave birth to Bangladesh. Since the key inspiration behind independence centres on the right to speak and establish Bengali as the official language and the distinctiveness of our way of life, cultural heritage is deeply rooted in my identity.

“Pohela Boishakh” marks the first day of the new year in our official calendar. It is a celebration based on the spring harvest and there is generally a big festival on this day. People often decorate their homes with traditional designs called "alpona". The celebration involves singing, dancing, poetry recital and food like “Bhaat and Bhorta” (rice and various types of mashed herbs, vegetables, or fish). People typically dress in white and red, which symbolises purity, peace, and auspiciousness.

What does World Day for Cultural Diversity mean to you?

It means bridging the gap between cultures so that we may understand, respect and appreciate each other. To me, it is also about acknowledging that if someone does not speak fluent English, it only highlights that they know another language that we do not!

Katrin Switalska, Risk and Controls Manager

Tell us a bit about your culture

I left Warsaw around 20 years ago and settled in Luxembourg, working in the financial services and energy sectors. Outside of work, I’m really into technology, cybersecurity, and robotics. I love trying different foods from around the world. Even though I've travelled a lot, I always find myself missing Japan. Its mix of tradition and modernity is captivating, and it's a place where I feel at peace and inspired. Apart from work, I've been active in sports. Started with cricket and camogie, but rugby was where I found my real passion. It's all about teamwork and the awesome vibe on and off the field. Playing it taught me a lot about working together and having each other's backs. It's like Luxembourg, where different cultures come together and create something awesome.

What does World Day for Cultural Diversity mean to you?

World Culture Day to me is a celebration of diversity and unity, a reminder of the richness that comes from embracing different traditions, languages, and customs. It's a day to honour the beauty of cultural exchange and understanding, fostering a sense of global community where every culture is valued and respected.

Khilan Doshi, Senior Research Analyst

Tell us a bit about your culture

I'm of Indian heritage but was born and brought up in Kenya (which I consider my home). My family comes from the state of Gujarat in Western India and my mother tongue is Gujarati, although I dabble in a bit of broken Kiswahili.

What does World Day for Cultural Diversity mean to you?

It's about raising awareness about different cultures to foster understanding and togetherness.

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Reframing later life

Sejuty Chowdhury, Investment Strategist

Katrin Switalska, Risk and Controls Manager

Khilan Doshi, Senior Research Analyst

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