From Skeptic to Believer: Diving into the Dynamic Culture of the Group

Culture, it’s one of those loaded words that can mean so many different things. Everywhere you go, you’ll find things that may work great, or things that may not sit so well. Stepping out of your comfort zone is never a walk in the park. Transitioning from a creative background in advertising to a corporate environment had me feeling all sorts of skeptical about fitting in with the culture. But let me tell you, my experience at the John Keells Group has been nothing short of thrilling.

Now, before I joined the Group, I had my fair share of doubts. We’re talking about a company that has been around for a mind-boggling 150 years! I had heard stories about corporate environments, in general, that were stuffy, slow-moving, and all about ‘hierarchy’. Frankly, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to express myself or find a collaborative space. But JKH shattered all those preconceived notions.

From the get-go, I quickly realized that JKH was nothing like the companies I had heard about. The culture was young, vibrant, and filled with a contagious energy and enthusiasm. Despite its long history, this is a company that has managed to stay agile and adaptable to the changing times, which was evident in the way its people worked and interacted with one another.

You know what impressed me the most? The Group’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I’ve witnessed firsthand several initiatives aimed at creating an equitable environment for all, and it’s been downright inspiring. The culture of meritocracy is alive and kicking, which goes a long way to say that ‘hierarchy’ isn’t what counts. It’s all about what you bring to the table. No biases, no favoritism, just pure talent, and hard work. That kind of mindset makes me believe that the possibilities at JKH are truly endless. The Group makes a genuine effort to create a workplace that welcomes people from all walks of life, and that has already made me feel valued and appreciated.

And here’s the kicker: JKH doesn’t operate like your typical corporate machine. You won’t find people working in silos here. Instead, they encourage cross-functional collaboration which, from what I’ve seen, fosters some serious innovation and creativity. It’s been a breath of fresh air to see people from different departments working together towards a common goal, all while building a sense of community.

Can I just take a moment to share one of my early experiences here? Just four days into officially joining the Group, I had the opportunity to support the team in putting on the highest internal recognition event, the Chairperson’s Awards 2022. Not once did I feel like the “new girl.” Everyone was welcoming and open to hearing my ideas and perspectives. There was always room for open discussion, and people genuinely cared about finding the best possible outcomes. That level of collaboration and openness made it a breeze for me to feel like part of the team, right from the start.

In my role, I’ve had the chance to connect with people from various business units within JKH. And you know what ties us all together? Every single person is truly passionate about what they do. It’s infectious, really. And it speaks volumes about the culture that the Group fosters.

So, to sum it all up, my transition from advertising to the John Keells Group has been a great journey. Despite my initial skepticism, I found myself immersed in a young, vibrant culture that embraces collaboration, innovation, social responsibility, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. In short, it’s been a blast!