3 Countries. 3 Cultures. 3 Sets of Lessons.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of working across India, UAE and Australia. Each of these markets has been a masterclass in its own right. I feel I have attended three different universities of business and culture.

India: Intensity amidst chaos

India is where I learned the true meaning of hustle and adaptability. The market is intensely competitive, with a million moving pieces at any given time. To thrive, you don’t just need a plan: you need the ability to reinvent it by lunchtime! Jugaad (frugal innovation) is a survival mechanism. Whether it is limited resources or unpredictable shifts, the magic lies in finding a way forward. India taught me that speed, creativity and resilience are essential if you want to navigate chaos and still come out ahead.

UAE: Ambition Without Borders

If India sharpened my survival skills, UAE expanded my horizons. I got the chance to work with teams of 20+ nationalities under one roof, a daily reminder that diversity here is a lived reality. UAE pushes you to dream big, think bold and deliver at scale. Projects here often feel larger than life and ambition is celebrated. At the same time, there’s a deep respect for premium experiences, whether in product, service or customer touch points. UAE taught me that diversity can fuel creativity and that there is no shame in setting goals that feel audacious.

Australia: Straight Talk, Sharp Outcomes

Australia, on the other hand, is a study in clarity and focus. While India often equates longer hours with progress, Australia emphasizes efficiency over effort. It shows that eight focused productive hours in a day are more than enough! It’s also a culture of direct communication. Meetings are candid, feedback is honest and clarity replaces jargon. Add to that a trust-by-default mindset, and collaboration flows much faster. And because people-hours are expensive, there is a natural product-first orientation: build smart systems once, instead of throwing more people at problems.

Three very different playbooks, but together, they have taught me that leadership is about being versatile enough to switch gears depending on the context.

It makes me wonder, which country or culture has shaped the way you work the most?