“Building Stronger Teams Through Cultural Awareness”

Dorothy Muthuri is an experienced HR manager, having worked across global regions and with diverse teams. At the CSCP, she focuses on fostering an inclusive and growth-oriented environment where everyone is valued and empowered to reach their full potential.

With years of experience in HR, what key lessons have you learnt from working across different global regions?

I have learnt to appreciate the importance of cultural awareness and sensitivity and how understanding and respecting local customs is essential for building strong relationships with colleagues. Adapting to differences ensures smoother interactions. For instance, while trust and respect could be considered universal values, demonstrating these values differs from one culture to another.

Therefore, aligning human resource administration and management to location-specific norms is essential. Team expectations on benefits and entitlements vary from region to region. Understanding local definitions of diversity and inclusion ensures a smoother and more effective approach.

A key challenge for organisations today is navigating diverse global regions while carefully considering sustainable investment in human capital, especially amid a fluctuating socio-economic landscape. I have noted a promising trend which focuses on adapting innovative, flexible, and cost-effective people management practises.

In an era where AI is transforming the workforce, how can organisations strike a balance between technology and human capital? What should leaders be particularly mindful of?

To navigate the balance between technology and human capital, it is essential to focus on complementing rather than replacing human capabilities. Although AI can very swiftly provide or analyse big amounts of data, strategic decision-making still relies on human values, judgment, and contextual understanding. Another key element is accountability—ultimately, human leaders are responsible for decisions and their consequences.

Leaders should therefore strive to craft a win-win landscape—maximising both human and technological resources. Organisations should prioritise continuous learning for their teams so that they can capitalise on the complementary aspects AI provides to their work with ease and confidence.

Can you explain the CSCP approach to human capital, skills, and competences—not just within the organisation, but also in projects and collaborations?

The CSCP nurtures cross-team collaboration within the entire project work cycle. Teams from different areas of expertise work together, bringing unique insights, skills, and experiences that drive creative problem-solving and fresh ideas.

This openness not only enhances the flow of information but also creates a culture of learning, where team members are inspired to challenge assumptions, experiment with new solutions, and learn from both success and failure.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is a major focus in current HR discussions. Beyond the buzzword, what does meaningful DEI implementation look like?

Meaningful DEI implementation goes far beyond adopting terminology or launching initiatives for the purpose of ‘good optics’. It involves putting concrete practices and policies in place to foster a culture of fairness and inclusion—one where every employee, regardless of background or identity, has an equal opportunity to succeed, contribute, and thrive.

Beyond office life, how do you engage with sustainability? What topics are particularly important to you?

I am curious about exploring new ways of integrating circularity in agriculture. For example, I currently support a beekeeping venture run by a youth group in my home village in Meru, Kenya. Despite being involved only online, I try to cheer along and chip in whenever possible to make this venture a success story.

For further questions, please contact Dorothy Muthuri.