Indian Cultural Awareness for Business

This Cultural Competency Workshop is designed to equip Australian businesses with the tools to navigate Indian business environments

Note: This is a FREE workshop for Australian businesses. However, registration is necessary to secure your spot.

This session will not be recorded, so live attendance is essential to benefit fully from the learning and discussions.

Do you know how to make a strong impression when doing business in India?

Understanding cultural differences isn’t just helpful, it’s essential. Cultural intelligence is a critical business capability that enables meaningful conversations, smoother negotiations, and stronger, longer‑term business relationships. While cultural misunderstandings can sometimes seem minor or even light‑hearted, they can just as easily lead to miscommunication, lost opportunities, or damaged relationships.

As two‑way trade, investment, and collaboration between Australia and India continue to grow, cultural competence has become a strategic advantage. In Indian business culture, personal relationships, trust, and respect play a central role in successful engagement. By understanding these cultural nuances, you can bridge the gap between your expectations and those of your Indian counterparts, building credibility, earning respect, and fostering trust from the outset.

About the Workshop

This Indian Cultural Awareness for Business Online Workshop is designed to equip Australian businesses with the practical knowledge and cultural insights needed to operate confidently and professionally in Indian business environments.

This interactive workshop goes beyond theory. Participants gain real‑world insights into Indian business practices, negotiation styles, and communication norms, helping them avoid common pitfalls and engage more effectively with Indian partners, clients, and colleagues.

Workshop Objectivea

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Strengthen cultural intelligence for engaging effectively with Indian business counterparts or colleagues of Indian background.
• Transform business interactions from potentially uncomfortable to genuinely productive and collaborative.

Program Highlights

The workshop covers:

• Why cultural competence matters for successful business
• Key features of Indian business culture including:
• Hierarchy and decision-making
• Gender perceptions and expectations
• Meeting etiquette and business protocols
• Building relationships and managing expectations
• Negotiation strategies tailored to Indian contexts
• Communication styles and language considerations - bridging cultural gap
• Identifying and troubleshooting culture-clash scenarios
• Recognising and overcoming bias and stereotypes
• Practical case studies, group discussions, and interactive Q&A
• Clear, actionable takeaways for immediate application

Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

• · Build cultural intelligence for engaging confidently with Indian business partners.
• Learn practical strategies for navigating Indian business etiquette, hierarchy, and communication styles.
• Develop negotiation techniques aligned to Indian cultural contexts.
• Strengthen cross-cultural communication and relationship-building skills.
• Increase awareness of unconscious bias and cultural assumptions.
• Leave with practical tools and insights they can apply immediately in business settings.

Host

Shirley Ng, General Manager International Competitiveness, Australian Industry Group. Find out more on LINKEDIN

Facilitator

Tasneem Chopra, OAM A Cross-cultural Consultant

Tasneem addresses issues of equity and belonging through an intersectional lens in leadership of government, corporate, arts, academic and NGO sectors, within Australia and overseas. She assists clients refine their D&I policies as an industry expert and advisor, executes workshops, curates exhibitions and promotes social change towards greater cultural inclusion. Tasneem is also an accomplished emcee and keynote speaker.

Tasneem has featured on numerous platforms including BBC, SBS, ABC’s Q&A and The Drum. She co-hosts the podcast Colour Outside the Lines with Leah Vandenberg, and has previously hosted Strengths Untold.

Find out more on LINKEDIN

The Australia-India Business Engagement Program aims to equip Australian businesses with the capabilities to build and strengthen commercial ties with India, driving growth in bilateral trade and investment on a global scale. If you have any further questions regarding this program, please email: big@aigroup.com.au

The Australia-India Business Engagement Program is supported by the Centre for Australia-India Relations. Ai Group is proud to be a Centre for Australia-India Relations grant recipient.