Want to be serious about diversity at work? Stay open-minded
- People
What if the most valuable thing we bring to work isn't what we know, but our willingness to see things differently and embrace new possibilities?
We all see the world through our own experiences. They shape how we solve problems, communicate with others, and imagine what is possible. But that's not enough to navigate a world that's so diverse. In a diverse workplace, our own perspective is only part of the picture.
Celebrating diversity means more than recognizing what makes us different. It means being curious about one another, challenging our assumptions and creating opportunities for everyone to contribute.
This Global Diversity Awareness Month, eight Nissan employees share how open-mindedness has helped them grow, strengthen their relationships with colleagues, and create a more inclusive workplace.
Be open to possibilities
Sometimes, celebrating diversity begins with seeing potential where others might see limitations.
For Maryam Afzal, a senior analyst in Treasury, Finance & Control at Nissan Canada that means looking beyond where someone starts and recognizing where they could go. Growing up in Pakistan amid financial challenges, Maryam learned to pursue opportunities with determination. After earning a Fulbright scholarship, she built a career in capital markets before joining Nissan.
Her perspective was also shaped by witnessing a classmate transform their life, moving from gang involvement to earning a master's degree in finance. The experience reinforced her belief that a person's past should never define their potential.
At Nissan's Resende Plant in Brazil, Juliano Rodrigues, production supervisor and master trainer, discovered the power of potential in his own journey. Starting as a Production Operator, he progressed to Senior Touch-up Technician before moving into training. His mentor, André Castilho, helped him recognize his abilities and the value of sharing knowledge.
Today, he helps colleagues build the confidence to succeed.
Their stories remind us that potential takes many forms, and sometimes all it takes is an open mind to help it flourish.
Be open to perspectives beyond your own
Different backgrounds can bring us together in unexpected ways.
For Devin Webb, a specialist in Production Manufacturing Maintenance at Nissan's Smyrna facility in the United States, strong relationships start with seeing people beyond their job titles.
Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Devin builds connections by taking an interest in colleagues' lives beyond work. He also develops video resources to make manufacturing knowledge more accessible and serves as an ambassador for Nissan's Black Employees of Nissan (BEN) employee resource group in Smyrna, connecting colleagues across backgrounds.
At Nissan's Global Headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, Miku Tanaka, a technical assistant in Product Portfolio Strategy, has learned to value different viewpoints through her experience in Aftersales, Global Brand Strategy and Product Planning. Working across functions and regions has shown her how different priorities can contribute to stronger business decisions.
Rather than rushing to conclusions, she focuses on understanding the thinking behind different viewpoints and finding common ground.
Devin and Miku show us that we don't have to see things the same way to move forward together. Often, our differences are what help us see the bigger picture.
Be open to doing things differently
Inclusion comes to life when we recognize that people may need different approaches to participate fully and succeed.
At Nissan's Aguascalientes Plant in Mexico, Mariana Luna, Production Supervisor on the Door Line Assembly, puts that principle into practice by helping introduce visual training materials and adapted communication methods to support team members who uses Mexican Sign Language.
Her experience showed how rethinking familiar ways of working can improve understanding, strengthen collaboration and help more people contribute their talents.
For Du Xiaoye, Acting Assistant Manager in the legal department in China, open-mindedness means looking beyond words to understand what someone really needs.
As a legal professional and working mother, Xiaoye has learned to listen for the meaning behind what people say. When business partners challenge a contract clause, she considers their priorities and translates legal risks into practical solutions that help move discussions forward.
She also remembers how colleagues welcomed her into lunches and group activities when she joined the Guangzhou office. Today, she extends that same welcome to new joiners.
Mariana and Xiaoye remind us that celebrating differences means more than accepting them. It means being willing to adapt, make room for others and turn understanding into action.
Be open to learning
Every new perspective offers a chance to discover something we didn't know before.
For Chen Yuchen, Technical Affairs Group (Regulatory) in the Beijing R&D, China, curiosity has shaped the way she approaches her work. Early in her career, a senior colleague encouraged her to look beyond regulatory requirements and understand the intent behind them.
Yuchen now applies this mindset to making reports easier for colleagues from different backgrounds to understand and use. She also conducted a three-month trial using a meeting-agenda template that helped reduce meeting times by half.
At Nissan Thailand, Piyamon Thongnak, General Manager of Supply Chain Management Vehicle Logistics, experienced the same value of learning when she moved into Production Planning in 2019, stepping beyond her supply chain expertise to understand manufacturing operations more deeply.
With colleagues sharing their knowledge, she learned unfamiliar processes and developed a better understanding of how production planning connects with customer demand.
Yuchen and Piyamon show that learning has no boundaries. When we stay curious and share what we know, individual differences become a source of collective strength.
Different perspectives. Greater possibilities
These eight employees bring different cultures, abilities, career paths, expertise and life experiences to Nissan. Each has a unique story, but together they show how much we can achieve when we remain open to one another.
Diversity brings different perspectives. Equity helps people access the opportunities and support they need. Inclusion creates an environment where everyone can contribute, grow and belong.
Open-mindedness connects them all. It lives in the questions we ask, the assumptions we challenge, the ways we adapt and the people we take time to understand.
We don't have to share the same experiences to learn from one another, or agree on everything to find a better way forward.
We simply have to be willing to look beyond our own point of view.
At Nissan, our differences are part of what makes us stronger. And when we embrace them with curiosity, respect and an open mind, we create more possibilities for everyone.
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