Bangalore, January 20, 2025 – The Indian Economic Trade Organization (IETO) is proud to announce the appointment of Ms. Kaveri Sinhji as the Director of Cultural Diplomacy, effective January 1, 2025. With a career spanning over 25 years, Ms. Sinhji has built a reputation as a global leader in cultural inclusion, diversity, and diplomacy. Her appointment underscores IETO’s commitment to leveraging cultural diplomacy to enhance India’s global influence and foster international economic partnerships.
Vision for Cultural Diplomacy at IETO
As the Director of Cultural Diplomacy, Ms. Sinhji will lead efforts to strengthen India’s global presence through cultural diplomacy. Her vision includes creating programs that showcase India’s rich cultural heritage while fostering cross-cultural understanding and facilitating economic collaborations. By using culture as a tool for diplomacy, she aims to bridge gaps between nations, promote trust, and enable sustainable growth through shared values.
A Pioneer in Cultural Inclusion and DEI
Ms. Sinhji is the founder of One World, whose initiative Culture Rings has redefined how organizations approach Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Culture Rings embeds DEI principles into organizational strategies through its innovative methodologies, which include experiential learning programs that immerse participants in transformative cultural experiences. These programs have gained widespread acclaim and earned Culture Rings the #1 ranking on TripAdvisor for cultural experiences. Under Ms. Sinhji’s leadership, Culture Rings has collaborated with some of the world’s leading organizations, including Siemens, H&M, IKEA, Scania, Volvo, IBM, Accenture, Microsoft, Novozymes, Novo Nordisk, and Danske Bank. Through these partnerships, Culture Rings has enhanced team dynamics, fostered inclusive leadership, and driven DEI integration in both corporate and academic environments. Currently, Culture Rings is undergoing significant expansion into the European Union (EU), where it is actively helping Indian companies align with EU regulations. With a particular focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), Culture Rings equips Indian suppliers with the tools and training required to adapt to international compliance standards. This includes trainings and toolbox creation aimed at fostering resilience and competitiveness in global markets.
Corporate Leadership in DEI
Ms. Sinhji has served as Group Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Telia, a leading telecommunications company in Sweden. In this role, she has spearheaded initiatives that integrated cultural learning into leadership frameworks, enhanced inclusive communication strategies, and has established equitable workplace policies across the Nordics. Her leadership was instrumental in positioning Telia as a role model for inclusive workplaces.
Cultural Advisor to Cultural, Political and Diplomatic Delegations
Ms. Sinhji has served as a cultural facilitator and advisor to academic, political and diplomatic delegations from Israel, Russia, the USA, and France. Her expertise in bridging cultural gaps has fostered cross-border understanding and collaboration in international political and economic contexts, further solidifying her reputation as a cultural diplomacy expert.
Acclaimed Author and Champion of Inclusion
Ms. Sinhji’s recent book, Bangalorean, co-created with designer Tania Singh Khosla, writers Melissa Parkerton and Farrah Gillani, and photographers Katya Antoni and Chris Page, is a vivid celebration of Bangalore’s diversity. The critically acclaimed book explores the city’s identity as a cultural melting pot, offering actionable insights into fostering inclusivity and belonging. Through powerful storytelling, Bangalorean has become a tool for sparking dialogue around diversity, identity, and social equity.
Academic and Professional Background
Ms. Sinhji’s academic achievements include a degree in Communicative English, Psychology, and English Literature from Mount Carmel College, Bangalore, an MBA from MIBM University, and advanced studies in Anthropology through Oxford Trinity’s continued education programs. This combination of subjects, combined with her passion for people and cultural harmony, has provided a strong foundation for her work in culture, identity, and inclusion.
