Leaders

Ideated by Sunaina Vij- an interculturalist, linguist, and diversity & inclusion strategist, The Bridge offers a gamut of professional services, which equip individuals and organizations with skills to understand the challenges of managing people in domestic and international markets.

Sunaina pursued an Advanced Diploma in the French language, a Masters in French and Francophone literature, and conferred a scholarship to be part of DAEFLE (Diploma in teaching French as a Foreign Language). As a certified Cultural Intelligence facilitator (CQ), Diversity & inclusion strategist, and FLE (French as Foreign Language) specialist teacher, Sunaina is associated with various international and domestic organizations, including TCP GROWTH, American School of Bombay, The Future Work Skills Academy, Alliance Francaise de Bombay. Over a decade, she has also worked closely with the senior management of AREVA India Pvt. Ltd., Ernst & Young, Intelenet Global, State Bank of India-Societe Generale, several educational institutions, and Mumbai’s thriving expat community. As a part of the SIETAR Europa (Society for Intercultural Education Training Research) 2019 organizing committee, she headed the Pre-Post Congress workshops committee. She has been selected by WICCI as the State President, Haryana, for Diversity and Inclusion council.

Kindly peruse the following snippet of insightful conversation between Sunaina Vij and CEO Insights, to know more about her journey as an entrepreneur.

What Factors Incited You To Choose This Niche Domain To Venture Into? As A Creator, What Are Your Roles And Responsibilities Towards It?

In 2008, I started my career as a foreign language educator. My experience as a language expert made me reflect on the gaps that exist and the necessary skills one needs to succeed in this global world. I was teaching the language and working on cultural skills with the students. But something was missing. I regularly took feedback from the learners. While working with people from all facets all life, I understood that having good interpersonal skills is the key to successfully working with different people. And, being open-minded and embracing differences leads to growth and success. This perspective shift in me drew me towards a deeper understanding of cultural value systems and diversity. Ever since exploration, pursuit, and motivation have been my frameworks for success.

I am the founder and the lead trainer at The Bridge. I collaborate with organizations and individuals to help them manage a diverse workforce, manage multicultural teams, diverse markets and build inclusive workplace practices and create world-class language teaching skills. Creating global potential and developing intercultural effectiveness is what “The Bridge” does.

Tell Us About The Concept Of The Bridge. What Are Its Core Objectives?

The Bridge provides coaching, training, and mentoring in building Intercultural Competence, managing diversity and improving language skills. The various services provided by The Bridge intend to help improve the performance and effectiveness of individuals and organizations and create global potential. The objective of our customized talent development solution/ services is to build global leaders, support Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, build multicultural teams and empower people to be globally equipped. We believe in promoting diversity and values such as tolerance, openness, and empathy.

“Sunaina’s Ultimate Aim Is To Encourage Deep Cross-Cultural Understanding, Promote Diversity And Values Such As Tolerance, Openness And Empathy To The Point Where The People Of The World Will Know Each Other As One – And Bridges Will No Longer Be Required”

What Are The Innovative Training Methods You Follow To Ensure The Best Learning Outcomes For The Clients?

We assess needs and based on the assessment and the objective, we create interactive workshops, suggest assessments, and create programs using cutting-edge techniques such as Cultural Intelligence, which is also known as CQ. We use a lot of storytelling techniques, and Lego play. We also use tools to measure different skills to provide concrete starting point to our clients.

Since Its Inception, How Has The Company Nurtured Itself? Illustrate The Growth Of The Company.

We have grown organically. In an organization, typically the absence of one thing in a program leads to the other. This gives us an advantage to grow further within the organization.

We engage in dialogues and participate in various events to create visibility. The thought comes from the fact that the life of each person is respected and everyone can live with dignity. This requires a lot of effort, commitment and awareness.

Our client pool is huge- We have individual clients as well as organizations that we work with. We work with kids as well as adults.

We are currently working with an Australian Edtech company. We have creating a program on Intercultural collaboration for the company. We are looking for more collaborations, in India and outside.

What Message Would You Like To Give To The Young Women Entrepreneurs Who Would Like To Start Their Careers In The L&D Industry?

One has to courageously face challenges, all hardships, and obstacles because there will be many. This can be overwhelming. But things are changing. There is more awareness and organizations want to create inclusive workspace and manage workforce diversity better than before.

I feel one needs to believe in our own potential. One must also self-reflect and keep evolving. L&D is a journey so we as trainers should never stop learning.

Sunaina Vij, Founder, The Bridge

The Bridge Offerings :

• Cultural adaptation

• Expanding into new markets

• Leading multicultural teams

• Cultural decision making and negotiation

• Inclusive practices for organizations and educational institutes

• Cross cultural digital team building

• Create foreign language curriculum or train the trainer ( how to teach a foreign language using common European framework of reference for languages and American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

• Language-based Recruitment service