Celebrations in the office are an excellent way to build team culture. For the team at Intelsat, celebrating Diwali is more than just a festival of lights and food — it’s an opportunity for education and bringing people closer together.
Beyond the decorations and mouthwatering meals — with employees bringing their favorite desserts for an added personal touch — festivities at the Intelsat offices often include dance performances, rangoli artwork workshops and even the lighting of Diwali’s iconic oil lamps and firecrackers. All of these activities are available to the entire Intelsat community and reflect the company’s educational and inclusive approach to team culture.
A diverse and inclusive team culture is something that’s highly valuable to today’s professionals. In a recent survey from Pew Research Center, the majority of workers agree that increasing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts is a good thing, and over half of workers place great importance on working in a diverse workplace. Intelsat’s approach to Diwali and other cultural celebrations demonstrates a team effort to ensure all employees feel informed and included as valued members of their team.
Built In spoke with Senior Recruitment Coordinator Kiran Sharma to get a closer look at Intelsat’s Diwali celebrations around the world and the values that make Diwali an integral part of its company culture.
Intelsat provides in-flight broadband connectivity to the commercial aviation industry.
How are Intelsat and its employees observing Diwali this year? What have past observances looked like?
This year, Intelsat will celebrate Diwali with major events in Tysons, Virginia, as well as in Chicago, India and Luxembourg, continuing its long-standing tradition of recognizing this important festival. Diwali Lunch continues to be a highlight for employees, with over 200 employees attending in Chicago and over 100 in Tysons and India.
Diwali events feature catered food and appetizers, with employees bringing homemade or store-bought desserts to add a personal touch. There have also been dance performances, a rangoli workshop and games such as trivia and song challenges. In India, employees partake in lighting diyas — oil lamps — bursting firecrackers and enjoying traditional sweets. These global celebrations bring employees together across different cultures, reflecting the company’s commitment to celebrating its diverse workforce.
How does the Diwali celebration or observance fit into the larger cultural year at Intelsat?
Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated festivals at Intelsat, symbolizing the company’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. It is part of a broader cultural calendar that also recognizes other festivals, including Eid and events from various religious and cultural traditions. Through these celebrations, Intelsat offers a platform for different communities to come together, fostering mutual respect and understanding. Trivia games and presentations help educate employees about the traditions behind these festivals, making the events inclusive and accessible to everyone.
“Through these celebrations, Intelsat offers a platform for different communities to come together, fostering mutual respect and understanding.”
How does Intelsat foster a welcoming environment for people of any faith or no faith? How does your Diwali celebration further these goals?
Intelsat promotes an inclusive environment by encouraging participation in cultural events across all faiths — or no faith at all.
Diwali celebrations are open to all employees, creating opportunities for cultural exchange. For example, the Chicago event included a trivia game about Indian spices and cuisine, allowing attendees to learn more about the culture in a fun and engaging way. Leaders also gave presentations explaining the significance of Diwali, helping those unfamiliar with the festival gain a deeper understanding.
This focus on inclusivity and education reflects the company’s efforts to ensure all employees feel welcome, fostering a sense of community.
