Marhaba
Quarter 3, 2025
FOREWORD
We are proud to unveil our new employer branding: “ Find your Shangri-La in Shangri-La .” It is a call for every colleague to discover their own rhythm and joie de vivre in a place where you truly belong and thrive. This resonates deeply with me on a personal level. Years ago, while taxiing down the chosen path, I found my dreamliner grounded before takeoff. The unexpected reroute into hospitality and L&D gave me greater altitude and deeper sense of purpose. By turning my focus outward and helping others lift off, I found renewed confidence and my own Shangri-La. Today, my greatest joy comes from seeing people transform through learning, and even more so, from being part of an organization that genuinely values and invests in their growth. In guiding the development of others, I am reminded of my own, shaped at times by structured learning, yet more often by authentic engagement with others, and most profoundly in the pause, where reflection turns experience into wisdom. Shared growth and learning are not confined to the classroom or workplace; they live in the ways we meet and learn from one another - with curiosity, respect, and openness to the distinct threads of culture and character that lend our weave its vivid colour. This brings me to the cover of this issue of Marhaba featuring our brand ambassador, Khodarahm Farzaneh, who hails from Iran. Much like the ‘jacket on, jacket off’ lessons from Mr. Han to Dre in The Karate Kid , Khodarahm shows us how even the most mundane jobs shine when done with purpose, energy, and swagger, proving that excellence is about how you approach every task, no matter how routine. Khodarahm and I find cultural common ground in ‘ mehmaan navazi ’ (literally, ‘to serve a guest’), Iran’s beautiful ethos of hospitality, an expression that made its way to South Asia. It’s the idea that the door, the kettle, and the heart are always wide open. Now for a fascinating footnote : ice cream, a treat that brings joy across the world, is believed to have early roots in Iran around 500 BC, when Persians flavored mountain snow. From finding my groove, to shared warmth and cool discoveries, it is moments like these that deepen my connection here, and help me find my Shangri-La. Swati Anand Director of Learning & Development Shangri-La Dubai
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