Running a multicultural business
This week we had an ‘aha!’ moment where we realized that not everyone works like we do! We have a very specific way of functioning as a company and we want to share with you our view of what it’s like to run a multicultural business. We want to take you behind the scenes, and tell you more about what happens behind our business doors and why we do things the way we do!
If we start from the beginning, lets just say that before there was Passa Paa, there was a friendship!
Pok and Heather met because their families were friends. Heather’s parents would play sports with Pok’s husband during their visits to Laos. Before there was any talk about working together, there were many laughs, dinners and talks about family and life. Rooting the business in friendship means that the partnership was cemented in an already existing mutual respect and admiration. Both founders had already been in each other lives, and been part of each others families. For us, this makes all the difference.
So when Pok and Heather decided to start this new adventure together, it meant that Heather had to move to Laos, which she did in 2010. Together, they started organizing their vision.
“I love the food, the language, the way the Lao joke, the beauty of Luang Prabang and its mountainous surroundings, there is something about this place that captures your heart and it never leaves you.”
So, a Hmong business woman such as Pok and a textile designer from the UK such as Heather created the foundations of what is now Passa Paa. The company was only real and complete when the team of artisans came into the picture. There is no way that Passa Paa could be what it is today without this team of artisans. It is a group of Lao and Hmong that come together and add their creative skills and techniques to the table. Their ideas and skills have been the birthing point for many of our products. Take for example our clothing line available in our shop in Luang Prabang. It was the team that had the idea to print their clothes with the inks left over from the days printing runs. The earrings, necklaces and leather bowls were the result of the studio production team finding a solution to the offcuts of leather we had from our bag production. Great ideas come from allowing the freedom to let thoughts wonder and be voiced, and this is what we like to encourage at Passa Paa.
Even though the team has changed over the years, the dynamic has stayed consistent. The feel is that of a family. And during these hard times of Covid-19, it has proven truer than ever. Each team player has done what needs to be done in order to keep this company going.
So what is it like to have many people from different countries and cultures run a company together?
Well, for starters it means that there are many languages spoken during our meetings. In a design meeting there can be 2 to 3 languages spoken. Heather and Pok often feel more at home speaking Lao to each other. Saying things once in one language and then again in the other makes sure that the message has been as understood as well as it can be! Sometimes the team will explain to one another something in Hmong. The rest of the team waits for the translation in English or is able to understand bits and pieces before moving on.
It also means that multiple time zones have to be considered before organising a meeting, with Heather now living back in the U.K. Thank goodness we live in an era where FaceTime, WhatsApp and G-Drive exists and allows every moving wheel of this machine to communicate and do their job at different paces, timezones and countries.
Religious celebrations and holidays are not the same in Laos and in the UK so those have to be taken into consideration when planning the year or season.
Multiple currencies are handled and more often than not, we find ourselves figuring out how to take advantage of the different resources we find in Laos and in the UK. The tools and way of doing things in Laos, is not the same that you find in the UK. So in a way, you could say we are lucky, because we can try to get the best of both worlds. But trust us when we say, it is easier said than done.
But most of all, it means there has to be a ton of empathy and respect and trust within the team. Each person in the team comes from different backgrounds and were raised in completely different ways. We don’t think the same way and something that can be common sense to one may not be the obvious way of doing things for others. So once again, communication comes into play.
Trust is also a big player amongst our team. After meetings or texts, each person takes away their own list of responsibilities and it is up to them to be reliable to the rest.
“The key to having a sustainable and successful business here is being able to trouble shoot logistics and think outside of the box in terms of the resources we have here and in the region.”
What is the best part of running a business like this?
Definitely the idea that our differences only make us stronger. Pok’s understanding of Lao and Hmong culture brings so much to the table. Her business knowledge and caring instincts are a big part of the company. Heather’s understanding of the market outside of Laos, her skill in design, managing colour and material is also at the base of what we do. Both parts, equally important, working together and leading a team of creators who have their own ideas and set of skills.
Also, running a business like this has allowed Pok and Heather to set up Passa Paa in a way that all of it’s relationships (with its team of artisans, with its villager providers etc) are long lasting. They truly are relationships that more often than not begin or transform into friendship. It all starts with respect, grows with trusts and evolves to create bonds between all parties.
Why did you decide to share this?
As a company, we are big on transparency. We realize how important it is that our customers know that behind these products there are real people trying to do the best they can. We wouldn’t be honest if we didn’t say that being a multicultural business is a big part of who we are and why we do things the way we do. We can’t talk about Passa Paa without mentioning the team that it’s made of. Each one of the people working with us today plays a fundamental part of our company and we are proud of what we do and how we do things. Obviously, there are always things to work on as a team, but taking into account all the possible mindsets or differences that could break us apart and work against us, every day we are aware that it is amazing how these differences and mindsets are the ones that seem to keep us together because for us, they are our strength and not our weakness.
Now, we would love to hear from you! We are starting a conversation through our social media channels to answer any questions you may have or any tips if you are also running a business similar to ours. We hope to see you there!