At a Creative Mornings event today in the ❤️ of Zürich I learned more about healthy and sustainable nutrition. For example, I discovered that tofu is not only healthy. It also causes much less CO2 emissions in comparison with meat.
What made the event a really great and memorable experience was, in my opinion, that is was strongly interactive. Great exercises were initiated and competently moderated – thereby enabling participants to share questions, experiences and ideas with each other about the topic.
In one of the exercises, participants were encouraged to walk around and position themselves at initiatives they thought would have the biggest impact on promoting healthy and sustainable nutrition.
I learned that to make an event interactive, two things are important:
That organizers plan conversation exercises / brainstorming exercises.
That those exercises are competently moderated.
Both 1 and 2 happened at this event. And that was key to making the event a success. Thank you.
Asking ChatGPT what makes particulate matter harmful to human health, this is the feedback I received from the machine:
“Particulate matter is harmful to human health because its small size allows it to penetrate deep into the lungs, where it can cause damage to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Inhaling particulate matter can trigger a range of health problems, including asthma, bronchitis, heart attacks, and stroke.
Particulate matter can also increase the risk of lung cancer, premature death, and other health problems. Some particulate matter contains toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and other harmful substances that can pose additional health risks. The severity of the health effects of particulate matter can depend on factors such as the size of the particles, the duration of exposure, and the overall health of the individual.”
Although strict monitoring and abatement measures have reduced pollution levels in Switzerland since the 1990s, the problem persists in many places, especially in cities.
At busy intersections in cities, other emissions besides exhaust gases are a cause for concern: Metals such as copper, zinc and manganese indicate particulate matter components that may originate from the abrasion of car tires or brake pads, for example.
Particles from road traffic, which do not originate from exhaust gases, as well as those from wood combustion should be given special attention in measures to protect public health.
Why is real estate important? Nathalie Palladitcheff explained that everybody neeeds housing. And people spend, on average, 90% of their time in buildings.
What are some challenges in real estate? Nathalie Palladitcheff: Real estate uses lots of carbon and lots of land. Hussain Sajwani: Laws / regulations in Europe are very rigid. That holds investments back and thereby puts a limit on innovation / change.
What are examples of changes happening in the needs and behaviour of people? Hussain Sajwani: In the USA, an increasing number of people move to Miami from the Northern parts of the country. And people move to Dubai and Abu Dhabi from Europe. Why? Because of the weather, and because people can work over the Internet. Also, buildings in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are being made with lots of communal spaces such as shopping centers, fitness centers, swimming pools, playgrounds and other things / spaces that help increase the quality of life. Howard W. Lutnick: The importance of green buildings and focus on ESG are increasing.
What are some changes being created in real estate? Christian Ulbrich: Green buildings are energy saving buildings – thereby saving costs. Also, digitization will become more important in real estate. Various kinds of data will be used to develop buildings. Nathalie Palladitcheff: Earlier CDPQ focused on real estate investments in big cities. Increasingly, focus is on real estate investments outside of big cities. Affordable housing is being created because it is low risk. Also, there is much innovation going on in materials, technology and processes. That reduces costs, improves the environment and improves the quality of living. Howard W. Lutnick: Office buildings are decreasing in importance, as people work via Internet from home and from other places. There is a need to transform office buildings into residential space. Replacement of windows will also reduce costs and improve the environment. Brand new high quality buildings with large windows are getting all the rent. Retail is becoming more experimental, for example with showrooms.
Asking ChatGPT what the most important trends in real estate are, this is the feedback I received:
Remote work: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in remote work, which has changed the way people think about where they want to live. This has led to an increase in demand for homes in more rural and suburban areas.
E-commerce: The growth of e-commerce has led to an increase in demand for industrial and warehouse space.
Sustainability: There is growing demand for energy-efficient and sustainable homes and buildings.
Smart home technology: The integration of smart home technology, such as voice assistants and smart thermostats, into homes and buildings is becoming increasingly popular.
Homeownership: As the economy recovers from the pandemic, homeownership is becoming more accessible for more people.
Investment: Real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other real estate investment vehicles are becoming increasingly popular as a way to invest in the real estate market.
Short-term rental: The popularity of short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb has led to an increase in demand for properties that can be used as vacation rentals.
Recently I have been thinking quite a lot about the extent to which people interact with each other in public space – and how people interact with each other. In particular, I have been thinking about the effect that technologies such as smartphones and headphones have on interaction beween people.
What I experience is that more and more people are watching their smartphones and listening to something in their headphones. What I also experience that this is reducing interaction between people in public space and/or changes the ways people interact with each other.
Being curious to learn more about these changes I turned to chat.openai.com. I asked what effect smartphones and headphones have on life in public spaces. I learned that overall, the use of smartphones and headphones in public spaces can have both positive and negative effects. More specifically, I learned this:
“Smartphones and headphones can have a variety of effects on life in public spaces. Some of the potential effects include:
Increased isolation When people use headphones or smartphones in public, they may be less likely to interact with others or be aware of their surroundings. This can lead to a feeling of isolation or disconnection from the community.
Decreased safety Using headphones or smartphones while walking or engaging in other activities in public spaces can be distracting and may increase the risk of accidents or injuries.
Changes in social norms The use of headphones and smartphones in public spaces may also change social norms and expectations around communication and interaction.
Reduced face-to-face interaction The use of smartphones and headphones may also reduce the amount of face-to-face interaction that occurs in public spaces, which can have negative impacts on social connections and relationships.”
What I notice about cities in South India is that there are many buildings, many streets as well as many scooters and cars. Scooters and cars create a relatively high noise level on the streets. Among reasons for this is, I found out, that many people, who use scooters and cars, use the horn frequently as they move forward. In addition, by speeding up and slowing down continuously, engines make noise. A question I came to think of in this regard is how cities can become more environmentally friendly, greener and a litte more quiet. In Pondicherry, i came across some inspiration:
Example # 1: In the beautiful botanical garden at Pondicherry, there are 1,500 plant species from around the world and several fountains.
Example # 2: Besides the botanical garden, there is another beautiful park in the city. The Bharati park in Pondicherry, which is not far from the shore, is a landscaped park featuring a Greco-Roman arch structure, flowers, a play area as well as fountains.
Example # 3: I noticed that along the Goubert Avenue right at the shore, there are no motorized vehicles. It is peaceful there, a great promenade. Also, there are palm trees and a wonderful view over the sea.
The other day I had the opportunity to learn with children at a school near the main station in Pondicherry in South India. It was a wonderful learning experience. These are some impressions:
Children use books to learn. Books are paid by the city of Pondicherry.Children use school uniforms, which are paid for by the city of Pondicherry.Children sit at desks and on benches, which are made of wood and are relatively old. Two or three children sit at each table on a bench.The school was founded in 1918. Paint has fallen of the walls in more areas.A teacher used a little blackboard and chalk to explain things to children. She had also brought different self made things that she used as examples to strengthen understanding. The thing painted in orange and blue under the blackboard to the right in the photo is a ship.A fan was used to circulate air in the room where children were learning.More classes were done in the same room. A relatively simple wooden board was used as a mobile wall to partly separate two classes from each other. The sound level was relatively high from students and teachers talking.Some children and teachers used bicycles to get to and from school. Others walked to and from school. And others used a school bus to get to and from school.
During the conversation with school leaders, I asked what they do to improve rooms – including floor, walls, roof, and air-condition. They explained that improvement of buildings is currently not financed by the government. We also talked about possibilities to strengthen digital learning. I was curious to know what is being done to help children to use Internet – including tablets, mobile phones and/or laptops. I was told that they are working on it.
Positive is, I learned, that food, which children eat every day, is paid for by the city of Pondicherry. In the morning, children get milk. Later, children eat lunch at a canteen.
I learned that some of the children, which go to the school, do not have parents. Why? There are more reasons I learned. For example, parents of some children died. And parents of other children wish not to have their children.
At the side of roads in South India, I often see packaging – for example packaging made of plastic. An example from Mahabalipuram:
In a conversation, which I had with a hotel manager, I learned about how the hotel handles food waste and recycling of packaging. He said that people, who work for the hotel, regularly burn food waste at a place behind the hotel. To recycle packaging, the hotel pays the municipality of Mahabalipuram INR 1,000 per month. The used packaging material – including plastic, metal / cans and glass – is picked up every two days by the municipality’s recycling services. The recycling services then drive the used packaging material to a place about 100 kilometres to the South near Pondicherry. There, the used packaging material is professionally recycled.
What else do you think can be done to make the place cleaner, I asked the hotel manager. The manager mentioned several initiatives that need to be strengthened in the local community:
1. Colleges need to have events and other learning initiatives related to recycling and cleaning. That will raise awareness about the importance of recycling and cleaning. Students will then talk to their families, friends and other people in the community about recycling and cleaning. Increasingly, people will avoid littering.
2. We need to invite companies from around the world, who have competencies in how to professionally organize recycling of various packaging and know about technologies that can be use clean up the environment. The hotel manager mentioned companies from Israel and Germany.
3. There need to be fines for littering. In this regard, we need to learn from initiatives that the Government of Singapore has taken several years ago.
4. We need to strengthen primary education. Many people, who live here, are illiterate. They can neither read nor write.
As I was walking around in Mahabalipuram, a town of strong historic character in South India, a person, who was selling handicrafts in a shop on the street, started talking to me. I stopped and listened to what he wanted to say.
He explained that his brother had come to Mahabulipuram from Kashmir in North India 28 years ago and had started the shop. As we talked, I sensed he was curious to tell more about the story of the shop. He explained that over many years his brother had bought products in different places, for example in Jaipur. Many of the products, his brother had bought, were handmade.
How will your store develop, I asked. I was quite surprised as he responded that he and his brother are planning to close down the shop and move it to another place in Asia. Asking about reasons for this change, he said that he sees a declining need for handicrafts. People want less and less handicrafts and souvenirs.
The handicrafts store manager also mentioned that there are more than 40 handicraft shops in Mahabalipuram and that this number is too high. Another handicraft store manager, with whom I talked, agreed about this point and added that he thought there would be a need for 10 to 15 handicraft shops in Mahabalipuram.
Following up on this, I asked the store manager what he experiences that people, who come to Mahabalipuram for some days, need. He responded that he sees growth in various kinds of hotels, restaurants and other services. What kind of services do you think, people need?, he asked me.
My initial response regarding what people need was better infrastructure. In this regard, I think about improvement of streets, sidewalks, bicycle lanes, lighting on the streets as well as better buildings. I also mentioned this idea: What about a beautiful, air-conditioned library at the shore, where people can read, have a cup of coffee and enjoy the view towards the sea? And what about creating facilities where people can swim, for an example an outdoor pool at the rocks with sea water such as the one at Bondi beach in Sydney?
He nodded. And then he pointed at the street as well as at the shops on the street. It looks like this:
He also talked about the need to take clean water supply to the next level. Currently, people can – at certain times of the day – collect water, which is purified through filters, at water tanks at the sides of streets all around the town. What is needed next, is, as I understood, that water is channelled into every house, so every household has access to clean, drinkable water.
Later, as I walked down the street to the shore, another person from the local area, who was selling handicrafts, started talking to me. The question about what people, who come to Mahabulipuram, need, also came up in this conversation. As I sensed he wanted to understand what I need, I passed on my thoughts and ideas to him.
For example, I mentioned that cleanliness is important for me. I like when streets, restaurants and other places, I go, are clean. In fact, when I can see that a restaurant is not clean, I choose another place. He responded that he found the government does not do enough to recycle various packaging, people want to get rid of. And as he said that, I came to think about the importance of Drucker Forum‘s 2020 theme “Leadership is everywhere.”
I responded that it is my experience that each one of us can help to clean up. Each one of us can pick up packaging that lies on the street. And each one of us can use a broom to clean up in front of our houses. In addition, everyone can clean windows of houses and apartments we live in. All of us can do something to help keep the community clean. In this regard, I told him about Clean up day in Switzerland, during which everyone can help to make spaces a little cleaner.
Very positive in Mahabalipuram is that it is clean close to the water. This makes it a pleasure to take a walk there.
How was it in South India? People asked me this question after returning to Switzerland in March. It is difficult for me to answer this question in one or two sentences. Why? Because visiting South India, I experienced that life is lived differently in comparison with the way life is lived in Denmark, where I grew up, and Switzerland, where I have lived since 2006. Here are some examples:
TOPICA: PEOPLE ANDFAMILYISSUES
Example # 1: People, who live in South India, are, on average, lesstallandslimmer than people, who live in Europe. The difference became very obvious to me as I walked through the streets of Chennai, Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry.
Example # 2: The skin colour of many people, who live in South India, is, in general, very dark. As the skincolour of many people, who come from Europe, is, in general, quite bright, one quickly notices a difference as to who comes from where.
Example # 3: I observed that in South India, primarily womendohouseholdtasks such as buying groceries, cooking, serving food, cleaning the dishes, washing clothes and cleaning houses. It is, I noticed, also primarily women who clean both small streets and large roads. In Denmark and Switzerland, I experience that both women and men do household tasks and other work.
Example # 4: Working with people, who come from Sri Lanka, I learned it is quite normal that parents and grandparents help find the future wife or husband of their son or daughter. And when this happens, a wedding is an important event. Living in Europe, I am more used to people deciding themselves, whom they would like to go out with and perhaps later live with. Reflecting on life in large parts of Europe, I have the impression that falling in love is the basis / the foundation / the start of relationships. In South India, this does not seem to be the case, which was and still is difficult for me to understand.
TOPICB: FOOD
Example # 1: Food in South India is – I find – delicious, healthy, spicy and different from the food I know from Europe. For example, many different chutneys are often served with rice, vegetables, fruit and/or different kinds of bread such as naan or chapati. I noticed that there are many vegetarian restaurants in South India.
Example # 2: In South India, I saw many small shops that sell food directly on the street. For example, I sometimes bought samosa and vada from street food stands. Many Indians do that as well and simply stand at the side of the street when they eat.
Example # 3: I noticed that Tamil people like to eat a warm meal both in the morning, at lunch and for dinner. In Europe, I am used to eating primarily cold food in the morning and at lunch.
Example # 4: I noticed that when people, who live in South India, eat, it is quite normal that waterandtincups are on the table. In this regard, I noticed that some people in South India prefer to drink warm water. Some people ask for a bottle of cold water from the refrigerator.
Example # 5: In South India, I saw noone drinking wine, beer or other alcohol.
Example # 6: In South India, I noticed that, in general, water is not purified. I noticed that some homes and businesses have water purifying machines, which filter and clean water, so the water becomes drinkable. For people, who live or work at places with no direct access to purified water, there are water reservoirs in certain public where people can collect purified water. In Mahabalipuram, for example, I saw people collecting water early in the morning at different water reservoirs.
Example # 7: When you ask for a cup of coffee in South India, you will get a cup of coffee with milk and quite a lot of sugar served in a tin cup or a small tall glass. This is different from coffee in Europe, where I experience that more black coffee is served, and coffee is often served in a mug or a cup.
Example # 8: Among my favourite food experiences in South was enjoying fruitjuice at one of the many fruit juice shops on the street. I tried fruit juice and lassis with, for example, mango, papaya, strawberry and pineapple. It is all delicious.
Example # 9: The way people eat food in South India is different from how people eat food in Europe. I noticed that people, who live in South India, like to use their right hand to eat. Also, they use – as plate – a plate with tall sides or a leave from a banana tree.
Example # 1: Clothes worn by women, who live in South India, are extraordinarily colourful. Many women wear a saree. The colourfulclothes in combination with the dark skin of Tamil people are, to me, a fantastic display of diversity and beauty.
Example # 2: In South India, I experienced that nearly all women wear sarees with much cloth. And many men wear longtrousers – even when outside temperatures climb over 30 degrees celsius. In Europe, I experience that when outside temperatures are so high, most people wear shorts or light dresses.
Example # 3: Considering that much waste is lying around on roads and/or on the sides of roads in South India, I was surprised to see that many people, who live in South India, walk around in barefeet or in sandals/flipflops. This stands in strong contrast to most countries in Europe, where I see people wearing both socks and shoes.
TOPICD: SAFETY AND SECURITY
Example 1: In South India, there seems to me less strict rules for safe working conditions / living conditions than in Europe. For example, I saw a large number of people driving motorcycles without using helmets. I also saw many people driving in the middle of the road with little respect for road lanes or other people. And I saw construction workers making buildings withoutusingsafetyequipment.
Example # 2: In South India, I was surprised to see more securityofficers than I recall seeing in Europe. For example, I saw a large number of security officers at hotels, schools, universities, airport, shops and banks.
TOPIC E: INFRASTRUCTURE, VEHICLESANDTRAFFIC
Example # 1: In South India, issues related to electricity surprised me negatively. For example, I was surprised to see cables hanging outside of buildings. Also, I was surprised to experience – both in shops as well as in homes – that the power went out on more occasions.
Example # 2: In South India I experienced that in many locations, there are no sidewalks. In other places, the quality of sidewalks is low. In addition, I saw few intersections where people, who walk, can cross the street safely. Also, I very rarely saw bicyclepaths in South India. Comparing this to the very heavy traffic in South Indian cities like Chennai and Pondicherry, it is, in general, quite challenging to walk or drive a bicycle on streets there. This stands in strong contrast to most countries in Europe, where both sidewalks and bicycle lanes are common.
Example # 3: Vehicles, which people use in South India, are different from vehicles people use in Europe. In South India, many people use scooters and motorcycles to get from A to B. What surprised me a lot is that I saw very few electric vehicles. What also surprised me is that several trains and buses in South India do not have windows and drive around with open doors. What I also noticed is that the space in buses and trains is very tight. People sit and stand very close to each other. Very positive in Chennai is the Chennai metro which is of similar quality as metros in Dubai and European cities.
Example # 4: In India, people drive on the left side of the road. This is contrary to most European countries where people drive on the right side of the road. It takes some time to get used to this difference. In particular, it is a challenge when crossing the road. Getting used to first looking to the right when crossing the street in South India, was, I found, more difficult to get used to than I thought.
Example # 5: The traffic in South India is very different from the traffic in Europe. First of all, I experience that there are more vehicles on the road in South Indian cities like Chennai and Pondicherry than in cities in Europe. Secondly, it surprised me that people in South India use the horn a lot when they drive from A to B.
TOPIC F: COMMUNICATION
Example # 1: I learned that there are many languages in India and many more local dialects. I also found out that people, who speak one language, often do not understand people, who speak another language. For example, people in Tamil Nadu, who speak Tamil, cannot understand people in the neighbouring state Andra Pradesh, who speak Telugu. And they can also not understand people, who live in the North and speak languages such as Hindi, Urdu or Bengal. In many countries across Europe, I experienced that people speak one or two other languages besides their their mother tongue.
Example # 2: In South India, I experienced that people greet each other in different ways than people greet each other in Europe. For example, I experienced that some people greet each other by holding their right hand to their heart, looking people in the eyes and smiling. Others greet each other using the namaste method.
Example # 3: I experienced that many Tamilpeople communicate kindly with others. I experienced that in several situations, for example during a conversation with a family and a school leader in Pondicherry. In general, people, who live in South India, treat each other with respect and friendliness. People are humble and like to smile. In their communication with people from Europe, Tamil people are polite, for example by using the expression “Sir” and wishing to serve.
Example # 4: In South India, I had many good conversations with people. Many conversations happened spontaneously. I experienced that many people, who live in South India, like to strike up a conversation with other people – including with people they do not know. In Chennai, Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry, I got into conversationswithseveralpeople on streets, in schools and colleges as well as in restaurants. An example from Pondicherry. And another example from the SIPCOT area in Chennai. I felt that many people, who live in South India, function through connecting and talking. Communicating is life for many people. In other words, connecting and communicating is, I experienced, the starting point for helping to satisfy many other needs, people have. In this regard, I see a difference to life in many countries across Europe. In Europe, I experience that people will, to a much lesser degree than in South India, spontaneously strike up conversations with people, they know. I experience that in Europe, many people will work out a lot of things on their own, for example through self service and reading. Living independently and alone a large part of the time is, I experience, for many people in Europe, the norm.
Example # 5: In South India, I experience that people, who sell products or services, will often proactively and directlyaskpeople, who walk on the street, to buy what they sell. I experienced some times that saying “no, thanks” will often help little. Many will keep asking you to buy. This relatively aggressive form of selling as well as the frequent use of the horn in traffic stands in contrast to the friendly way that many Tamil people communicate. For me, it created a relatively high degree of stress and sometimes lead to the decision not to go out.
TOPIC G: FAITH
Example # 1: People, who belong to Hinduism, believe in manyGods such as Vishnu and Ganesha, whereas for Christians, I understand that there is only one God.
Example # 2: Hindu temples look different from churches I know from Europe. Firstly, I l learned that Hindu temples are often much older than churches in Europe. In fact, some temples are more than a thousand years old. Secondly, an extraordinary number of bright colours are used to paint temples. A third point I have noticed is that people take off their shoes when they enter the temple. A fourth point I learned is that worshipping is also done outside. In Europe, I experienced that worshipping is often done inside.
Example # 3: In Chennai and Pondicherry, it surprised me to hear people driving through the streets several times a day callingoutrelativelyloud various verses / sentences. The first time was in the morning before 6 o’clock. Hearing this, I came to think about – as comparison – church bells in churches in Europe.
Example # 1: In South India, I noticed that some people go to the bathroom right in nature. For example, several men pee at the side of the road. Also, there are people who squat not far from the side of the road and leave their shit there. This created a disgusting smell – not least due to the high temperatures.
Example # 2: In Europe I am used to using toilet paper when I go to the toilet. Toilet paper is used little in South India. Many people, who live in South India, use water and the left hand to clean their body after having been to the toilet.
Example # 3: In the relatively few modern homes and companies in South India, there are ventilationsystems, which efficiently and quietly create a good air quality. An example of a place with great air quality is the departures area of Chennai airport. However, in most homes and companies in South India, there are primarily fans and / or air-condition devices. Both fans and air-condition systems create a relatively high degree of noise. In Europe, where the temperatures are lower than in South India, the need for fans and air-condition systems is also lower. Thereby, several homes and companies in Europe are more quiet.
Example # 4: Recycling of packaging and other material is something, which is important throughout many countries in Europe. In South India, I saw surprisingly fewrecyclinginitiatives. In combination with the high temperatures, the astonishing lack of recycling solutions in South India becomes not only an aesthetic problem but, more importantly, a health problem as well as an environmental problem. The need for improving recycling in South India is, I experienced, very large.
Example # 1: In South India, I saw veryfewsupermarkets. People sell and buy groceries on the street, for example by laying fruits and vegetables on a blanket placed right at the side of the street. Along the street in cities in South India, there are also many small and simple shops where people sell different products.
Example # 2: In Europe, I have become used to quite a lot of self service, for example through the use of various websites and apps. In South India, I experienced the opposite. An example: When you buy fruit and vegetables in supermarkets, there are people who weigh the fruit and vegetables, print out a sticker and put it on the products. In several supermarkets across Europe, I experience that customers do that themselves.
TOPICJ: GEOGRAPHY
Example # 1: The timedifference between Central European time (CET) and the time in India is 4½ hours. Going from Europe to India I did not experience any problem adapting to the time difference. However, the first week after returning to Europe from India, I experienced that I woke up in the middle of the night and was wide awake.
Example # 2: In South India, temperaturesarehigh throughout the entire year, and the sun is strong. That makes it important, I experienced, to have a plan for where to go, when you go out. Why? Because after less than an hour you will feel the need for being in a cool place.
Today, I had a pizza at the Marina Mall in Chennai. Afterwards, I took a little walk around the impressive mall to have a look at some of the many different shops in the mall. At some point, I got into a conversation with the franchisee of Skechers. We had a very interesting chat. Here are some of the questions I asked him and how I recall that he responded:
Question # 1: How did you get to work here? What is your story? His answer: I come from Nagaland in the North Eastern part of India. I came to Chennai to study. When I started working for Skechers after finishing an MBA education, I first worked in the back office. My responsibility grew, and now I am the franchisee of five Skechers shops in Chennai.
Question # 2: Some months ago, I bought a pair of Skechers at a shop (Dosenbach) in Zürich in Switzerland. I find the shoes I bought very comfortable, and I use them often. What are examples of good experiences you have had working for Skechers? His answer: When Skechers came to India, it took off. The shoes are popular among people. There are customers who come back three years after they have bought a pair of shoes – saying that they would like to buy a pair similar to the ones they have worn out.
Question # 3: How do you like to work? How do you lead? His response: I like to be present. I talk to both customers and people, who work here. I try to understand needs people have. I learn a lot from communicating with people.
Question # 4: What is another example of a good experience you have had working in retail? His answer: In my career, I have worked with a variety of companies, for example Jack & Jones and H&M. I like the culture of Jack & Jones a lot. I experienced that freedom is an important part of the organization’s culture. Also, I have the impression that happiness is a goal for Jack & Jones. When people are happy, things will work out fine.
Question # 5: I experience that food is cheaper in Chennai than in many places in Europe. However, I experience that price of shoes such as Skechers are at about the same level as the price of shoes in many places in Europe. What is the reason for this? His answer: People, who live here in Chennai, both make and sell food. Skechers is an American company. The shoes are produced in three countries in Asia outside of India. [I think he said China, Mongolia as well as Vietnam or Thailand.]
Question # 6: The Marina Mall is a beautiful mall with several impressive shops. I notice that the street outside of the mall going from North to South is a very busy street. There is a large number of cars and scooters on the road making quite a lot of noise in the neighbourhood. And I see quite a lot of lying at the side of the road. What is being done to improve the infrastructure? His answer: The metro is being built out, and it will surely also come to this place. In Less than five years, the road was relatively small. And on the side of the road there were practically no buildings. People were fishing and doing some farming. Within 5 years, this place has grown at tremendous speed – experiencing a strong growth in both the number of shops as well as well as the number of cars and scooters driving through the area. The government has difficulty keeping up, for example regarding 1) cleaning roads, 2) ensuring that metro / buses / trains are improved, 3) enabling that more electric vehicles are used and 4) enabling that more clean energy such as wind energy and solar energy is developed and produced.
Inspiration to create 