As an expert who has investigated cultural diversity in Australia’s hospitality sector, Dr Ashokkumar Manoharan is preparing to present a Meet the Minds online lecture on “Diversity + Inclusion = Competitive Advantage” on Thursday 22 July – so we asked him about his own cultural transition from India to study and work in Australia.

What is your role at Flinders?

I’m a Senior Lecturer in Strategic Management within the College of Business, Government and Law. Before I joined Flinders, I worked in the higher education sector in India and did my PhD in management. My research area includes workforce diversity, migrant workers, diversity management practices and organisational culture in the hospitality context. My current research project includes exploring the career adaptability of migrant workers during the pandemic and examining the culture leadership gap in the hospitality industry. I’m also interested in exploring the support of hospitality industry associations during the COVID-19.

What work journey brought you to this point in your career?

I decided to migrate to Australia in 2007, and had a very clear plan to do my full-time doctorate. The idea of exploring something new and advancing knowledge constantly excited me. After arriving in Australia, however, it took me nearly two and a half years to start my PhD. During this time, my work experience in Australia helped me refocus my research area on workforce diversity. Finally, in 2011, I received the APA scholarship, which enabled me to start my PhD journey.

Can you describe your collaborations?

I’ve extensively collaborated with academics I’ve met during conferences or worked with in the past, both internationally and within Australia. Whom I met during conferences or I worked with them in the past. I have published research papers with international collaborators from the US, France, China, South Korea, and Ireland. Currently, I’m working on projects with collaborators from the US, Japan, Macau, and Pakistan. In Australia, I have collaborated with researchers in Melbourne and Adelaide.

What is a typical day look like for you?

I always have my To-Do List prepared a day before –  research, teaching, administrative works, and supervising HDR students. I’m an early riser, so, most of my days, I start around 3.45am (unless I finish my day as late as 2am). During the early part of the day, I focus on writing my research papers and grant applications. Then, depending on the schedule, the rest of the day is structured for teaching preparations, delivery of lectures, meetings and supervision. I also have a dedicated day for reading research papers.

What has been one of your proudest moments?

I’m fortunate that I have few. I received the APA scholarship in 2011 to pursue my PhD. A leading chain of hotels in Australia implemented the suggestions from my PhD, in which I explained how hotels could benefit from a multicultural workforce. And I’ve enjoyed some wonderful professional acknowledgement; I recently received the College’s Research Excellence Award but was also awarded the Outstanding Achievement by an Early Career Researcher in 2020.

How do you like to relax or spend your spare time?

Walking is a part of my life. The highest hike I completed was in Tibet at an altitude of 22,100 feet above sea level. I like to walk for at least 45 minutes every day and aim for a long walk or hike during the weekends, exploring different beaches and walking trails. During my walks, I like to take photographs and post them on Instagram. I also volunteer my time working with the migrant community organisations.

• To register for Dr Ashokkumar Manoharan’s online Meet the Minds presentation at 12.30pm on Thursday July 22, click here.