Karma, Meritocracy, and More. Where Indian and U.S. Business Culture Overlap

by Adam Raelson:

Discussions about business culture often focus on regional differences, but this time, we’d like to explore a seemingly unlikely similarity: how certain core cultural values align strikingly to drive professional success in India and the United States. One of the most significant overlaps in these two cultural models is the belief that individual effort shapes outcomes, a principle deeply embedded in both Hindu philosophy and U.S. American workplace culture.

This is not an economic or religious analysis. Instead, we explore how certain cultural dimensions in India, based on Hinduism, and United States business culture align. It is worth noting that not everyone in India is Hindu, as India is a multiethnic, multi-religious country. However, we cannot ignore that Hindu philosophies have shaped Indian civilization for thousands of years. It’s also worth noting that both countries do face their own significant economic and societal transformations and continued challenges in the present day.

1. Karma and Meritocracy: Action Determines Outcome

In Hindu philosophy, karma is the principle that every action has consequences, shaping an individual’s present and future circumstances. It reinforces personal responsibility and the belief that effort and integrity influence one’s destiny.

Capitalism, particularly in its American form, is deeply rooted in meritocracy, the idea that individuals succeed based on talent, effort, and results. The idealized “self-made” entrepreneur narrative in U.S. American culture reflects this belief that hard work and personal decisions dictate one’s success or failure.

While karma operates across lifetimes and meritocracy within an individual’s single career span, both systems emphasize that it’s one’s own actions, which determine outcomes.

2. Dharma and the Pursuit of Success

Hinduism recognizes four major goals in life (purusharthas), one of which is artha, the pursuit of material success and wealth. While attachment in general should be kept in check, economic ambition is seen as a necessary part of a balanced life, provided it is pursued ethically and in harmony with one’s duties in life (dharma).

This aligns with the U.S. American cultural ideal of one’s own wealth creation, innovation, and economic pursuit. While some cultures view financial ambition with skepticism, both Hindu philosophy and U.S. American-style capitalism recognize and celebrate the role of prosperity in human fulfillment.

3. Unpredictability, Innovation, and Jugaad

U.S. American culture is a culture that tends to be more open to unpredictability within the context of the Western world. U.S. American-style capitalism thrives on innovation, risk-taking, and adaptability to ever-changing markets. U.S. American business culture celebrates and rewards those who disrupt traditional models and find new ways to create value.

In India, a parallel concept exists, but it’s called: jugaad. Jugaad is a frugal, resourceful approach to problem-solving. Whether navigating India’s complex bureaucracy or creating cost-effective solutions in a global corporation, jugaad reflects a complete openness to unconventional thinking, no matter how quirky or creative, and contributes to making Indian culture among the most open to unpredictability in the world. It reflects a concept where a country with tremendous human capital and resource deficiencies can still manage an outcome.

India and the United States: A Deeply Intertwined Relationship

Given these shared cultural values, it is no surprise that the U.S. and India maintain a long and fruitful economic relationship. Hundreds of American companies operate in India, providing jobs to millions of people, while Indian professionals have played a significant role in shaping American business and innovation. Many Indian-born executives have risen to leadership positions in major U.S. companies, including CEOs Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Sundar Pichai (Google), and Indra Nooyi (PepsiCo).

Final Thoughts

Despite many other cultural nuances, this continuous, seemingly natural exchange of talent and investment reflects the deep alignment in how both Indian and U.S. American cultures approach success, effort, and leadership.

By recognizing not only where cultures differentiate, but rather, where they overlap, businesses and individuals can better leverage common ground to build stronger, more effective cross-cultural relationships.

Whether through the principle of karma or the belief in individual effort through meritocracy to shape one’s career, both philosophies reinforce a simple yet powerful idea: what you do matters.

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Adam Raelson is an American communication leader, owner of CultureComms Consulting, and is based in Prague, Czech Republic. He is a Stratrgic Columnist and a #WeLeadComms honoree.

Written by: Editor