When I moved from Costa Rica to Berlin, Germany, to join Novanta a year and a half ago, I was excited for a new adventure. What I did not expect was how meaningful it would be to one day stand in front of coworkers and share a piece of home with them.
Recently, I had the opportunity to host a Costa Rica-themed event through our Multicultural employee resource group (ERG). What began as a cultural presentation became a powerful reminder of how much it means to feel seen, valued, and connected when you are far from home.
Sharing More Than Facts
The idea came through the Multicultural ERG, which creates opportunities for employees to learn about one another’s cultures and experiences. When I was asked to present on Costa Rica, I immediately said yes.
I wanted to give people more than information. I wanted to share the culture, values, and experiences that have shaped who I am.
The event featured Costa Rican food, coffee, music, trivia, and stories about our traditions, biodiversity, lifestyle, and growing medical device industry. We talked about everything from volcanoes and wildlife to the values that influence daily life in Costa Rica.
What surprised me most was not the presentation itself. It was the genuine curiosity and engagement from everyone who attended.
Seeing Home Through New Eyes
One of the most meaningful moments was seeing the Costa Rican flag displayed in the office. I never realized how proud it would make me feel until I saw it hanging there in my new workplace in Berlin.
Back home, I never worked in a multicultural environment. Most people around me were Costa Rican, so I never thought much about what it meant to represent my country.
After the presentation, employees stayed to ask questions and continued the conversation through Teams messages. Some shared memories of visiting Costa Rica. Others told me they had learned things that challenged assumptions they previously held about the country and its people.
Those conversations reminded me that cultural understanding often starts with something simple: curiosity.
More Than a Presentation
One topic that sparked particular interest was Costa Rica’s “Pura Vida” philosophy.
While it literally translates to “pure life,” Pura Vida is really a way of approaching life with gratitude, optimism, and perspective. It encourages us to focus on what matters most and not let every challenge consume our energy.
It was fun to hear people’s reactions. Some joked that they needed more Pura Vida in their lives, while others said they felt more relaxed just hearing about it.
More importantly, the event created opportunities for connection beyond our day-to-day work. It gave us a chance to learn about one another as people, not just coworkers.
Why These Moments Matter
That sense of connection is exactly why the Multicultural ERG exists.
For Sirine Mrabet, System Verification Manager for Medical Devices Advanced Surgery and a member of the Multicultural ERG leadership team, cultural exchange plays an important role in helping employees feel they belong. In a highly international site like Berlin, creating opportunities to learn from one another helps employees appreciate different perspectives, embrace cultural differences, and feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.
Her perspective resonated deeply with me because it reflected exactly what I experienced during the event.
Building One Novanta Through Culture
The event attracted even more employees than expected. People joined spontaneously, the food disappeared quickly, and conversations continued long after the presentation ended.
The timing made the event especially meaningful. With Riverpoint Medical now part of our company and bringing a Costa Rica presence into our growing global organization, it was exciting to share another dimension of the country and highlight the talent, innovation, and opportunities that exist there.
Perhaps the greatest measure of success was hearing my coworkers express interest in sharing their own cultures at future ERG events.
To me, that is what One Novanta looks like.
It is more than working together across locations and functions. It is taking the time to understand one another and value different perspectives, creating an environment where everyone feels they belong.
I came to the event hoping to teach people something about Costa Rica. I left feeling even more connected to our global community.
By Pilar Herrera, Tech Center Sterilization Medical Product Manager