Rupa Thakrar on Culture, Coffee & Keeping It Lagom

Some conversations just flow. This was one of them.

For episode 21 of Season 2, I sat down with Rupa Thakrar Bagoon, Market Manager Bangalore at Business Sweden — and honestly, I could have kept the recorder running for hours. Born and raised in Sweden with Indian roots via Uganda via Africa (yes, really), Rupa brings a perspective on culture that is as layered as it gets. We talked Swedish Fika, Lagom, Påtår, multigenerational workforces, and why culture will always eat strategy for breakfast. Oh, and she brought me coffee from a brand new spot on Lavelle Road. Great start to the day.

What stood out:

Culture is not a soft topic. Rupa put it plainly: people massively underestimate how much culture shapes the way business actually works. She shared the story of helping a Swedish pharmaceutical company run cultural workshops — one for their India team at the Swedish Ambassador's residence in Delhi, and another for their European counterparts in Croatia. The result? Teams that actually understood each other.

"Not to say that any culture is right or wrong — but understanding, respecting, and being open to each other's cultures. That is the key."

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Fika is connecting with people on a deeper level. As someone who named a podcast after the concept, I loved hearing Rupa's take as a Swede. She described Fika as the moment when titles disappear and real conversation happens.

"You can learn more about a person during a ten-minute Fika than you would over five formal meetings in a conference room."

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At Business Sweden, she made it official — every Thursday, the whole team gathers, and whoever's turn it is brings the surprise. They've worked through cinnamon buns, cardamom, pistachio, and saffron. Princess cake is apparently still pending. Rupa, we're watching.

Lagom is a life philosophy. Not too much, not too little. Rupa described how she never really noticed how lagom she was until she married someone who absolutely was not. Her words, not mine — but it made for one of the best explanations of the concept I've heard on this show.

The office isn't going anywhere — but neither is hybrid. Coming from someone who genuinely loves being in the office ("I like the vibe, catching up with colleagues"), Rupa was clear that hybrid is here to stay, and for good reason. Especially in a city like Bangalore where commute times can swallow your day whole.

"For some of the new generation, no hybrid is a deal breaker. We are not signing. And I think that makes sense."

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Her take? More tech-enabled workplaces, yes, but with a stronger pull toward human connection on the days people are in. People over places.

One thing I'll keep thinking about

Rupa mentioned that when she takes Swedish companies to meet Indian conglomerates, the message she hears back is simple: be open to learning from us. Don't walk into emerging markets assuming you're ahead. In many ways, you're not.

That's the kind of thing that's easy to nod along to and hard to actually practice. Worth sitting with.

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, share it with a friend, and if you haven't already — go get yourself a proper Påtår.

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