Travel broadens one's horizons" is an oft-heard maxim. Precisely how travel accomplishes this varies from individual to individual depending on ambition, talent and agenda. But I believe that exploring the world results in personal growth because of the challenges associated with leaving home, temporarily or permanently.

India is among the world's largest countries and enjoys immense cultural and geographical variety. Yet, Indians continue to travel and live outside the country to explore and enjoy new opportunities in education and for professional development. While these opportunities are indeed remarkable, they are replete with challenges. That so many Indians excel as expatriates suggests that there are certain cultural resources, perhaps unique to Indians, that enable them to succeed while living away from home.

At the Kellogg School of Management, many of the top students and faculty are Indians. In my view, among the factors contributing to their success and that of the other Indian expatriates is the Indian educational system that serves as an excellent foundation. Because of the rigours of the schooling system, the Indians who pursue careers or education elsewhere are already the "cream of the crop". They undergo considerable scrutiny to advance through the Indian system and entering foreign universities again requires intense examination. Those who meet these high standards demonstrate the impressive intellectual skills that offer them powerful resources.

But Indians have other qualities as well. We are by nature competitive, with a desire to achieve respect and recognition. We are also adaptable and eager to make significant contributions wherever we go. We mix well with other cultures, bringing our own values to the new context as well as the understanding to adjust comfortably in the new landscape without ignoring our sanskar. This ability to adapt is rare and Indians as a group do it well. The challenge for us is to preserve our cultural heritage and values while providing mentorship to the new generation of Indians. Likewise, we are called upon to contribute both to our adopted country and to our homeland.

Among the values and traits Indians carry with them is a caring, compassionate nature. This compassion enables us to understand and relate better to those around us, regardless of the context. In turn, people from the other cultures tend to respond warmly, inviting Indians as trusted friends and associates. Our innate sincerity and earnestness also contribute to our success, allowing us to take important initiatives knowing that we will try our best to excel.

When we fall short of our ideals, we are also the first to notice-and to seek ways to learn from the experience so that we can improve in the future. The Indian culture tends to reinforce this sense of introspection and self-criticism. We evaluate ourselves before others evaluate us. For instance, whenever I lead a classroom discussion, I pay close attention to the students' responses and the overall dynamics of the interaction. When the class concludes, I almost immediately assess my own performance, noting areas where I appeared to "connect" with my students and communicated the lesson effectively, as well as those areas where I might consider modifying my approach to the subject. As a result, my efforts continue to improve. Or so I hope.

Just as Indians tend to be self-critical, so do we tend to remain open to feedback. As a result we can use this ability to hone our skills, further adapting to our environment. This trait, coupled with a strong, innate sense of loyalty to the communities and organisations to which we belong, enables us to feel comfortable taking on responsibilities and risks that others might avoid.

These, then, are some of the traits that enable Indians to make meaningful contributions whether at home or thousands of miles away from our birthplace. Indeed, if we consider "home" to be more than a matter of geography-a psychological landscape as well-we discover that many Indians remain "at home" wherever they go.

Dipak C. Jain is Dean of the Kellogg School of Management, USA