Summary

In this episode I Interview Richard Hill.

Richard is the author of "We Europeans" (1992), "Euromanagers & Martians", "The Art of being Belgian", "Great Britain Little England" and a number of other books.

Learn how Richard explains why (he thinks) the French are an "autistic" nation (don't worry, he nuances it to "self absorbed" later in an excellent story!

And why the Belgians are an unassertive and pragmatic people who have a developed way to compromise.

And finally why the European Commission (EC) is not paying as much attention to cultural difference as they should.

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

Links

You can reach Richard Hill in a couple of ways:

Mobile phone: +32 470 305677

Landline: +32 2 343 77 26

Email: [email protected]

Website:

Books by Richard

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voice mail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, maybe even listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

About This Weeks Guest

John Amaechi is a psychologist, New York Times bestselling author and former NBA basketball player. All this united in one person? Yes! and with 6' 4" he not only physically stands tall, but also when it comes to his view on sports, business and other international matters.

His 3 tips for becoming more culturally competent are:

Be mindful towards other cultures

Approach different cultures with a Benevolent Ignorance

The previous point combined with an "I would like to get to know you" attitude

Interview Links

Links that are mentioned in this episode:

Website: http://www.johnamaechi.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JohnAmaechi

Website: http://beijinglegacyblog.com/Welcome.html

Website: http://amaechiperformance.com

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

 

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voicemail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, and to listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

About This Weeks Guest

Karen Smits is an international expert on Organizational Anthropology.

She finished her Ph.D. in Social Sciences on cross-cultural collaboration in mega projects, for which she had the opportunity to gather data in the Panama Canal Expansion Program.

Her Ph.D. thesis titled Cross Culture Work receives a lot of attention in the project management community, and beyond.

Based in São Paulo, Brazil, Karen is active as a Business Culture Consultant in the Latin America region.

She supports companies and employees in developing cross-cultural collaboration, organizational change and growth initiatives.

She is often invited to speak about her research outcomes and facilitates workshops on culture and collaboration in the work place.

Her 3 tips for becoming more culturally competent are:

Have an Open Mind; Know your own culture and be able to understand the "other" culture.

Adapt & Adjust; Or go with the flow. If someone is late for a meeting don't get (too) upset.

Language; be aware that not everyone can express themselves in a foreign language as well as you might be able to do.

Interview Links

Links that are mentioned in this episode:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://crossculturework.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Karen_Smits

LinkedIn: br.linkedin.com/in/ksmits

Karen's Book (Cross Culture Work: Practices of Collaboration in the Panama Canal Expansion Program) is available here: www.exedrabooks.com/libro/cross-culture-work_47711

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

 

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voicemail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, and to listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

 

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voicemail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, and to listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

About This Weeks Guest

Josh & Erin from travelwithbender.com have been travelling with their two children since May 2012.

It’s an open-ended, unplanned, round-the-world trip discovering amazing places for families.

They have stayed in hostels and 5 star luxury resorts, travelled on scooters and cruise liners, danced with leprechauns and cuddled tigers.

Nothing is out of bounds or out of reach for this remarkable Australian family.

Their 3 tips for becoming more culturally competent are:

Make sure you learn a handful of words in the local language. Just a couple is enough. It shows that you care and that you're trying.

Do try the local food. If you can, try some street food. Otherwise do a bit of research. On their website you can find a great post about getting local food in New Orleans.

Hang out with the locals. The Benders do this at the playgrounds where their kids play. Even if you don't speak the language you will get to know the local culture better.

Interview Links

Links that are mentioned in this episode:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://travelwithbender.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TravelwiTBender (notice that the H is missing!)

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

 

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voicemail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, and to listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

 

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voicemail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, and to listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

Summary

In this episode I Interview Anis Bedda.

Anis is an independent consultant in the areas of business development, communication and innovation related projects. A partner of Global enterprise and ex-manager at Hub Brussels.

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

Links

Specific links and or resources that are mentioned in this episode are:

Cultural Detective; a practical approach to cultural differences.

Peace and food

Peace and food… Part II

You can reach Anis in a couple of ways:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @anisb

LinkedIn: be.linkedin.com/in/anisbedda

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voice mail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, maybe even listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

About This Weeks Guest

Alfredo Roach

Alfredo is a program and project management professional, and seasoned civil engineer with fifteen years of combined design, construction and contract management experience.

His 3 tips for becoming more culturally competent are:

You need to get infected with education about what's going on in the world.

Make your project management more mature; Ask yourself what your cultural maturity level is. You need to plan for culture as much as you need to plan other technical aspects of project management.

Humanize project management; Make it part of your routing & plan for being flexible when executing a project.

Interview Links

Links that are mentioned in this episode:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: http://twitter.com/alfredocecilio

LinkedIn: http://pa.linkedin.com/in/alfredocecilio

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

 

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voicemail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, and to listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

 

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voicemail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, and to listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

About This Weeks Guest

Alexander McNabb

Alexander McNabb is a publishing, digital media and communications consultant based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In his spare time he writes thriller novels.

His 3 tips for becoming more culturally competent are:

Live with the local people

Eat with the local people (so, if possible, avoid the big restaurants and chains)

Socialize with the local people

Interview Links

Links that are mentioned in this episode:

http://twitter.com/AlexanderMcNabb 

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

 

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voicemail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, and to listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

 

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voicemail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, and to listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

About This Weeks Guest

Stephen Frost

Stephen Frost is Head of Diversity and Inclusion for KPMG UK. He served as Head of Diversity and Inclusion for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games from 2007-2012. He was educated as a Hertford College Scholar at Oxford University and a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard University. He also teaches inclusive leadership at Harvard Business School and an extended class at Sciences Po in Paris. He advises several organisations and governments worldwide and is author of the book The Inclusion Imperative.

His 3 tips for becoming more culturally competent are:

Listen (also make sure you listen to people that are usually quiet); we don't have all the answers, and if you listen, you hear more.

Take Risks: many people are too afraid to take the plunge. Simply do what you intend to do.

Relax "into it"; meaning that you sometimes need to go with the flow and see what happens.

Interview Links

Links that are mentioned in this episode:

Website: http://frostincluded.com

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/frostincluded

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenjamesfrost/

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voicemail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, and to listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voicemail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, and to listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

About This Weeks Guest

Kiran Beersing-Vasquez

A 20-year-old student of mixed background. Born in the UK and moved to Belgium at age 9.  Attended an international school in Brussels, which had 9 different language sections, and students from all over the world with similarly mixed origins. Now back in the UK and on his Year in Industry, in a Mechanical Engineering degree. Mother and Father originate from Guatemala and Mauritius respectively.

His 3 tips for becoming more culturally competent are:

Take as much interest as you can, and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Approach things from a neutral perspective as much as possible.

It's OK to be ignorant, as long as you try to understand the other culture.

Interview Links

Links that are mentioned in this episode:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiransbv/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/kiranbv94

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voicemail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, and to listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voicemail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, and to listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

Summary

Welcome to the Culture Matters Podcast Introduction Episode.

Build Your Cultural Competence

In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories.

Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories.

To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here.

Links

If there would be any links mentioned in this episode, they would be here. But since this is only an introduction session, there are no resources to mention.

How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters

I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this:

Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voice mail

Email me at [email protected]

Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit

Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, maybe even listen to my Podcast.

I hope you will be back for the first official episode where our guest will be Anis Bedda.