Intercultural Toolbox

Samkelo Blom tells his story and the inspiration for his current business: Nomatu Consulting where he focuses on diversity, inclusion and belonging by coaching teams and leaders out of offices in Cape Town, Joburg and KZN.

3.53 Samkelo's story

His work in the past, his current company, his projects all over Africa and beyond.

5.40 A global D&I thinktank

Samkelo’s Mastermind group meets quarterly and offers participants global exposure.

8.40 Business inspirations

Starting a diversity and inclusion business in South Africa

12.35 South African culture and cultures

Introducing the internal diversity of South Africa

17.24 Advice to organisations starting to work with South Africans

Samkelo's recommendation: One must be confident to ask. To use the words ‘Help me to understand.’ To seek clarity.

20.37 Training in South Africa

Getting a connection before getting to the topic. Considering African diversity and unity.

25.17 South African identity

The continuing impact of South Africa’s painful history. Gender and race in South African workplaces.

30.03 Samkelo’s contribution to the Intercultural Toolbox

A needs analysis with a key question.

https://interculturaltoolbox.org/episodes/layers-of-culture-in-south-africa

We talked about generational divides and how they emerge differently in different cultures. Through Saurabh's own story setting up a training academy with an emphasis on crossing cultures, we hear his observations on the kind of approaches that work well among younger training participants, and some universal principles for connecting across cultures.

03.31 Saurabh’s journey

From computer science into youth work, media and intercultural training.

05.29 Mental health

Why are we seeing such worrying trends in the mental health of younger people?

How the origins may differ in different regions of the world.

7.06 Saurabh steps into the intercultural training field

A childhood exposure to the regional diversity of India.

The Awaji Youth Federation

10.32 Saurabh’s role in the AYF

Creating the AYF training academy

15.05 Do different generations of training participant have different needs?

How American generations don’t apply to Indians

Why it's risky to talk about generations in a multi-cultural training group.

20.48 Saurabh’s work suppporting young Indians

There has been a huge shift in culture for the under 35s in India. Technology and cultural change has opened a wide divide, separating young people from their parents. Many find alternative support from like-minded people across the world.

25.06 Willingness to talk about mental health

The differences within India in the culture of the big metro cities compared to the smaller cities and towns.

Dealing with mental health issues if you are living in a culture where no-one accepts it

The demand and supply of mental health support in Japan.

31.29 When mental health issues impact intercultural training.

Challenges of talking about mental health explicitly.

How to approach the topic in a multicultural group.

Three pillars: 1. Respect, 2. Look for similarity, 3. Look for the human in the other person.

38.04 The risks of labelling

Alternative ways to connect with new people which don’t rely on national labels.

How intercultural training helps us not judge others based on their national identifier.

46.44 Is iGen more interculturally tolerant than earlier generations?

Looking at tolerance as a characteristic of the youngest generation

Delivering intercultural training to young people who are suspicous of cultural categories.

56.44 Ancient wisdom from India: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

India’s long interactions with other cultures.

Why have people been coming to India for enlightenment?

1.05.32 How to connect with Saurabh

Subscribe to his podcast and YouTube channel

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Commenting and liking for interculturalists, plus all the links and tons more at

https://interculturaltoolbox.org/episodes/what-are-the-training-needs-of-the-newest-generation-of-intercultural-training-participants

What myths about France need to be rethought? Is economic life in France bureaucractic and slow?

When people start behaving in a new way, is it a change in the culture or just current events?

In the warm-up for this show, Kathryn shared some tips on understanding the French, so we've included her recommendations in the episode details, including links to books by Stephen Clarke and some TV series.

Episode chapters

3.16 Kathryn's work as an interculturalist

About the kinds of intercultural training and coaching that are common in France

6.05 Myth-busting French culture

Openness to foreigners. In the last 20 years, French workers have become more interested in outside perspectives from their international colleagues.

French bureaucracies are getting interested in customer service.

Food remains an important part of the culture. Going for lunch with colleagues can continues to be a useful way to build trust and solve problems.

11.45 The speed of change

Teletravail (working from home) has been causing a rethink in relationships between managers and workers. Is the change permanent?

16.32 Staying up to date as an interculturalist

We hear about the people and other sources of information uses for staying touch with changing cultures. We also consider the reliability of traditional media for learning about cultures.

25.45 Kathryn's deposit into the Intercultural Toolbox

An energiser which works well in remote training sessions.

27.55 How to get in touch with Kathryn Libiloulle-Clutz

Check Kathryn's page in the Intercultural Toolbox, or just search for her on LinkedIn

https://www.interculturaltoolbox.org/podcast/episodes/how-to-keep-up-to-date-when-cultures-change

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynclutz/