Episode 62 – Kara Ronin: Becoming a global citizen through cultural understanding. [PODCAST]

Today’s episode will be a great tool to expand your understanding of global things and the people who shape them. David’s guest today is Kara Ronin, an Australian entrepreneur, social skills expert, and founder of Executive Impressions. Kara is passionate about teaching people the social skills so they can thrive in any business or social situation, and in any country. Kara has spent over 10 years living an international life in Japan, the USA, and Europe including Tokyo, New York, and Lyon. She speaks Japanese as well as French. Kara’s background is in marketing and finance, and she holds a Master of Accounting degree. This fascinating conversation is aimed at helping you get a better view of what is expected in various cultures of the world, and why it matters that you learn the ways of other people.

How life experience has turned into a lucrative business.

At one stage Kara Ronin moved countries or cities every year for 10 years straight. Now she is living in France just two hours from the French Alps where she took a leap of faith and created her own business. It’s her experience in a wide array of cultures that gave her the awareness of the need for business travelers to be taught cultural sensitivity and that gave her the skills to be the one to equip them. Listen carefully as Kara shares her experience and the way it’s enabled her to help high level companies make greater inroads into cultures all over the world.

Do you have the potential of expanding your company to span the globe?

If so, you really need to hear this episode of the show. Kara Ronin is an expert in international business and cultural differences and provides some great insight into the reasons trans-cultural tensions often exist in business. She also gives quite a few tips about how you can avoid being the one to offend. Her advice includes mindset tips, how to learn to understand a culture, and how to move in gently as you get to understand the lay of the land. Be sure to listen to this episode to get all those tips and more!

The first steps into another culture begin in your head.

The very first thing Kara Ronin suggests for those wanting to get to know a different culture is to come to the realization that your culture is not “right.” Cultures exist because people in different parts of the world adapted to their environment and surroundings. They build what was best for them in that setting and it has worked very well for them for thousands of years. Your culture is the same. As you approach cultures different than yours from a standpoint of seeking to understand why the culture is the way it is, doors of knowledge and growth will open up to you. Be sure to listen to this conversation, it’s very intriguing.

A challenge to stretch your cultural understanding.

Cultures don’t only exist across borders or across the world. There are likely very distinct cultures that exists just miles away from you. If you would take the time to investigate, you’d likely find another ethnic or social culture right down the street that you could begin to explore and get to know. Take the time. Find the culture. Begin a conversation where you ask questions for the sake of understanding. As you make friends with the people in a culture that was once foreign to you, you’ll discover a very rich world of understanding and love.

Outline of this great episode

[0:46] David’s introduction of Kara Ronin and how she became a “global citizen.”

[3:40] Kara’s experience in a variety of cultures and the recent transition from the Japanese culture to the French culture.

[5:43] How cultural differences affect the way you relate to people.

[8:37] What Kara’s company, Executive Impressions, provides for their clients.

[10:50] David’s experience with cultural differences in the network marketing field.