How do two people witness the exact same event and walk away with completely different conclusions? In this final episode of the LDRS 7163 podcast, Hedley Pelletier & Wilmose Kiplagat explore the Ladder of Inference—one of the most practical and transformative mental models for understanding communication, conflict, and intercultural relationships. Through personal stories, thoughtful dialogue, and leadership insights, they unpack how our experiences, cultures, and communities shape the assumptions we make long before we realize we're making them. Along the way, they connect the Ladder of Inference with Deardorff's Process Model, Erin Meyer's Culture Map, Cultural Intelligence (CQ), and the African philosophy of Ubuntu, demonstrating how these frameworks work together to cultivate humility, curiosity, and intercultural competence. Whether you're a leader, educator, minister, or lifelong learner, this episode offers practical tools to help you slow down, challenge your assumptions, and better understand the people around you. Join us for this fitting conclusion to our seven-week journey as we learn to "check our own rungs" before climbing too high.

Listen to Episode #6 of the LDRS 7163 podcast, A Dissertation on CQ w/ Dr. Davidson

Welcome to Episode #5 of the LDRS 7163 Podcast. Conflict is an unavoidable reality of organizational life, especially in culturally diverse environments where individuals bring different values, perspectives, communication styles, and worldviews to the table. In this episode, doctoral students Dylan and Okesi explore the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI), one of the most widely used frameworks for understanding conflict management styles. Together, they examine the origins of the model, the five conflict modes: Competing, Collaborating, Compromising, Avoiding, and Accommodating and the strengths and limitations of the instrument. The discussion also explores the relationship between cultural humility and conflict resolution, highlighting the importance of self-awareness, adaptability, and intercultural competence for effective leadership in diverse settings. As you listen, you will be invited to reflect on your own preferred conflict style and consider how wise leaders navigate disagreement, build trust, and foster understanding across cultural differences. Whether you are a leader, educator, counselor, minister, or organizational practitioner, this conversation offers practical insights into managing conflict and leading effectively in an increasingly interconnected world.

In Episode #4 of the LDRS 7163 Podcast, doctoral students Pamela Mundi and Nicholas Wambedde explore Darla Deardorff's influential Pyramid Model of Intercultural Competence and tackle a question every global leader must face: What does it truly take to communicate and behave effectively across cultures?

In Episode #3 of the LDRS 7163 Podcast, cohort members Emory Quince and Deborah Porter lead a thoughtful and engaging conversation about the GLOBE Leadership Study, intercultural leadership, and what it means to lead effectively across cultures.

Listen to Episode #2 of the LDRS 7163. This is an incredible conversation with cohort member Christopher Suder about Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions and how this tool can be helpful for leaders working in diverse cultural contexts. 

Welcome to the first episode of the LDRS 7163 Podcast with Dr. John Mark Davidson. In this episode, Dr. Davidson introduces the Intercultural Development Continuum (IDC), a framework that helps us better understand how people experience and respond to cultural difference. This episode lays the foundation for the course by challenging students to examine their own cultural lenses and consider how worldview shapes communication, leadership, and relationships in an increasingly interconnected world.

For the FINAL episode of the LDRS 7163 podcast listen to a conversation with Dr. Davidson's father, Kelly Davidson on the Ladder of Inference and its implications for leaders working in diverse cultural contexts.

Listen to a conversation with Dr. Tonya Ensign and Dr.John Mark Davidson about Dr. Davidson's Dissertation on the Development of Cultural Intelligence among young people. 

Listen in on another great episode on the LDRS 7163 podcast. For this episode, cohort member, Clinton Okanga shares insights on the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict model and its implications for global leaders.