The Cultural Quotient | Ideas, tips and stories for developing Cultural Intelligence

What if the biggest breakthroughs in cross-cultural communication aren’t in what’s said but in what’s left unsaid?

In this episode of The Cultural Quotient Podcast, Dr. Catherine and Ting sit down with Professor Wendy Adair, director of the Culture at Work Lab at the University of Waterloo, to unpack the “space in between” in intercultural negotiation.

From clock-oriented vs. event-oriented time to power plays, body language, and the subtle signals we miss, this conversation dives deep into the hidden layers of cultural intelligence. Plus, Ting shares a real-world story of working with Filipino clients and how meeting culture “at home” revealed unexpected insights into time, hierarchy, and empathy.

Listen in to learn why the unsaid might just be the mostimportant thing in the room.

[00:00] Welcome + introducing Professor Wendy Adair

[01:00] The “space in between” – what’s not being said in communication

[02:30] Cultural norms and negotiation styles (US vs. Japan/China examples)

[05:30] Nonverbal cues and power: posture, space, tone

[07:30] How to measure the quality of cross-cultural understanding

[10:00] Clock time vs. event time – different cultural orientations to time

[12:00] Ting’s real-world example: negotiating with Filipino clients from Singapore

[14:00] Is it a power play—or just cultural difference?

[16:00] Why time differences are the hardest challenge in multicultural teams

[18:00] Power distance and when “being late” sends a message

[21:00] How “in-group” and relationship building shift negotiation dynamics

[24:00] When both sides are adapting—and don’t see each other doing it

[26:00] Catherine’s toughest negotiation story: power imbalance in Beijing

[29:00] Where negotiators derive power: BATNA vs. status vs. relationships

[32:00] Personality vs. culture: how can you tell the difference?

[36:00] Corporate culture vs. local culture in global organizations

[42:00] Everyday negotiations: small cultural clashes and relationship repair

[48:00] Practical advice: what to focus on first as a cross-cultural negotiator

[52:00] Why slowing down might be the most powerful CQ skill

[55:00] Wrapping up: the relationship “in between” that makes negotiation work

When Ting takes on a new project with a Filipino client—only her third in a 15-year global career—she’s surprised by what she learns about her own culture. In this eye-opening episode, Ting and Dr. Catherine explore how working “at home” reveals powerful insights into time, hierarchy, empathy, and digital culture. From late meetings to quiet clients who blossom in the right setting, this conversation is a masterclass in applied cultural intelligence—and what it really means to bridge differences in global teams.

[00:00] Welcome to Season 3 + new studio upgrade

[02:00] Ting’s first Filipino client in over 15 years

[04:30] Excitement vs. reality: Cultural contrasts in business settings

[05:50] Time management differences: Filipino vs. Singaporean clients

[07:00] Chitchat and lateness—inefficiency or cultural norm?

[10:30] How workplace habits evolve through adaptation

[12:30] “Filipino time,” disorganization, and digital infrastructure gaps

[14:00] Feeling "more Singaporean than expected"

[16:00] The cultural impact of digitization and technology

[18:00] Hosting foreign teammates in the Philippines: Hospitality as cultural bridge

[21:00] Jeepney rides, hot weather, and urban logistics

[22:00] Time-based competition: “I will end on time!”

[25:00] Power dynamics and why Ting didn’t push back on a late client

[28:00] Is this a cultural issue—or a personal bias around hierarchy?

[30:00] Using cultural empathy to support a struggling client stakeholder

[33:00] Language, confidence, and creating psychological safety

[35:00] What true cultural intelligence looks like in practice

[37:00] Culture, spontaneity, and how small actions drive big outcomes

[39:00] Wrapping up: empathy, insight, and CQ growth in action

When Ting returned to the U.S. after nearly two decades, she expected to reconnect with old friends. What she didn’t expect was a full-blown identity check. In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, Ting and Dr.Catherine explore how migration and culture shape political views, values, and the very definition of “us” vs “them.”

From Filipino Trump supporters in Texas to unexpected conversations about racism, collectivism, and Little Mermaid casting choices—this episode takes you into the messy, revealing, and transformative world of cultural adaptation and cross-cultural empathy.

Tune in to discover how living abroad doesn’t just change your accent—it rewires how you see the world.

[00:00] Intro – What’s new in Season 3

[01:00] Cultural adaptation: how migration changes who we are

[02:00] Ting’s return to the U.S. after 20 years – first impressions post-COVID

[03:00] Conversations that challenge assumptions: meeting Filipino Americans

[04:00] Identity surprise: “Maybe I’m more conservative than I thought”

[05:30] The immigration debate – empathy, hypocrisy, and nuance

[07:30] Cultural intelligence in action: active listening vs. judgment

[09:00] How much do migrants retain their original cultural identity?

[10:00] Casting controversy: Little Mermaid and racial representation

[12:00] Does ethnicity matter in portraying historical figures?

[14:00] CQ strategy: “checking” when experience challenges our stereotypes

[15:30] Observing family values among Filipino immigrants

[17:00] Clan associations and collective survival strategies

[18:30] Crab mentality: When collectivism breaks down

[21:00] Defining the “in-group”: why not all collectivists behave the same

[23:00] 3 Key Takeaways: challenging stereotypes, exposing yourself todifference, and redefining community

[25:00] Reflection: still friends, even with different views

[26:00] Outro – keep the conversation going

In this lively and heartfelt episode, Ting and Dr. Catherine return with stories from their first-ever trips to Japan—one for work, the other for family vacation. Through reflections on politeness, public bathrooms, service culture, and spicy cheese naan, they unpack rich lessons in cultural intelligence. From Tokyo’s surprising diversity to the invisible skills of multilingual waiters and caregivers, they explore what it really means to adapt across cultures. Plus: unexpected insights on language, accent bias, and Japan’s global future.

[00:00] Season 3 intro: What’s new this season on The Cultural Quotient podcast

[01:00] Lunar New Year in Singapore: A multicultural Loh Hei lunch and new traditions

[03:00] First impressions of Japan: Travel experiences and surprises in Tokyo

[05:45] Cultural surprises: Clean toilets, confusing colors, and friendly strangers

[07:45] Challenging stereotypes: Japan’s surprising diversity and migrant communities

[09:00] Cheese naan and CQ: Observing intercultural service and adaptation in restaurants

[11:30] What makes someone culturally intelligent?: Skills, intuition, and social flexibility

[14:00] The halal restaurant moment: Realizing hidden needs and context on a family tour

[17:00] Street festival serendipity: Authentic local discovery through cross-cultural curiosity

[18:30] Japan’s shifting global outlook: Immigration, language, and economic drivers

[20:30] Corporate CQ challenges: Different approaches to planning and execution

[22:00] Caregiving and integration: Why Japan recruits Filipinos—and what makes them thrive

[24:30] Accent bias and stereotypes: The case of Ilonggo caregivers

[27:00] Halloween and anime: Japan’s soft power and regional pop culture influence

[28:30] Is Tokyo still “real Japan”?: Reflections on cosmopolitanism vs tradition

[29:30] Teaser for next episode: Culture Day in Japan and Ting’s upcoming U.S. trip

This bonus episode is the very first podcast episode recorded by Dr Catherine long before we started The Cultural Quotient podcast. 

We interviewed Andy Wu, Head of Communication for Draeger South East Asia.

Listen to stories of leading sales teams in Northern China, tried-and-tested strategies to build trust with teams in South East Asia, and lessons learned from building a career in a multinational organisation. 

Remember to  give us 5 stars and leave a comment, question or feedback. We'll be happy to hear from you. Enjoy the show!

Culture is much more than what we can see. Often, it’s the culture that we don’t see that causes the most problems. 

In the last episode of season 2, Ting and Dr Catherine explore how your cultural upbringing shapes how you work in teams, why your culture is much more than your nationality, and how you can grow your mental agility to adapt to different cultures like a pro.

Listen to stories from Dr Catherine’s visit to Cambodia and Ting’s recent experience as a leadership facilitator.

Oh and listen till the end to find out about our little surprise! 

Remember to  give us 5 stars and leave a comment, question or feedback. We'll be happy to hear from you. Enjoy the show!

Culture shapes how we relate to power and authority but adapting is also important as professionals navigate different organisations with different cultures. 

In this episode, Ting and Dr Catherine discuss power distance, a cultural dimension that affects how people communicate and make decisions. 

Listen to the stories of how they met each other as volunteers for a school for migrant workers, Dr. Catherine’s research on the interplay of cultural intelligence and English competence, and Ting’s experience of working in organizations with very different expectations for authority and autonomy.  

Remember to  give us 5 stars and leave a comment, question or feedback. We'll be happy to hear from you. Enjoy the show!

What is high context communication?

Why Americans have a negative association with indirect communication?

Can you be comfortable with conflict and avoid open disagreements at the same time?

In this episode, Ting and Dr Catherine speak with Professor Xiao-Ping Chen from the University of Washington in Seattle about different communication behaviors across culture and how to measure your own intercultural communication style using the icEdge (Intercultural Communications Edge) survey, the first scientific tool to assess high and low context communication based on Edward Hall classic description of cross-cultural communication. 

Give us 5 stars if you like the show or leave a comment, question or feedback. We'll be happy to hear from you. Enjoy the show!