The Shift

In this episode, Trisha interviews Andrew Sykes, author, speaker, and founder of Habits at Work, who brings the science of behavioural change into business performance. Andrew is a lecturer at the Kellogg School of Management, where he helps leaders build trustworthy organisations.

Drawing from his powerful personal shift during the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, Andrew explores how trust is built "floor by floor" like a skyscraper. The conversation delves into why trust often breaks down in diverse teams and how cultural intelligence intersects with trust-building.

Andrew reveals practical strategies for building trust through intentional habits, especially when working across cultural differences. He shares insights on why demonstrating curiosity and care can transcend cultural barriers and how organisations can systematically embed trustworthy practices into their culture.

Connect with Andrew via LinkedIn, his website, the Habits at Work website, and the website for executive experiences Cerene Life .

Make sure you join Trisha in this journey of growth and discovery throughout the year via Substack or LinkedIn.

In this episode, Trisha interviews Dr. Kristal Walker, Vice President of Employee Wellbeing at Sweetwater and a certified professional in training management. Dr. Kristal shares her remarkable transformation from high school dropout to doctoral graduate, revealing how this journey fundamentally shaped her approach to leadership and creating inclusive environments where people don't have to "code switch or shrink" to belong.

They explore Dr. Kristal's innovative Four D Learning Lifecycle (Design, Develop, Deliver, Debrief) for designing cultural intelligence training that creates lasting change, and dive deep into the powerful concept of "brave spaces" versus safe spaces. Dr. Kristal challenges conventional thinking by reframing a critical question many professionals face: instead of asking "How do I fit in?" she advocates for "How do I stay grounded while I navigate this system?" This shift in perspective offers a transformative approach to authentic leadership in diverse corporate environments.

Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, Dr. Kristal demonstrates how authenticity serves as the foundation of credibility and how leaders can maintain their authentic selves while delivering exceptional results for their organisations.

Connect with Dr Kristal Walker on LinkedIn.

Make sure you join Trisha in this journey of growth and discovery throughout the year via Substack or LinkedIn.

This week, Trisha interviews Jerry Jones, founder of Culture Blend and a learning strategist with over 15 years of experience helping organisations navigate cultural transitions. Jerry brings unique insights from coaching more than a thousand professionals through significant cultural shifts, having lived and worked in China for a decade himself.

The conversation reveals Jerry's counterintuitive approach to learning design and why he believes most training fails before it starts. Jerry shares a profound shift moment from a deeply personal conversation with his son that challenged his assumptions about understanding and perspective, demonstrating how the most powerful learning happens when we step back and truly listen.

They explore Jerry's philosophy that "growth happens when people feel seen, challenged, and supported" and uncover his surprising strategies for helping teams get unstuck. The discussion takes an unexpected turn into Jerry's thoughts on AI's impact on humanity and whether technology will ultimately bring us closer together or drive us further apart.

Jerry also shares insights from an eye-opening experience in North Korea and reveals why he thinks we should "postpone" rather than lower our expectations during major transitions. This perspective challenges conventional wisdom about change management.

Connect with Jerry via his website thecultureblend.com, LinkedIn and check out his Podcast Diesel and Clooney Unpack the World

Make sure you join Trisha in this journey of growth and discovery throughout the year via Substack or LinkedIn.

In this Pride Month episode, Trisha revisits her powerful conversation with Cath Brew, a global LGBTQ+ consultant and shamanic practitioner who brings a unique somatic perspective to cultural intelligence. Cath explores how our bodies often communicate cultural awareness before our minds catch up, offering practical alternatives to traditional mindfulness approaches.

The conversation delves into Cath's profound shift moment about learning to trust her intuition, her insights from working with Aboriginal culture in Australia, and her approach to navigating difficult LGBTQ+ conversations through body awareness. Cath's beautiful metaphor of building boardwalks between communities offers practical wisdom for anyone seeking to understand across cultural divides.

What makes this episode special is Trisha's guided exercise at the end, where listeners practice Cath's technique of noticing physical responses to cultural difference, giving feelings colour, texture, and size to transform them into actionable insights. Whether you're comfortable with traditional reflection methods or seeking alternative approaches to cultural intelligence, this episode offers tools for recognising when your body signals cultural discomfort.

Connect with Cath on LinkedIn and ask her to send her free resource to help guide your physical and emotional observations. You can learn about Cath's work as an LGBTQ+ Consultant and Coach here and about her work helping people heal from emotional pain here

Make sure you join Trisha in this journey of growth and discovery throughout the year via Substack or LinkedIn.

In this episode, Trisha takes listeners back to the fundamentals of Cultural Intelligence (CQ), exploring all four capabilities through the lens of Australia's National Reconciliation Week. After 55 episodes focusing primarily on CQ Strategy, she provides a comprehensive overview of the complete CQ framework: Drive (motivation), Knowledge (understanding), Strategy (metacognition), and Action (behavioural adaptation).

Using National Reconciliation Week as a practical example, Trisha demonstrates how each CQ capability can be developed and applied in real-world contexts. The episode includes insights from Sharon Gray (Episode 28), who speaks from her Kamilaroi and Scottish heritage about building cultural understanding and community engagement. Through personal anecdotes and practical applications, listeners discover how cultural intelligence isn't about mastering everything at once, but developing capabilities that work together like instruments in harmony.

Key insights include understanding your cultural motivations, building knowledge thoughtfully, practising metacognitive reflection, and adapting behaviours meaningfully. Trisha emphasises moving beyond performative gestures to genuine cultural engagement, whether in workplace settings or community contexts.

You can connect with Sharon via LinkedIn and listen to her episode, 'Sharon Gray - Winangar Guru: Listen Deeply, Go Slowly and Respect Everything' Here

Make sure you join Trisha in this journey of growth and discovery throughout the year via Substack or LinkedIn.

In this episode, Trisha interviews Hanlie van Wyk, a systems thinker, social scientist, and cultural insights advisor whose work spans South Africa, the UK, Singapore, and the United States. They explore Hanlie's concept of "human eco-cultures" viewing organisational cultures as ecosystems that leaders can proactively design rather than simply manage. The conversation delves into how her hate crime research in South Africa shifted her perspective and contributed to national legislation, demonstrating how Cultural Intelligence (CQ) can address foundational biases before they escalate to discrimination and violence. Key insights include how leaders experience their greatest shifts when they realise actions speak louder than words, and Hanlie's inspiring vision of becoming "reasonable revolutionaries" who forge new paths with courage and kindness.

Connect with Hanlie van Wyk. Resources mentioned include the Anti-Defamation League's Pyramid of Hate and Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory.

Make sure you join Trisha in this journey of growth and discovery throughout the year via Substack or LinkedIn.

This week, Trisha continues her exploration of cultural intelligence by introducing the P.A.U.S.E. Process, a practical framework for responding effectively to cultural shift moments. Building on last week's S.H.I.F.T. Signals, Trisha breaks down each step of the P.A.U.S.E. Process.

Drawing on insights from previous guests, including neuroscientist Mark Williams, psychologist Monique Toohey, and global leadership expert Dawn Bryan, Trisha offers concrete techniques for transforming challenging cultural encounters into opportunities for growth and connection.

A downloadable guide to the P.A.U.S.E. Process will be available on Trisha's Substack. Connect with Trisha on LinkedIn to share your experiences applying these frameworks in your cultural interactions.

This week, Trisha Carter, an organisational psychologist, introduces the second series of 'The Shift,' focusing on enhancing cultural intelligence. She revisits the four foundational areas of cultural intelligence: CQ drive, CQ knowledge, CQ strategy, and CQ action, emphasising the metacognitive aspects. Trisha introduces the 'Shift Signals Guide,' a tool to recognise pivotal moments of cultural shift using the acronym S.H.I.F.T. (Sensations, Hesitations, Intense emotions, Frames of reference clashing, Time perception altering). The episode explores each signal in detail with real-life examples.

A downloadable guide will be available on Substack.

Make sure you join Trisha in this journey of growth and discovery throughout the year via Substack or LinkedIn.

This week, Trisha explores the importance of cultural intelligence amidst global chaos and uncertainty, encouraging listeners to act with cultural intelligence to preserve humanity and effectiveness during challenging times. Trisha revisits the four areas of cultural intelligence and offers strategies to sustain it, such as recognizing emotional responses, seeking diverse information, practising perspective-taking, maintaining human connections, and knowing one's values. She also shares an impactful experience centred around the monument for Tommie Smith, John Carlos, and Peter Norman, stressing the importance of standing as an ally during critical moments.

Make sure you join Trisha in this journey of growth and discovery throughout the year via Substack or LinkedIn.

This week, Trisha Carter chats with Flor Bretón-García, a seasoned expert in navigating cultural complexities within organizations. Flor shares her personal migration journey from Venezuela to the US and Germany, discussing the emotional and professional challenges she overcame. They explore how cultural shifts influence workplace dynamics, the impact of language and accents in the workplace, and the critical role of storytelling in leadership development. The episode emphasizes empathy, inclusion, and the importance of culturally aware practices in today's globalized work environment.

Connect with Flor via LinkedIn

As mentioned in the episode:

Families in Global Transition

The Kaleidoscope Group

Episode 23 Dr Joanna Selles - Storytelling for Cultural Shifts

Make sure you join Trisha in this journey of growth and discovery throughout the year via Substack or LinkedIn.