The Shift

This week, Trisha interviews Bridget Romanes, founder of New Zealand business, Mobile Relocation Limited. They discuss Bridget's experiences living in India and Singapore as a diplomat, her insights into cultural intelligence, and how her company supports people relocating to New Zealand. Bridget shares personal stories of adapting to new cultures, the importance of accepting and understanding local ways, and strategies to help expats thrive, including recognising the relocation cycle and building friendships. The conversation also covers the evolution of the global mobility industry, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shift towards prioritising the emotional as well as practical needs of relocating employees. Bridget highlights the critical role of empathy and professionalism in her team's work and how these values help new arrivals to settle effectively. They also touch of neurodivergence (ND) and how the process of understanding how someone with a ND brain is experiencing the world is akin to exploring a different culture.

In this episode Bridget and Trisha referred to Dr Shireen Chua, they discussed TEMI, The Employee Mobility Institute and Bridget's company Mobile Relocation

To connect with Bridget reach out to her on Linked in or email her at [email protected]

This week, Trisha interviews Sharon Gray, a longtime colleague and friend, known for her extensive work enhancing inclusion and increasing Indigenous employment. Sharon shares insights from her career in the Australian government, non-profit organisations, big corporations, and her consultancy. They discuss the importance of cultural competency, walking alongside people to help them learn; effective community engagement, and creating social and economic opportunities for Indigenous communities. Sharon highlights the principles of deep listening, the cultural significance of acknowledging traditional lands, and the transformative impact of Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) in organisations. The conversation also delves into the concept of social value, emphasising its role in inclusive development and intergenerational wealth creation. Sharon’s vision is big - she advocates for local content in projects and takes a holistic approach to infrastructure development enabling community development, and ensuring widespread and sustainable benefits. This is an episode that could shift your thinking and give you hope for Australia.

You can connect with Sharon via Linked in and learn more about the Social Value initiative here.

In this episode, Trisha interviews Kristin Joy Ekkens, an award-winning cultural strategist and CEO of Exponential Inclusion. They discuss Kristin's journey into cultural intelligence (CQ), her experiences with Latino culture, and her transformative work with organizations. They delve into the metacognitive aspect of CQ, thinking about thinking, and how strategies can help individuals and organizations manage diversity effectively. Kristin shares insights from her work with Edgewalkers, network creators, and her vision for a global movement promoting shared humanity and inclusive practices. Listeners gain a deep understanding of how CQ impacts personal and organizational growth, and how fostering empathy and strategic thinking can bridge cultural divides. Connect with Kristin on LinkedIn or through the Exponential Inclusion website for more information on her initiatives.

References from this episode

Inclusion at Scale Podcast: Episode 10 with Dr Judi Neal

Tanya Crossman - Third Culture Kids

Grace Boker Mungkaje - Deciding when to climb the tree

In this episode, Trisha interviews Mikkel Olovsky, a diversity and inclusion professional, with extensive experience as an HR consultant working within organisational cultures. They discuss the significance of metacognitive aspects of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and explore how Mikkel uses games and engaging activities to help organisations understand and apply CQ strategies. Mikkel shares personal experiences and methods that highlight the emotional and cognitive shifts required for cultural adaptability. He also talks about his innovative approaches to training and his plans to make his games and training methods widely available.

You can connect with Mikkel via Linked in

In this episode, Trisha reviews key themes emerging across the last five episodes.

This makes the practice of reflection real. It is a key metacognitive skill that can build cultural intelligence. It is interesting to see that somewhat different themes emerge in these episodes from some of the earlier summaries.

This quote is from Lucy Butters, Shifts for Cultural Intelligence Facilitators, episode 24; "Learning happens when we feel something, especially something like this - you have to be motivated yourself. You want to take it on and commit to some different ways of being and doing."

In this episode, Trisha interviews Lucy Butters, a Cultural Intelligence Master Facilitator. Lucy has been an academic and worked with the British Council in many locations with people from over 80 countries. Through training, coaching and speaking she has helped thousands of people develop their  Cultural Intelligence (CQ) enabling leaders, teams and organisations to be more successful working across cultures.

Lucy and Trisha discuss the tension between sharing the knowledge in a training session and processing the awareness, the feelings that people carry about culture. Lucy speaks about using the body and trusting the intuition of facilitation. They also reference the tension of time awareness - especially in some cultures - and the need to be available for questions and discussions. Lucy describes how cultural trainers need to check their own CQ and be aware of all four capabilities while facilitating.

Lucy is working on a book to share with cultural trainers to increase knowledge and skills. She is also collaborating on a project using Lego Serious Play to create change and build CQ

To connect with Lucy, reach out via LinkedIn here where Lucy regularly posts about her work and learnings.

In this episode Trisha speaks with Joanna Sell, an Intercultural trainer, author, academic, historian and expert in the art of story telling.

There are many stories told in this episode from the story of Joanna's Grandma who gave hope in dark times, to the story of a shift Joanna experienced while facilitating a World Café. We discuss the power of story telling and story listening and how stories can be used to build empathy and understanding or to manipulate. Both outcomes are shifts but only one will build understanding of the mosaic of cultural identities -ours and others - this is Joanna’s intention in her storytelling. 

Resources are described and discussed such as UNESCO’s story circles methodology and Joanna’s resource the Story Canvas. You can download the Mosaic Chapter from her book here

 Listen to this episode for strategies to unpack beyond the single story to see people in their more detailed mosaic, to find the strengths in stories and to learn how to share hope.

You can listen to Joanna's interviews here at one world stories and explore her website here

Plus you can connect with her on Linked in and buy her book here

In this episode, Trisha interviews Emily Rogers - a Leadership and Transitions Coach based in New Zealand. Emily has experienced many location transitions - from small town country South Australia to some of the biggest cities in the world, India, China and Taiwan. She has learnt to thrive in each of these shifts and now shares the skills and strategies she developed in these experiences with individuals and organisations in transition.

They discuss the power of questions to help people to reflect, to move beyond judgement and consider other possibilities. Emily shares how the process of Action Learning has been a significant development piece for her in her coaching.

The discussion also references William Bridges book Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes

You can connect with Emily on LinkedIn and listen more to her in her podcast series available via her website where you can also sign up for her newsletter.

In this episode, Trisha interviews Rick Petry, a former trial attorney who is now an Adjunct Professor and the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St Paul, Minnesota.

They speak about the shifts lawyers need to make to be effective in their work in today's world and the role that Cultural Intelligence (CQ) can play in helping lawyers grow their capabilities in dealing with diversity.

Rick speaks of the challenges he has been facing as the Director of DEI at the School of Law, and how he has been navigating them. His heart for lawyers and equipping them to be successful in today's world comes across strongly. He is currently working on a book: The Culturally Intelligent Lawyer. If you want to connect with Rick to learn more about him and his work you can find him here on LinkedIn

In this episode Trisha interviews Monique Toohey a Psychologist who is also a certified CQ Facilitator. Monique shares her story of shifting in her awareness of culture and in her beliefs and experiences from being a part of the dominant culture to being a part of both the dominant and a minority culture. These experiences prepared Monique to approach mental health with clients from many different backgrounds with curiosity and deep caring about the people she is working with. The challenges for mental health professionals in a multicultural community are raised with both acknowledging the need for cultural intelligence in the profession. There is also an interesting discussion on the difference between cultural safety and cultural intelligence and the confusion that is sometimes created when people think of cultural safety.

Please connect with Monique on LinkedIn and sign up for her free webinar on Cultural Intelligence in Mental Health Care and / or go deeper with her 2 Day training course.