“Cross-national, cross-cultural contexts are inherently complex, so developing the competencies required to join the global elite is neither simple nor quick. Even people born into international, cosmopolitan families and environments must work at it.” – Gregory C. Unruh and Ángel Cabrera, Join the Global Elite, Harvard Business Review, 2013
I design and deliver high-impact intercultural training programs for individuals and couples who are transitioning to a new culture or repatriating after an international assignment. I also build and rollout management training programs for corporate teams to build intercultural competence.
I’ve delivered dozens of these 1-2 day programs in seven countries, working closely with senior executives and managers from over 20 companies in the Forbes Global 2000. These highly-customized programs help executives and academics adapt effectively, and empower their families to not just survive, but thrive in a new culture.
The development of intercultural competence gives any individual a powerful edge in their career while positively impacting their organization’s bottom line. For the individual, benefits include greater cross-cultural adjustment, less stress, and lower risk of burnout and fatigue. This results in better job performance, including increased efficiency and productivity. It also leads to a more harmonious family life, as these individuals are less likely to be stressed by the cultural transition.
“[…] the number of people working outside their company headquarters in foreign subsidiaries has rocketed from 25 million to more than 81 million, including notable shifts in the C-suite. As a consequence, 76% of executives surveyed by the United Nations Global Compact say that it’s important for companies to develop global leaders.” – Join the Global Elite, Harvard Business Review, 2013
In order to successfully live abroad, it used to be sufficient for expats to simply learn to strengthen their self-awareness and acceptance, pick up a few “DOs and DON’Ts”, and learn to respect the differences of people in the local culture.
Today, that is no longer enough. Given the complexity of both an international assignment and the personal challenges of truly understanding and honoring local traditions, effective intercultural training must unlock deep insight that can shift both behavior and mindset.
The intercultural experience is an invitation into significant personal and professional growth. It is an opportunity to develop greater wisdom about oneself and the world, and cultivate stronger compassion for others. This, in turn, makes any individual a better leader (at work or in the community), partner, and parent.
Who are these programs for?
- Global executives and their families
- Executives managing multicultural teams
- Multicultural teams that want to strengthen their performance and communication
- Teams on both sides of a merger/acquisition that struggle with cultural differences
- International faculty and scholars, expatriates, and their families
- Spouses juggling parenting and career development in a new country
- Intercultural couples or single parents with multicultural and bilingual children
- Prospective parents who are adopting or have an older child from a foreign country
- Families receiving exchange students
For more information, or to have an initial consultation, contact me at: rita@ritambrown.com.
