If you’re reading this article, wherever you are, chances are that you’ve experienced diversity in the workplace. As boundaries between cultures blur, a variety of people integrates a wide spectrum of professions. This means an unprecedented amount of cultural exchange is happening all around the world. It is now your
Photo by David Dibert on Unsplash OK, let’s do it… Let’s talk about Brexit. But let’s not talk about the pros and cons or against the dominion of the European Union. Let’s talk about the melting pot of inevitably interconnected cultures that constitute Europe. A much more interesting… and unifying topic! There is
(Photo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Azerbaijan#/media/File:Flame_Towers,_Azerbaijan.png) When you hear/read the word “multiculturalism”, Azerbaijan may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Yet the South Caucasus nation on the border of the Caspian Sea has become one of the few countries to embrace multiculturalism as a governmental policy. The Republic of Azerbaijan lays
Globalization and collaboration ought to be words of the same semantic field. The former cannot function properly without the latter. Globalization is based on tearing down borders and opening your world to other cultures. Collaboration is rooted in communication, without which, a healthy exchange would be impossible. Opinions on globalization
Remember the big billboards by the highways? Or perhaps the ads on TV that promised you a deal you just couldn’t refuse if you dialed their number right now? Those marketing techniques saw businesses dictate to the masses what is worth buying. However, in order to access those avenues of
Cultural differences can be a catalyst for conflict, but they don’t have to be. Globalization and the internet are blurring the physical barriers between nations and people. Despite the distance, we are now closer than we have ever been before. This proximity has opened our eyes to differences and similarities
What can happen when you launch a product abroad without cultural awareness? Ask IKEA who released a cute toy wolf whose name in Cantonese regrettably turned out to be a crude insult. With the rise of emerging markets, cultural intelligence is becoming increasingly strategic as companies expand their operations to
You may have heard the catchphrase, “Nothing personal – it’s just business.” Coined by Otto Biederman in the early 20th century, it was popularized by The Godfather, and is now used prominently by anyone and everyone. Fortunately, this phrase is no longer relevant. The power of social media combined with
The implementation of major trade agreements such as the one between Canada and the European Union (CETA), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) are a testament to a wide market opening on a global scale. The expanding variety of communication solutions, increased access to the Internet
Context In Ontario, a Canadian province bordering Quebec, known for its French-speaking majority, unilingual Anglophone Premier Ford raises the ire of French Canadians by imposing his narrow vision with cuts to francophone university programs. And to hell with the other official Canadian language! Thus alienating a large Francophone minority that
As organizations and leaders progressively lean towards a more inclusive way of managing their people and conducting business, Key Behavioural Indicators (KBIs) are gaining momentum
As organizations and leaders progressively lean towards a more inclusive way of managing their people and conducting business, Key Behavioural Indicators (KBIs) are gaining momentum