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The days when leaders only had to focus on traditional leadership methods have passed. In today’s global economy, we regularly find ourselves working in teams with colleagues from different countries. Organizations operate call centers halfway around the world, servicing customers 24 hours a day. Teams span continents, organizations operate across borders, and leaders are expected to navigate cultural complexity as part of their daily responsibilities. Despite this reality, m

Understanding Why Cultural Awareness is Not Enough   I often speak to expatriates prior to their departure for a new assignment and one of the questions I generally ask is “Do you feel prepared for your new assignment?” They often respond yes, but when I ask how they prepared, I normally receive feedback on how they studied the likes and dislikes of a particular culture or how they learned the cultural norms of how to greet individuals or the preference for people in the coun

When I founded MAM Educational & Consulting Services, I did so with a clear conviction: global leadership must be built upon a foundation of cultural intelligence and conflict management. Without the ability to effectively foster these two capabilities, little else truly matters. Technical expertise, strategic insight, and operational excellence are all valuable skills—but in a global environment, they are insufficient on their own. All the technical skills in the world will

In my 20+ years living and working in overseas environments, I have always taken the time to learn at least a few key phrases in the native language of the country where I was working. Learning the language of the host country you are doing business in serves a multitude of purposes, but one facet that is not often spoken about is the cultural intelligence aspect of adjusting to the environment. Although I do not consider myself fluent in any of the languages I have studied o

While working in a country in Africa, I once found myself in conversation with a manager who was increasingly frustrated with a local staff member’s inability to complete assigned tasks without constant follow-up. The manager explained that when he asked for something to be done, the employee would always respond with “yes.” Yet days later, the task would remain incomplete. Over time, the manager became convinced that without persistent follow-up, work simply would not get do

In my more than 20 years of traveling and working internationally—both in the private sector across various leadership roles and in the public sector as a diplomat—I have met some of the most remarkable people of my lifetime. Along the way, I’ve built lifelong friendships and invaluable professional networks that span continents, cultures, and industries. What has always fascinated me is not how different people are, but how similar we often become once genuine conversation b