Cultural Generalizations and Stereotypes, Beware

 I’ve been following Cindy King both on the internet and on Twitter. She’s an International Sales Expert, but also an amazing connector of all things interntional and intercultural.  In the past I’ve referenced websites like culturecrossing.net, which aim to provide a quick “How To” guide to cross-cultural etiquette and understanding.  I have said I find the sites…

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Business Case for Diversity, c-e-o Networking and Diversity Workshop: Conscious vs Sub-conscious Review

The short version of this post is a summary of the workshop I presented today at the C-E-O conference for collegiate entrepreneurs in Chicago.  One person who arrived at the end had asked if there was anywhere to capture the information in the 50 minute workshop.  So, here is the “objective” short version: We covered the “Why”…

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Twinkies, White Castle and Chocolate Chip Cookies…now that’s American

  True American experience for international visitors?  How about White Castle…  This blurb on Brandfreak about endearing images of Twinkies in popular media reminded me of past attempts to showcase our culture to international visitors.  For David from Paris, we spent the week trying to find the perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie.  We tried Potbelly’s  (sidenote–best day ever was being…

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Guinea is not New Guinea is not Papua New Guinea, or 6 Ways to Learn about Another Culture

 There are many reasons to learn about other cultures.  While some may be ‘cramming’ to prepare for a business trip to China next week, I was thinking more about an interest in learning about another culture in general.  Granted in today’s fast-paced purpose driven business world where meaning is communicated in 140 character snippets, learning…

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I came across this quote today, and it reminded me of the value of intercultural communications based on knowing and embracing one’s own identity, first voice, and respect for others. “I, with all my abilities, potentials and talents both physical and spiritual, am unique in the universe. Amongst all those alive today there is no other…

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Kids Movies Still Carry Either/Or Message for Girls

Nancy Olson as Betsy Carlisle in 1961’s The Absent Minded Professor vs. Anna Faris as Sam Sparks in 2009’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs…We’ve come a long way, right?  Not really. One of the joys of having kids (or borrowing other people’s kids) is for the excuse to indulge nostalgic yearnings by re-watching favorite childhood…

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