Culturally Intelligent Inclusion

New York City, US Now that we’ve explored why inclusive leadership starts with examining your existing systems and structures, why misapplying “universal” concepts like vulnerability can backfire, and why cultural intelligence is critical across all industries, let’s get practical: what steps can leaders take to enhance their cultural intelligence and ensure inclusion truly resonates across teams and borders? Steps Leaders Can Take to Enhance Cultural Intelligence 1. Get Curi

Boracay, Philippines DEI Content Isn’t Universal Most of the DEI frameworks and educational resources that are widely shared are written in English by North American and Western-European researchers for domestic workplaces. These materials often assume cultural norms and workplace behaviours familiar to those contexts, making them less effective — or even misleading — in other environments. Content, terminology, and pedagogical approaches that feel natural in one context can

Hang Múa, Ninh Binh, Vietnam Alright, let’s keep going. When Inclusive Advice Becomes One-Size-Fits-All One of the most consistent patterns I’ve observed — both in the inclusion trainings I’ve taken and those I’ve delivered — is this: We’re often taught what inclusive leaders should do, but not  how  those practices need to be adapted. The result? Well-intentioned leaders trying to do the “right” thing… only to find their efforts falling flat — or quietly eroding trust and cr

La Roche Percée, Normandy, France As promised, here’s Article #1 in my 4-Part Series on Inclusion Across Cultures — setting the stage for what’s ahead. Alright, let’s dive right in! Why Culture Matters First Culture sits at the heart of everything we do, long before we even start talking about the actions leaders can take to be more inclusive. Many of the structures organizations rely on every day — performance metrics, participation criteria, feedback models — may look “neut

Cappadocia, Turkey The desire to feel included is universal, but how inclusion is experienced depends as much on how it is practiced as on what is intended.  For leaders operating across borders and cultures, ignoring this reality is no longer an option. My Path Into Inclusion: Research, Practice, and Lived Experience My journey began in academia. In my undergraduate and Master’s studies, I explored how states and political actors include—or exclude—certain groups through pol