We often think of a country’s border as a defined albeit arbitrary demarcation of culture, language, traditions, mores, and values. A germane question to ask, considering the recent unrest in Catalonia surrounding an independence referendum from Spain is: what exactly is national identity? How do we define and understand it? What are the parameters and […]
diversity
5 Ways To Manage Expatriation Risk
In our increasingly globalized world, international businesses seek to fill their organizational needs by strategically shifting corporate talent from one place to another. However, a substantial percentage of international assignees fail to meet their company’s objectives. The high cost of relocating talent – and the high expectations resting on the shoulders of these talented women […]
Why A Global Mindset Is Essential
According to the Harvard Business Review, a Global Mindset comprises three components: Intellectual capital: Global business savvy, cognitive complexity, cosmopolitan outlook Psychological capital: Passion for diversity, a quest for adventure, self-assurance Social capital: Intercultural empathy, interpersonal impact, diplomacy Forward-thinking executives across industries understand the need to create polycultural understanding to prosper in international business. Leaders […]
Idioms: A linguistic Journey Across Cultures
Idiomatic expressions are curious in their function within language as they mean more than what each word denotes. Even if idioms are metaphorical and figurative, once understood they serve as a palpable and distinct feature of any language. They allow the speaker to express themselves, articulating certain sentiments without explicitly saying so. Furthermore, they offer […]
The Quandary of International Schools for Expats and Locals Alike
International schools are an attractive option for both foreign residents and wealthy locals. The schools boast about giving children a multi-cultural experience that will prepare their children to compete on a global scale. The end goal for many local parents is to have their children attend world-class universities and attract multinational companies afterward. For expatriates […]
Exploring Unconscious Bias
This week at CAI we hosted a webinar on the idea of the unconscious bias –like it or not, the way you interact with others is influenced in some way, somehow, by a bias. We were able to explore that this bias could be through race, gender, height, age, and many other factors. What’s more, […]
