24/08/2026
Why do people with a high level of competence sometimes find it difficult to work with each other?
Because of a lack of communication skills? Maybe.
But I think there is another important factor: cultural intelligence.
In our global world, where people from different cultures increasingly work together, often remotely, we encounter many invisible misunderstandings. Many of them are rooted in our cultural backgrounds: how we communicate, give feedback, make decisions, express disagreement and build trust.
Living in multicultural Dubai, we are constantly learning how to find a common path between different nationalities, perspectives and ways of thinking. Yet there is still so much to learn from each other.
To explore the topic of cultural intelligence, I have invited Emma Jordaan, a cultural intelligence expert, TED speaker and author of ‘Dubai Decoded – Cultural Intelligence Strategies for Thriving in Dubai’.
Together, we will find out what cultural intelligence really is, how we can develop it and what it looks like in real life, with practical examples from working across cultures.
While we are preparing our new episode, I would love to hear from you:
Have you ever experienced a misunderstanding caused by cultural differences? And how do you switch between different communication patterns and mentalities when working with people from different cultures?
