Blog
Cultural intelligence (CQ) is no longer a “nice to have” in modern business—it’s a key driver
of team performance, innovation, and engagement.
In today’s interconnected business landscape, success is no longer determined solely by technical expertise or market strategy—it also hinges on the ability to navigate cultural diversity within teams.
In an increasingly interconnected world, businesses can no longer afford to ignore the role of building cultural competence in shaping performance, communication, and team dynamics.
In a world where businesses are no longer confined by borders, cultural missteps can derail even the most promising international ventures. What works in one market may backfire in another.
As businesses expand into new markets and leaders manage increasingly diverse teams, success depends on more than strategy or innovation. It requires a deep understanding of how our individual cultures shape the way we work - communication, leadership, trust, and collaboration. That’s why global business is turning to Culture Mapping as a critical tool for navigating the invisible boundaries to success and unlocking performance across borders.
This year, as Youth Day approached in cold South Africa, I found myself thinking about the
leaders we work with and about how often the topic of “today’s youth” comes up. How do I
lead today’s youth? They are so different. We train them and then they just leave. No loyalty.
They don’t have the same work ethic. And so begins the inevitable debate about
generational differences and, often, the negative associations with each, and I find myself,
firstly, as a millennial myself, getting defensive and secondly, once I have brought myself
back into my growth mindset, wondering, how could we actually be inclusive of each
generation and celebrate these differences?