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Episode Description
As more organizations work across borders, time zones, functions, and cultures, collaboration cannot be treated as something that “just happens.” It has to be intentionally designed.
In this replay episode of Collaborative Culture, Kristine and Monica revisit a conversation that feels just as relevant today: how global teams collaborate, what companies often misunderstand about cultural difference, and why effective cross-cultural work requires more than awareness. It requires curiosity, humility, practice, and a willingness to rethink the assumptions we bring into the room.
Monica shares how she works with leaders and teams navigating global collaboration, scaling organizations, outsourcing relationships, expat transitions, and cross-functional work. The conversation also explores why DEI, when truly embedded into culture and talent practices, is not simply an “add-on” that can be removed when the political winds shift.
At the heart of this episode is a powerful reminder: culture is not a side issue. It shapes how people communicate, interpret deadlines, build trust, manage risk, make decisions, and contribute their best work.
In This Episode, We Talk About
- Why global companies often think about DEI differently than U.S.-only organizations
- The difference between performative DEI and practices that are truly embedded into culture
- How command-and-control leadership can limit collaboration with global partners and suppliers
- Why cross-cultural collaboration has to be managed toward outcomes, not assumptions
- Monica’s three-part approach: mindset, measurability, and practice
- How cohort-based learning helps teams build real-time cultural understanding
- Why leaders need to understand cultural norms without turning them into stereotypes
- The role of curiosity, respect, and cultural humility in global teamwork
- How companies can better support expat leaders and employees working across cultures
- Why mistakes will happen—and why repair is an essential cross-cultural skill
Key Takeaways
One of the strongest ideas in this conversation is that companies cannot unlock the best of global talent through hierarchy alone. When headquarters dictates, controls, or assumes its way of working is the “right” way, it often misses the creativity, insight, and expertise available across the organization.
Monica also emphasizes that cultural learning is not about memorizing every custom in every country. It is about developing the ability to notice difference, ask better questions, adapt behavior, and stay curious instead of defaulting to judgment.
Kristine brings in the anthropological lens of ethnocentrism and cultural relativism, reminding us that we all interpret the world through the norms we were taught. In global and cross-functional teams, that awareness matters. It helps leaders pause before assuming that a behavior means disrespect, disengagement, or lack of commitment.
Why We’re Replaying This Episode Now
This episode is a great listen for anyone working with global teams, cross-functional groups, outsourced partners, or multicultural organizations. It also connects directly to one of the core themes of Collaborative Culture: culture is not separate from operations. It is part of how the work gets done.
As organizations continue navigating political shifts, changing expectations around DEI, hybrid collaboration, global talent, and distributed teams, this conversation offers a practical and thoughtful reminder that collaboration has to be cultivated with intention.
About Collaborative Culture
Collaborative Culture is hosted by Dr. Kristine Gentry, founder of Culture Grove, and Monica M. Smith, CEO of Tradewinds Career Consulting. Together, they explore how culture shapes the way people work, lead, collaborate, and build stronger organizations.
New episodes return August 5. Until then, we’re revisiting foundational conversations from Season One that continue to shape the way we think about culture, leadership, and collaboration.
Thanks for Listening!
We’d love to hear from you.
Kristine Gentry, PhD
kgentry@culturegrove.com
🔗 LinkedIn: Kristine McKenzie Gentry
Monica M. Smith
tradewindscareerconsulting@gmail.com
🌐 www.tradewindscareerconsulting.com
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