The Shift

In this episode, Trisha interviews returning guest Lucy Butters, a master facilitator in cultural intelligence with the Cultural Intelligence Centre and author of the new book "Cultural Intelligence in Practice: Expert Insights for Trainers in a Multicultural Globalised World."

What happens when a CQ trainer discovers that the most challenging cultural contexts aren't in distant lands, but close to home? How can holding discomfort with curiosity rather than rushing to judgment transform the way we navigate cultural differences? Lucy shares insights from interviewing 12 CQ experts across the globe, revealing how the writing process itself became a mirror—exposing hidden cultural assumptions in everything from word choices to argumentative tone. The conversation explores her father's wisdom about looking out "with love and respect," and why Lucy explicitly asks readers to use their own cultural intelligence while reading her book.

In this episode, Trisha interviews Emma Jordaan, founder and CEO of Infinite Consulting, TEDx speaker, and author of Dubai Decode, who helps leaders navigate cultural dynamics in one of the world's most diverse workplaces—the UAE.

What happens when your team knows you're making the wrong decision but stays silent because "you are the boss"? How do you bridge the gap between having cultural knowledge and actually applying it with intentionality? Emma unpacks her proprietary RAPID framework—a cultural intelligence strategy tool that helps professionals slow down their cross-cultural interactions before they react. Discover how recognising, assessing, pausing, interpreting, and deciding can transform cultural complexity from a barrier into a competitive advantage, and why listening with your whole body might be the CQ strategy skill you've been missing.

In this episode, Trisha reviews five powerful transformation stories to uncover what practitioners can learn about creating conditions for genuine perspective shifts.

What if we stopped trying to teach people into transformation and instead learned to cultivate the conditions where change becomes inevitable? Through stories of systemic awakening, identity work, and unexpected wisdom from a 10-year-old, this episode explores how dissonance, experience, and reflection intersect to create profound shifts—not just in thinking, but in being.

For intercultural trainers, coaches, and CQ facilitators, the insights here challenge conventional approaches: brave spaces over safe spaces, productive discomfort over protection, sustained journeys over quick fixes. Discover why the most powerful shifts often can't be taught—only witnessed and supported.

The episode revisits conversations with Dr. Kristal Walker, Andrew Sykes, Amel Derragui, Dr. Hanlie Van Wyk, and Jerry Jones, drawing practical lessons for anyone working to help others expand their cultural intelligence and capacity for perspective-taking.

In this solo episode, Trisha examines a critical question that every global professional using AI should consider: Are artificial intelligence systems as globally representative as we assume? Drawing on groundbreaking 2010 research about WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic) populations in psychology, she explores whether today's AI models might face similar challenges.

Through conversations with Claude from Anthropic and ChatGPT's Monday persona, Trisha uncovers surprising perspectives on data sources, training biases, and the cultural blind spots that might influence AI responses. These AI systems offer candid assessments of their own capabilities when it comes to representing diverse global viewpoints, revealing insights that could reshape how we interact with artificial intelligence.

Can artificial intelligence develop genuine cultural intelligence, or does it require culturally intelligent humans to unlock its potential? What would it mean to bring your CQ to every AI interaction rather than assuming these systems provide universal, unbiased knowledge? Whether you're a leader implementing AI tools across cultures, an HR professional considering AI solutions, or anyone curious about the intersection of technology and cultural intelligence, this conversation challenges fundamental assumptions about artificial intelligence as a neutral, global knowledge source.

In this episode, Trisha explores how teams can move beyond cultural stereotypes to build environments where everyone feels valued and understood. What happens when cultural training leaves participants feeling uncomfortable about their own backgrounds? How can we shift from oversimplified country-based assumptions to embracing the complexity that exists within every individual?

Sparked by a story shared at the Employee Mobility Institute's recent summit, Trisha examines the critical difference between cultural competence—knowing about other cultures—and cultural intelligence—being able to function effectively together as unique teams. She challenges listeners to consider whether we're reinforcing divisions or co-creating understanding in our workplace interactions.

This episode offers valuable insights for global mobility professionals, team leaders, and anyone working in culturally diverse environments who want to transform how their teams navigate differences together.