“Culture intelligence in business: Driving success with a global mindset”. This will be the main topic of the upcoming Hofstede Insights’ conference that will take place in Luxembourg. 6 workshops, 12 inspirational speakers from all over the world, and case studies from world-class organizations: the conference sthe conference looks nothing but promising. Here’s our interview with Tatjana Von Bonkewitz & Marc Jacobs, founding partners of Hofstede Insights Luxembourg-Belgium.
by: Charles-Louis Machuron
photo: Johannes Plenio / Unsplash
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What is Hofstede Insights?
As Prof Emeritus Geert Hofstede states, culture is the software of the mind. It ranks among the strongest influences in human behaviour. Brands, businesses, and organisations that work with cultural forces, rather than against them, enjoy a significant strategic edge. Hofstede Insights calls this advantage The Culture Factor™.
Hofstede Insights is a global consultancy that translates Geert Hofstede’s academic work into practical tools and trainings to help organisations perform better and maximise their bottom line.
What is the conference about?
Hofstede Insights’ annual event, #TheCultureFactor brings together experts from around the globe to share experiences and best practices in the fields of international negotiation, marketing, branding, consulting, academia, organisational design, talent and operations.
During this one-day event, participants can engage in workshops and learn from world class speakers. They will gain new insights and discover new tools that will increase their success in their own organisations and in international business generally.
“A key element in business success is “trust”. We do not trust what we do not understand and more often than not, cultural differences are the root cause for misunderstandings.”
Why did you chose Luxembourg to organize this annual conference?
We recently launched our local Hofstede Insights country office because we were convinced that with our knowhow and tools, we can bring immense value to the local ecosystem. By organising the conference here and partnering with the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, we aim to shine a spotlight on Luxembourg’s unique advantages for international business. Also, since cultural differences affect all types of businesses and sectors, the Chamber of Commerce seemed like the best partner to host our event.
Why did you chose “Cultural Intelligence in Business: Driving Success with a Global Mindset” as the title for the conference?
A key element in business success is “trust”. We do not trust what we do not understand and more often than not, cultural differences are the root cause for misunderstandings. By applying what they will learn at the conference, participants will gain an insight on their own cultural biases and improve their understanding of cultural biases of their counterpart(s). This will enable them to bridge the gap and build trust more quickly ultimately leading to greater success.
“Participants will gain valuable insights and acquire practical tools that can be applied immediately.”
What are the highlights of the conference?
We have a series of highly experienced speakers from across the globe (UAE, Australia, Nigeria, India) who will conduct practical workshops on 6 different topics. During these workshops, participants can discuss their own challenges with these experts and share experiences.
Furthermore, Fudan University’s publication of the Mandarin version of Jean-Pierre and Marc’s book: “Negotiate like a local – 7 Mindsets to increase your success rate in international business” will be formally launched in Europe.
Who should attend the conference and why?
Anybody in a multicultural leadership position in education or global business will benefit tremendously.
From educators to team leaders, business development managers to CEO’s, everyone should seize the unique opportunity to learn from more than 50 Hofstede Insights experts from around the world that will be present at the conference. Participants will gain valuable insights and acquire practical tools that can be applied immediately.
