Interpretive Profile Report

for

Vani CHOWDURY

The GCAA® is the intellectual property of Global Competence Associates, LLC

© Global Competence Associates, LLC
I. Introduction

Developing Globally Competent Leaders

Today’s economy is characterized by increasing uncertainty, accelerating interdependence, and an

expanding diversity of stakeholders. In this global context, individuals need to transcend traditional
boundaries in order to find solutions, meet challenges, and seize opportunities. They need to align
people, processes, and practices across not only geographies but also across languages and
cultures.

There is ample evidence of a lack of global readiness among individuals and organizations. This
deficiency means that developing global competence is a strategic priority for all.

The Global Competence Aptitude Assessment (GCAA)® is based on extensive original worldwide
research on global competence that was conducted in part by surveying a Delphi panel of experts.
These thought leaders included human resources managers from Fortune 500 companies, United
Nations officials, global business leaders, government officials, educators, and intercultural
consultants across all continents. Based on these findings, we define global competence as:

"Having flexible, respectful attitudes,

including self-perspective,
and applying knowledge of the historical, geographic, and societal factors
that influence cultures
in order to effectively interact and build relationships
with people around the world."

The GCAA® is validated to identify your likelihood of succeeding in a global context. Using eight
distinct scales, it serves as an indicator of your level of both Internal Readiness and External
Readiness. This comprehensive framework provides you with a sound benchmark that can be the
basis of your plan for future personal growth.

How to use your GCAA® profile

The GCAA® enables you to have a grounded and empirically supported understanding of your
present global competence aptitude, and it identifies the areas with the greatest opportunity for your
development. The GCAA® profiles global competence across eight different dimensions, and your
scores provide insight into your relative strengths and the development areas that could benefit from
your further attention. The methods for increasing global competence are varied and depend on the
particular areas that need improvement.

GCAA® results reflect your current aptitude and provide detailed insights into
developmental opportunities for enhancing your global competence.

2
II. Background

The Global Competence Model™

The Global Competence Model™ shown above is a visual representation of the knowledge,
skills, and attitudes necessary for global competence. Beginning at the core is Self-Awareness,
which is the ability to know yourself and how you fit into your own culture. The darker green layer
reflects your attitudes towards other people and situations. The green sections of the model
represent the self-perspective and attitudinal drivers of Global Competence, which comprise the
category of Internal Readiness.

The blue sections, which represent your acquired knowledge through education and life
experiences, comprise the category of External Readiness. The lighter blue ring represents the
knowledge of cultures around the world, which are typically acquired through formal and
continuous education in subjects such as history, geography, and world cultures. The darker blue
ring reflects the interpersonal skills you develop through your life experiences, and your ability to
adapt to the needs and preferences of others. This culmination of skills is shown as you modify
your outward behavior (Intercultural Capability) and interact inclusively and effectively in diverse
groups (Collaboration Across Cultures).

The Global Competence Model™ illustrates how you gain these capacities over time, often
adding new layers of ability. As you move visually outward from the core to the outer rim of the
model, the level of sophistication in your abilities increases. In order to be globally competent, it is
necessary to have strength in both Internal Readiness and External Readiness. Developing
global competence is a life’s journey, and it takes time to hone each of these dimensions.

3
II. Background

Understanding the Global Competence Model™

Internal Readiness includes the personal characteristics and attitudes that enable you to
appreciate cultural differences. Internal Readiness is comprised of four key dimensions:

Self-Awareness
Having a realistic understanding of your own personality, and the ability to interact with others frankly
and confidently, recognizing how you fit into your own social context.

Risk Taking
Willing to try something unfamiliar in order to learn about other people and cultures; recognizing that
making and learning from mistakes is an inevitable step towards personal development; advocating
worthwhile positions that might be unconventional or unpopular.

Open-Mindedness
Being receptive to alternative possibilities; being willing to reconsider an issue despite having
previously formed an opinion; attempting to avoid the conditions and offset factors that limit,
constrain, and/or distort your views; and having curiosity to acquire new information from a variety of
sources and perspectives.

Attentiveness to Diversity
Perceiving and respecting the potential and realized ways that people differ, including innate and
acquired characteristics, in order to holistically appreciate each person as a unique individual.

4
II. Background

Understanding the Global Competence Model™

External Readiness includes the global knowledge and interpersonal skills acquired throughout
your life and work experiences that enable you to effectively navigate the complexities of today’s
interdependent world. External Readiness is comprised of four key dimensions:

Global Awareness
Having breadth of knowledge about the visible aspects of culture across nations and regions of the
world, including geography, language, religion, cuisine, and the arts, as well as the world’s inherent
interconnectedness.

Historical Perspective
Having familiarity with major events from the past that have critically shaped the cultures of nations
and regions around the world, leading to the present beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors, which
are also referred to as the hidden aspects of culture.

Intercultural Capability
Being able to interact effectively and appropriately across cultures; having the capacity to adjust your
approach or behavior in order to be flexible and respectful to another culture.

Collaboration Across Cultures

Being able to work cooperatively and inclusively with a group of people of different backgrounds, such
as in diverse teams, fostering a shared sense of belonging.

5
III. Your GCAA® Results

Reading Your GCAA® Profile

Your GCAA® results are displayed in a profile, which consists of scores for overall Internal Readiness
and overall External Readiness. Each scale has a numeric value between 0 and 100.

There are three ratings that show your progress so far towards achieving global competence across
the Internal Readiness and External Readiness scales. They are as follows:

∙ Introductory Aptitude for Global Competence: You are at the beginning stages on your path
towards achieving global competence.

∙ Developing Aptitude for Global Competence: You have made significant progress towards
global competence.

∙ High Aptitude for Global Competence: You are highly capable and have demonstrated
exceptional global competence aptitude.

Individuals who earn the "High Aptitude" rating for both

Internal Readiness and External Readiness are considered to
be "globally competent." However, as life-long learners, there
are always opportunities to grow.

The numerical ranges for these ratings are labeled on the example bar graphs below with "tick
marks" displayed as ▼ or ▼ to indicate the range limits. These ranges are based on continuous
research and may change over time.

Following are the detailed findings of your GCAA® profile. The overall readiness scores are
presented again along with the scores and interpretation for each of their associated specific
readiness dimensions.

6
III. GCAA® Results for Vani CHOWDURY

Globally Competent individuals have Self-Awareness, Risk Taking tendencies, Open-

Mindedness, and Attentiveness to Diversity. These Internal Readiness dimensions provide a
strong foundation for personal growth, integrity, and potential accomplishment in a variety of
situations.

Internal Readiness

0 100
74

Your score indicates that you presently have a Developing Aptitude for the Internal Readiness category of
global competence. You are making progress towards developing a cross-cultural outlook to support global
competence. However, with personal growth, further developed self-awareness, cross-cultural maturation, and
broader exposure to a variety of circumstances, you have the potential to become even more successful in
diverse cultural and social situations in the future.

Globally Competent individuals have Global Awareness, Historical Perspective, Intercultural

Capability, and engage in Collaboration Across Cultures. These External Readiness
aptitudes provide the basis for potential accomplishment in a variety of cross-cultural situations.

External Readiness

0 100
57

Your score indicates that you presently have an Introductory Aptitude for the External Readiness category of
global competence. Based on your score, you are in the early stages of learning about nations across the globe
and applying that gained knowledge to your interpersonal interactions. However, if you expand your capability so
that both your cross-cultural navigational skills and your knowledge of major cultures around the entire world are
elevated to higher levels, you have the potential for significantly better relations with the people you encounter.

7
III. GCAA® Results for Vani CHOWDURY

Overall Internal Readiness

0 100
74

Self-Awareness
0 100
97

You have a strong sense of self-awareness and likely know yourself, including your personal strengths, preferences,
and developmental areas. It is also important to recognize appropriate conduct and common values in your present
environment and to consider how you fit into that place, which contributes to your personal identity. However, if you
have spent years of your life immersed in more than one culture, you may not have a strong association with one
particular society or culture. Self-perspective often helps you when interacting within and outside familiar surroundings.

Risk Taking
0 100
56

You are likely quite uncomfortable taking risks or exploring unfamiliar cultures and situations. Learning about other
people or cultures around the world involves trying new things. You probably do not yet realize that growth comes when
you move beyond the status quo, and it involves overcoming uncertainty and fear of embarrassment, as well as making
and learning from mistakes. Stretching yourself beyond your comfort zone through new and different experiences and
gaining confidence to tactfully support or share unconventional ideas with others can add to your personal and career
growth.

Open-Mindedness
0 100
70

You often seek out and/or engage with a wide variety of information. You can further develop open-mindedness and
reduce biases by broadening your exposure to a wide variety of perspectives and allowing the new information to
influence your thoughts and expand your views. Deepening your curiosity and actively seeking new points of view in a
neutral and direct manner before drawing conclusions can enhance your global outlook.

Attentiveness to Diversity
0 100
77

While you may notice pronounced physical aspects of diversity, such as race or gender, you sometimes also notice
more subtle aspects of diversity, such as national culture, language, religion, attitudes, communication style, or
experiences. Increasing your exposure to a variety of people and situations outside your current environment will
enable you to perceive both obvious differences as well as nuances in various cultures more often.

Diversity is a uniting factor, and you may not consider unfamiliar situations or cross-cultural interactions as an
opportunity to gain new understanding about others, which can counteract judgment. Increasing such awareness of
others and then respecting differences can positively support holistic diversity appreciation.

8
III. GCAA® Results for Vani CHOWDURY

Your Education Peer Group Comparison:

Your GCAA® performance is shown in the following graphs and charts to help you compare your
scores with those of others who have achieved similar levels of education. "Percentile" represents a
ranking of participants’ performance and shows the percentage of the group that a person’s scores
equal or exceed. The higher the percentile value is, the greater a person’s performance is compared
to others in the peer group. "Mean" represents the average performance of individuals in the peer
group.

Internal Readiness

Education Peer Group: College or University Freshman / 1st Year Post-Secondary Education

70

Overall Internal Readiness Percentile

Your Overall Internal Readiness score of 74

is in the 70th Percentile of your peer group.

Internal Self Risk Open Attentiveness

Statistic
Readiness Awareness Taking Mindedness to Diversity
Your Scores 74 97 56 70 77
Peer Means 70 73 69 69 68

9
III. GCAA® Results for Vani CHOWDURY

Overall External Readiness

0 100
57

Global Awareness
0 100
46

You currently have a limited understanding of the visible aspects of cultures around the world. Awareness of
geography, language, religion, cuisine, the arts, and other associated contributors to cultures across the globe helps
you understand the daily life of the people from those nations and regions. While you may have knowledge about one
or more of the world's regions, you will increase your success by broadening your awareness to other areas around the
globe. It is not likely that you currently recognize how occurrences in one nation may lead to reverberations regionally
or globally due to inherent interconnectedness. However, increasing your knowledge can help you understand
synergies throughout the global economy and society.

Historical Perspective
0 100
33

You likely have a limited foundation and understanding of world history. You may not yet recognize how historical
factors have played major roles in the establishment of national boundaries, transnational alliances, trade, global
governance, and in the spread of language and religion, as well as in other areas of modern society. However,
acquiring such knowledge can greatly improve your overall understanding and effectiveness in international situations.
As history is the basis of culture, learning more about major historical events around the globe can provide the
framework to better understand people from varied cultural backgrounds, their diverse perspectives, and their values.

Intercultural Capability
0 100
80

You frequently adjust your behavior to show respect and flexibility towards another culture. Your intercultural
interactions would improve further if you were to more regularly treat others as they like to be treated, which
demonstrates empathy towards their needs. When you make seamless, intentional, and subtle adjustments in your
style or approach, you are also showing respect and a desire for positive interactions. Enhancing this skill will improve
your relations with people of diverse backgrounds.

Collaboration Across Cultures

0 100
64

At the present time, you are not likely interacting in a cooperative and inclusive manner with groups of people from
diverse backgrounds, possibly due to a limited awareness of varying cultural norms, work styles, or personalities,
among other differences. Establishing a diverse team culture means including a variety of perspectives, exposures, and
experiences, as well as accommodating all team members’ needs and preferences, and bridging their differences.
When you regularly demonstrate that others' contributions are valued, respected, and welcomed, you will also foster a
sense of belonging. Intentionally engaging a variety of voices will lead to significantly higher quality work output, which
is a benefit of diverse and effective teamwork.

10
III. GCAA® Results for Vani CHOWDURY

Your Education Peer Group Comparison:

Your GCAA® performance is shown in the following graphs and charts to help you compare your
scores with those of others who have achieved similar levels of education. "Percentile" represents a
ranking of participants’ performance and shows the percentage of the group that a person’s scores
equal or exceed. The higher the percentile value is, the greater a person’s performance is compared
to others in the peer group. "Mean" represents the average performance of individuals in the peer
group.

External Readiness

Education Peer Group: College or University Freshman / 1st Year Post-Secondary Education

54

Overall External Readiness Percentile

Your Overall External Readiness score of 57

is in the 54th Percentile of your peer group.

Collaboration
External Global Historical Intercultural
Statistic Across
Readiness Awareness Perspective Capability
Cultures
Your Scores 57 46 33 80 64
Peer Means 55 48 37 68 66

11
III. GCAA® Results for Vani CHOWDURY

GCAA® Profile Improvement Opportunities

Based on your current GCAA® profile, the targeted areas for your further global competence aptitude
development are prioritized in rank order below:

Greatest Opportunity for Development

When considering your personal growth towards global competence aptitude, focused attention in the
following dimension(s) would benefit you the most:
∙ Historical Perspective
∙ Global Awareness
∙ Risk Taking
∙ Collaboration Across Cultures

Intermediate Opportunity for Development

Your aptitude for global competence is progressing. In order to fully achieve your maximum potential,
you are encouraged to further develop capability in the following dimension(s):

∙ Open-Mindedness
∙ Attentiveness to Diversity
∙ Intercultural Capability

Continuous Refinement Opportunity for Development

As a lifelong learner, you may choose to seek out opportunities to continually improve, even though
your global competence aptitude is very strong in the following dimension(s):

∙ Self-Awareness

Various options for Developmental Resources are presented in the last section of the report. These
basic resources are provided to support the specific dimensions identified in your GCAA® profile and
to offer initial suggestions as you continue your global competence development journey.

12
III. GCAA® Results for Vani CHOWDURY

Self-Reflection

This section provides you an opportunity to reflect on your GCAA® results. Take time to consider
your GCAA® profile and respond to the following questions:

1. Were you surprised by any of your results? If so, why?

2. Do you agree with your results and relative global competence strengths and developmental areas
that the assessment identified? Where do you agree or disagree?

3. How have your background and experiences influenced your level of global competence? What
were some of your key influences?

13
III. GCAA® Results for Vani CHOWDURY

Self-Reflection
4. How do your results relate to your current challenges, issues and concerns when interacting in a
globalized society or economy?

5. What are your specific objectives for your personal global competence development?

14
IV. Developmental Resources

At any global competence aptitude level, Global Competence Associates, LLC recommends on-going
learning and development such as global knowledge enrichment, high-level cross-cultural
communication programs or courses and globalized diversity, equity, and inclusion programming, as
well as regular exposure to people from a variety of cultures, language bases, races and ethnicities,
religions, and differences in perspective. We are providing some general and specific
recommendations for enhancing the various dimensions of global competence. Depending on your
circumstance or available resources, you may tailor your development to incorporate one or more of
the following:

Self-Study

There are resources, across various forms of media, to further your understanding and knowledge of
a particular topic.

Activities

There are practical activities that you can engage in alone or with a group to enhance your
self-perspective, attitudes, global knowledge, and/or interpersonal skills. As some activities support
multiple dimensions of global competence, each suggestion is listed wherever appropriate throughout
this Developmental Resources section.

Training

Online and instructor-led training solutions are excellent vehicles to support global competence
development as targeted by the GCAA®. Some programs may be available to you through open
enrollment seminars, or through your organization or institution, or through training and consulting
firms.

Please note that Global Competence Associates, LLC offers a portfolio of targeted training
sessions specifically designed to support GCAA® results. For information about these offerings,
or other recommended programs, please visit: [Link]/Solutions.

Coaching

A coach can assist in developing very specific global competence capabilities. This option is
more costly, however, it can be very effective when global competence is critical to success. For
recommendations of endorsed coaches, please contact: [Link]/Contact-
Us.

15
IV. Developmental Resources

Resources to Promote Overall Global Competence

Following are some general recommendations for activities and self-study. No singular activity, book
or website is likely to increase all dimensions of global competence. Therefore, developing a plan that
combines relevant aspects of the following suggestions will enhance your overall global competence
aptitude over time.

Activities

∙ Engage with people who are from different backgrounds, traditions, and heritages whenever you have such
an opportunity. Ask about their perspectives, experiences, and ways of life. Listen attentively so that you
can learn and develop understanding, being careful not to judge.

∙ Observe and/or participate in a religious gathering, ceremony, worship service, or event for a faith outside
your own.

∙ When you have the opportunity and the financial means, travel to other countries and regions that have a
different cultural heritage than the one with which you most identify. The greater the difference in cultures,
the greater the growth that you will likely experience. Immerse yourself in the local culture as much as
possible, rather than focusing entirely on experiences that cater specifically to tourists.

16
IV. Developmental Resources

Internal Readiness

Self-Study

∙ Facebook. (2015). Managing Unconscious Bias. Facebook (currently Meta) has recorded its internal
training program about understanding and managing unconscious bias, and then published it as a 60
min. e-learning that can be viewed in one sitting or in six modules. Materials are available for
download. [Link]

∙ Lurie, J. (2018). Perception and deception: A mind-opening journey across cultures (2nd ed.).
Nipporica Associates. This is a compilation of stories about cross-cultural misunderstandings from over
70 countries around the world and focuses on the nature of perception and perspective. The book
supports the enhancement of self-awareness as well as sensitivity to people from other cultural
backgrounds. ISBN 978-0970846365

∙ Nordell, J. (2021). The end of bias: A beginning: The Science and practice of overcoming unconscious
bias. Metropolitan Books, Henry Holt and Company. This book explains implicit bias, which is
persistent, unintentional prejudiced behavior that clashes with our consciously held beliefs, discusses
how biased behavior can change, and outlines approaches to eradicate unintentional bias and
discrimination. ISBN-13 978-1250186188
Activities

∙ Take advantage of special traveling museum exhibits that may be on display in a city near you. Such
exhibit collections often tour the world.

∙ Dine at a restaurant that maintains the culture and cuisine of the nation it represents. If possible,
choose a restaurant whose proprietor and/or chef is a recent emigrant from the represented country, or
is using authentic recipes that originated from the country or region that is being represented. Also
observe and appreciate other cultural references in the décor, music, table settings, and menu
descriptions.

∙ Visit ethnic grocery, handicraft, or packaged goods stores to increase your appreciation of ingredients
and products from different cultures and areas of the world.

∙ Attend cultural festivals in your community or in a neighboring region.

17
IV. Developmental Resources

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is at the core of global competence. Enhancing it is a continuous effort as you learn more
about your own personal strengths and developmental areas. It is also important to recognize appropriate
conduct and common values in your present environment. While you may personally disagree with some of
these views, your personal understanding of how you fit into the society around you contributes to your
sense of personal identity.

Be advised, if you have spent years of your life immersed in more than one culture, you may not have a
strong association with one particular society or culture, which can result in a lower Self-Awareness score. If
this is your situation, we recommend Megan Norton’s book Belonging Beyond Borders: How Adult Third
Culture Kids Can Cultivate a Sense of Belonging in order to cultivate greater Self-Awareness.

Self-Study

∙ Davis, K. (2006). Interactive Johari Window. This website provides an opportunity to compare a self-
appraisal with a 360° feedback appraisal. [Link]

∙ Harvard Business Review, Goleman, D., Kaplan, R.S., David, S., Eurich, T. (2018). Self-Awareness
(HBR Emotional Intelligence Series). Harvard Business Publishing. ISBN 9781633696624

∙ Miller, K. (2020, Mar. 13). How to increase self-awareness: 16 activities & tools + PDF.
[Link]. [Link]

∙ Norton, M. (2022). Belonging beyond borders: How adult Third Culture Kids can cultivate a sense of
belonging. Belonging Beyond Borders, LLC. This book fosters belonging for people with mixed cultural
identities. ISBN 979-8987211106

∙ Wilson, V.S. (n.d.). What is cultural identity and why is it important? Exceptional Futures. https://
[Link]/cultural-identity/
Activities

∙ Explore your personal and cultural framework. Begin by identifying your heritage, and your living and
working environments. Continue by identifying a variety of aspects of your life, such as your likes,
dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, preferences, values, etc. Then consider how these aspects align with
those of others in your environment and the greater community. Identify how elements of your
preferences and values may be similar to or different from the expectations of others and the society
around you.

∙ Start a journal. Writing about your experiences on a daily or weekly basis will help you examine your
actions, perceptions, and experiences. Such an activity cultivates an observer perspective, which is a
more detached vantage point for self-evaluation.

18
IV. Developmental Resources

Risk Taking

What feels risky to one person may not feel the same to someone else, since risk is defined by a set
of personal and subjective perspectives and experiences. To be globally competent you need to learn
about other cultures by experiencing them firsthand or by interacting with individuals from different
cultural backgrounds. If you are afraid to move beyond the familiar or the status quo, you are denying
yourself the opportunity for a new experience, more information, or broader perspective, which can
stifle your growth. Therefore, developing an inclination for taking risks requires taking steps to
gradually enlarge your comfort zone – however small or large it may be at the moment.
Self-Study

∙ Cooks-Campbell, A. (2022, Jul. 20). Tired of playing it safe? Learn how to take risks that pay off.
BetterUp. [Link]

∙ MorningCoach (2022, Dec. 28). The benefits of taking risks. [Link]

benefits-of-taking-risks

∙ Page, O. (2020, Nov. 4). How to leave your comfort zone and enter your ‘growth zone.’
[Link]. This article also includes a 2014 TED talk from Carol Dweck, “The power of
believing that you can improve.” [Link]

∙ Senge, P.M. (2006). The fifth discipline: The art & practice of the learning organization. Doubleday.
This book discusses the 21st century need to continually innovate in order to sustain relevance. ISBN
978-0385517256

∙ Treasurer, B. (2019). Courage goes to work: How to build backbones, boost performance, and get
results. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. ISBN 9781523098569
Activities

∙ Explore your cultural framework by first identifying your heritage, living, and working environments.
Then identify a variety of aspects of your life, such as likes, dislikes, tastes, hobbies, etc. Next
determine experiences that you can safely undertake to expand your cross-cultural horizons. At least
once a month, purposefully engage in one of these experiences and reflect on the new situation you
encountered. Continue to challenge yourself by moving further and further beyond your present cultural
framework.

∙ Change a pattern or routine and try something different or unfamiliar to expand beyond your current
comfort zone. Start with understanding your present limits. Make a list of things that feel risky to you
and that you have never done before. For some, this may mean eating unfamiliar foods, going to an
ethnic festival or celebration that you have never attended, or taking a trip to a location that may seem
adventurous. You can embark on these activities in a group or team, which may reduce your sense of
risk while still providing a new exposure opportunity.

∙ Practice tactfully presenting your position on a subject, even if others may disagree, or supporting a
less popular perspective that merits consideration.

19
IV. Developmental Resources

Open-Mindedness

Developing open-mindedness requires accepting new information and allowing it to enlighten your
opinions about issues and other people, as well as opinions about yourself. Stereotypes often reflect
dominant or pervasive attitudes in your social and cultural surroundings. However, you can start to
address biases and stereotypes by diversifying your exposures, challenging views, and also asking
open-ended and thoughtful questions, which are key aspects of ”Appreciative Inquiry.” These
approaches can broaden your understanding of different perspectives, preferences, cultures, ways of
life, and experiences.
Self-Study

∙ Adams, M. (2022). Change your questions, change your life: 12 powerful tools for leadership, coaching,
and results (4th ed.). Berrett-Koehler Publishers. This book teaches the reader how to choose
questions that change attitudes from judging to learning, also referred to as “Question Thinking” or
“Appreciative Inquiry.” ISBN 978-1523091034

∙ Cherry, K. (2022 Feb. 17). How to be open-minded. Verywell Mind. [Link]

more-open-minded-4690673

∙ Facebook (2015). Managing unconscious bias. Facebook (currently Meta) has shared its internal 60
min. training program. [Link]

∙ Indeed Career Guide (2022, Nov. 7). Cultural curiosity: What it is and tips for improving yours. Indeed.
[Link]

∙ Nordell, J. (2021). The end of bias: A beginning: The science and practice of overcoming unconscious
bias. Metropolitan Books, Henry Holt and Co. This book explains implicit bias and how to stop such
discrimination. ISBN-13 978-1250186188
Activities

∙ Listen to music from other countries or regions.

∙ Join online communities to connect with people from different cultures or with groups whose mission is
to share information about other nations or cultures.

∙ Examine your unconscious biases and erroneous judgments, and then ponder how these attitudes
developed.

∙ Increase your use of open-ended questions (e.g., “What?” or “How?”) to foster a deeper understanding,
rather than closed-ended questions (e.g., those that need only “yes” or “no” answers). Be cautious with
using “Why?” questions as they may seem critical to others. Paraphrase and probe further with
empathy and respect (i.e., practice Appreciative Inquiry via the Self-Study resources above).

∙ Practice empathetic listening skills to truly attempt to appreciate and understand the other person’s
perspective or situation.

20
IV. Developmental Resources

Attentiveness to Diversity

Enhancing your attentiveness to diversity involves life-long learning as it includes a wide spectrum of
differences that we experience daily. Such differences may include innate characteristics, such as
age, race, gender, ethnicity, mental and physical abilities, or sexual orientation, as well as acquired
characteristics such as education, income, religion, work experience, language skills, geographic
location, family status, or worldview. These differences are highly nuanced and may stem from
various sources. Respect for all the ways in which people differ, including personalities and
preferences, is critical for effective interactions in your own culture, as well as in cross-cultural
settings.
Self-Study

∙ Anand, R. (2021). Leading global diversity, equity, and inclusion: A guide for systemic change in
multinational organizations. This book provides a much-needed global view of DEI as what works in
one nation may not be appropriate elsewhere. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. ISBN 978-1523000241

∙ Gilbert, J. (2022). Diversity in the workplace: Essentials you always wanted to know. Vibrant
Publishers. This 21st century holistic discussion of diversity spans physical, cognitive, relational,
occupational, societal, and values categories of diversity, as well as equity and inclusion. ISBN
978-1636511146

∙ Reiners, B. (2022, Jun. 14). Types of diversity in the workplace you need to know: A guide to 39 unique
diversity characteristics. Built In.
[Link]
Activities

∙ Dine at a restaurant that maintains the culture and cuisine of the nation it represents. If possible, select
a restaurant whose proprietor and/or chef is a recent emigrant from the represented country, or is using
authentic recipes. Also observe and appreciate other cultural references in the décor, music, table
settings, and menu descriptions.

∙ Listen to music from other countries or regions.

∙ Join online communities to connect with people from different nations or cultures or with groups whose
mission is to share such information.

∙ Examine your unconscious biases and erroneous judgments, and then ponder how these attitudes
developed.

∙ Consider a mentoring or reverse mentoring program with someone from a different background than
you so you can learn more about differences.

∙ Challenge a peer who may stereotype and encourage them to respect differences in others.
∙ Practice pausing to delay your verbal responses, and instead follow-up with open-ended questions,
which can replace judgment with deeper understanding.

21
IV. Developmental Resources

External Readiness

Self-Study

∙ Dicken, P. (2015). Global shift: Mapping the changing contours of the world economy (7th ed.). Guilford
Press. This is a very comprehensive resource for understanding the complexities of globalization, the
key economic factors and industry trends, as well as major dilemmas and challenges. ISBN
978-1462519552

∙ Dumetz, J. (Ed.) (2012). Cross-cultural management textbook: Lessons from the world leading experts.
CreateSpace Independent Publishing. This book is a great resource to learn about the most salient
theories and practical applications in the area of cross-cultural management. ISBN 978-1479159680

∙ Hill, C.W.L. (2021). Global business today (12th ed.). McGraw Hill. This book provides practical
applications and shares trends regarding the interconnected global economy. ISBN 978-1264067503

∙ Oxford University Press (n.d.) Atlas of the world. Oxford University Press. Updated annually, this book
is the most comprehensive and authoritative atlas available, and includes a concise overview of the
geography, politics, economy, and history of every country in the world.
Activities

∙ Increase your breadth of knowledge regarding the growing interconnectedness of nations and regions,
and the issues and trends that exist across the entire world. While the sheer breadth of information to
learn can be daunting, find a starting point from which to develop and expand your knowledge across
all the continents and major regions around the globe. The best way to begin is with a period of time,
an issue, or a concern that you are curious or passionate about. Following an issue, then recognizing
the intersection with other nations or issues, and subsequently pursuing those areas will, over time,
advance your understanding of the complex forces that shape the global society.

∙ View films and documentaries that help explain the history or culture of a people or a period of time.
∙ Join online communities to connect with people from different cultures or with groups whose mission is
to share information about other nations or cultures.

∙ Dine at a restaurant that maintains the culture and cuisine of the nation it represents. If possible,
choose a restaurant whose proprietor and/or chef is a recent emigrant from the represented country, or
is using authentic recipes that originated from the country or region that is being represented. Also
observe and appreciate other cultural references in the décor, music, table settings, and menu
descriptions.

22
IV. Developmental Resources

Global Awareness

Honing global awareness means developing breadth of knowledge regarding the visible aspects of
cultures around the world. These readily observable contributions to culture include geography,
language, religion, cuisine, native dress, and the arts. Such knowledge is important when you interact
with someone from another culture, either through travel or virtual meeting, or when you meet an
international in your country. Regardless of whether the encounter was planned or unplanned, it is
critical to be aware of ways of life in other cultures, as globalization has increased our
interconnectedness.
Self-Study

∙ Oxford University Press (2021). New concise world atlas (6th ed.). Oxford University Press. This atlas
includes maps and global data. ISBN 9780197551745

∙ Oxford University Press (n.d.). Atlas of the world. Oxford University Press. Updated annually, this book
is the most comprehensive and authoritative atlas available, and includes a concise overview of the
geography, politics, economy, and history of every country in the world.

∙ United Nations. (n.d.) This website references global issues. [Link]

Activities

∙ Visit a history or cultural museum nearby or when traveling elsewhere to understand the ethnicities of
the people who have settled in the locale, and how the environment and the issues of the day affect
their way of life.

∙ Travel to a community outside your own and learn about the backgrounds of the various people, their
religious and cultural practices, their languages, cuisines, etc., and how migration patterns have
changed the dynamics of the area.

∙ View films and documentaries that help explain the integrated geography of the earth and its people or
provide insight towards culture or periods of time.

∙ Take advantage of special traveling museum exhibits that may be on display in a city near you. Such
exhibit collections often tour the world.

∙ Dine at a restaurant that maintains the culture and cuisine of the nation it represents. If possible, select
a restaurant whose proprietor and/or chef is a recent emigrant from the represented country, or is using
authentic recipes. Also observe and appreciate other cultural references in the décor, music, table
settings, and menu descriptions.

∙ Visit ethnic grocery, handicraft, or packaged goods stores to increase your appreciation of ingredients
and products from different areas of the world.

∙ Listen to music from other countries or regions.

∙ Attend cultural festivals in your community or in a neighboring region.
∙ Read or watch news or other programming from various countries or listen to podcasts. Many
publishers offer full or limited English and other language editions on the Internet.

23
IV. Developmental Resources

Historical Perspective

Developing historical perspective means learning to appreciate past influences that have shaped
people and societies in the modern day. While this does not mean painstakingly memorizing facts,
names, or dates, it does entail learning about the experiences and events that shaped peoples’
collective consciousnesses, sensitivities, and frames of reference, influencing their cultural values
and behaviors. However, as much as historical textbooks are helpful, it is challenging for them to be
truly “objective” or fully explore and interpret historical events holistically. A few references are offered
below, although it is important to recognize that no one source may fully represent the perspectives of
all peoples engaged in a particular conflict or during a specified period of time.
Self-Study

∙ Gascoigne, B. (n.d.) HistoryWorld. This site is highly accessible and relevant due to its interactive
narratives and timelines. [Link]

∙ History (n.d.). [Link] This website is a multimedia collection of resources; pages that
are especially informative include [Link] and https://
[Link]/topics

∙ Woolf, A. (2014). A short history of the world: The story of mankind from prehistory to the modern day.
Arcturus Publishing. This book is ideal for quick reference as well as in-depth reading. ISBN
978-1848589407

∙ Woolf, A. (2017). A short history of the world: The story of mankind from prehistory to the modern day
[eBook edition]. Arcturus Publishing. ASIN B075S7VFF8

∙ World History Encyclopedia (n.d.) This website is a multimedia collection that includes a searchable
encyclopedia, timelines, maps, videos, and podcasts. [Link]
Activities

∙ Visit a history or cultural museum nearby or when traveling elsewhere to understand the ethnicities of
the people who settled in the locale.

∙ Travel to a community outside your own to learn about the history of the area and events that shaped
the lives of its inhabitants. Take the opportunity to learn about the backgrounds of the various people,
their religious and cultural practices, their languages, cuisine, etc. and how immigrants changed the
culture of the local community and surrounding area.

∙ Take advantage of special traveling museum exhibits that may be on display in a city near you. Such
exhibit collections often tour the world.

∙ Watch films, documentaries, and videos, or listen to reputable podcasts that help explain the history or
culture of a people or a period of time.

∙ Take a world history course online or at a local educational institution or participate in other self-guided
learning programs where you can learn about world history.

24
IV. Developmental Resources

Intercultural Capability

Developing the ability to interact effectively and appropriately in intercultural situations requires
practice, reflection, and feedback. Developing intercultural capability entails first learning about and
paying attention to various aspects and dimensions of cultural differences. Next it is important to
subtly modify your communication or interaction approach to be sensitive to the needs of the other(s).
The ultimate goal is treating others as they prefer to be treated, which supports the development of
strong relationships.
Self-Study

∙ Menabney, D. (2019, Jan. 8). Three things to stop doing when working across cultures. Forbes.
[Link]

∙ Mind Tools. (n.d.) It is important to be aware of possible differences that you may encounter when
interacting across cultures, and this online learning platform includes two helpful foundational articles:

1.) Hofstede's cultural dimensions: Understanding different countries, which describes the research
from Hofstede and his team beginning in the 1970s [Link]
cultural-dimensions

2.) The seven dimensions of culture: Understanding and managing cultural differences, which
describes researched dimensions from Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner that they reported in 1997.
[Link]

∙ Ting-Toomey, S. and Dorje, T. (2018). Communicating across cultures (2nd ed.) Guilford Press. This
book supports effective intercultural communication for students and professionals. ISBN
978-1462536474
Activities

∙ Join online communities to connect with people from different cultures or with groups whose mission is
to share information about other nations or cultures.

∙ Ask for personal feedback from culturally diverse stakeholders who know you well, such as, parents,
managers, mentors, colleagues, teammates, objective friends, etc., and who can share an honest
external perspective. Listen openly and non-defensively. Be grateful for seemingly negative comments,
which can be the most constructive as they can identify areas where you can improve, and then work
to address their suggestions.

∙ Consider the impact of, and possibly act upon, policies and procedures that affect the global audience
in your organization.

∙ Apply the Platinum Rule (i.e., treating others as they wish to be treated) to your daily interactions and
aspire to always interact according to this principle.

25
IV. Developmental Resources

Collaboration Across Cultures

In the modern day, you need to work cooperatively, inclusively, and effectively across a group of
people with diverse backgrounds and cultures. Establishing a diverse team culture means including a
variety of perspectives, exposures, and experiences, as well as accommodating all team members’
needs and preferences, and demonstrating that their contributions are valued, respected, and
welcomed. Actively engaging different voices will lead to higher quality work output, which is a benefit
of diverse teamwork.
Self-Study

∙ Bellflower, L. 2022. Diverse teams: The secrets of managing culturally diverse teams. [Kindle edition]
ASIN: B0BFQ4HG4Q

∙ Chadwick, P. & Moberg, P. (2013). Foolproof international communication. Japco Publishing House.
This is a great resource for improving international communication with exercises, examples and
relevant guidelines. ISBN 978-9163711169

∙ Sigillito Hollema, T. (2020). Virtual teams across cultures: Create successful teams around the world.
Interact Global. ISBN 978-9083076904

∙ Stavros, J. and Torres, C. (2021). Conversations worth having: Using Appreciative Inquiry to fuel
productive and meaningful engagement (2nd ed.). Learn to ask questions to deepen understanding
and strengthen teams. ISBN 978-1523000104

∙ The Open University (2019). Working in diverse teams [Kindle edition]. Provided by a U.K. public
research university, this free 24-hour course supports diverse teamwork and is downloadable to Kindle
or the free Kindle app. ASIN B082Y5X1Q7

∙ Ting-Toomey, S. and Dorje, T. (2018). Communicating Across Cultures (2nd ed.) Guilford Press. This
book supports effective intercultural communication for students and professionals. ISBN
978-1462536474

∙ Yvanovich, R. (2020, Aug. 7). 5 challenges of diversity in the workplace and how to overcome them.
TRG International. [Link]
Activities

∙ Surround yourself with people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and capabilities. Whenever
possible, create or join diverse teams in order to improve the quality of your work and gain experience
bridging differences in preferred work and communication styles.

∙ Join online communities to connect with people from different cultures or with groups whose mission is
to share information about other nations or cultures.

∙ Consider a mentoring or reverse mentoring program with someone from a different background than
you in order to become more aware of differences in personal style, communication preferences, etc.

∙ Consider the impact of, and possibly act upon, policies and procedures that affect the global audience
in your organization.

26