Explore every episode of the podcast Cultural Communication Confidence
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
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| 157 - Connect with Cultural Intelligence: Pillar Four | 01 Dec 2025 | 00:14:05 | |
In this podcast episode, I'm celebrating a very special moment: my book, Become a Global Leader, launched last week and has already become a best-seller in Career Advancement and Professional Development! This episode focuses on the final and, in my view, most important pillar of my book: Connecting across Cultures with Cultural Intelligence. In today's world, AI and technical skills and fluency are of course vital, but what truly sets great global leaders apart is the ability to connect with others, communicate genuinely in conversations that show their human side, and connect in meaningful relationships across cultural boundaries. This episode explores why human connection is a superpower, the challenge in communication overload and collaboration tools, and highlights the key skills that make a real impact in connection. What you will learn in this episode:
How intentional are you with the way you connect with people? Where could cultural intelligence help you connect better with your team? If you haven't got your copy of my book, Become a Global Leader, now is the time. It's packed with practical strategies and activation exercises designed to elevate your visibility, influence, impact and connection globally. Get your copy here https://culturecuppa.com/book/ I'd also love to hear how this episode and the book resonate with you. Reach out to me on LinkedIn at Victoria Rennoldson, or leave a review on Amazon to help others discover the book. Resources:
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| 156 - Bridge Challenging Conversations: Pillar Three | 24 Nov 2025 | 00:16:08 | |
In this podcast, we continue our series exploring the pillars of my new book, Become a Global Leader. Today we focus on a capability that every global leader should master if they want real impact in their career and leadership growth: bridge challenging conversations. Challenging conversations appear in every organisation, every industry and every team. What distinguishes a global leader with strong communication skills and cultural intelligence is how to navigate these situations. In this episode, I guide you through the foundations you need before stepping onto the challenging conversation bridge, my framework to resolve conflict, including designing purposeful conversations, understanding the cultural angles in disagreements and turning up your empathy radar so you can move away from division and towards solutions. You'll also hear why openness must come first in any difficult dialogue, how to ladder up to a common goal to reduce friction and create alignment and why adopting an innovation mindset helps you move from conflict to future-focused collaboration. We then explore Listening 101, a practical approach to intelligent listening that supports better leader communication, how to refocus when you're distracted and how to get others' attention when they are not listening to you. Finally, we look at communicating boundaries, why saying no is hard and how to say it clearly and assertively without damaging relationships, especially in culturally diverse settings. In this episode:
Reflection Questions:
I always enjoy hearing what resonates with you, so feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and share your reflections! If you haven't yet got your copy of my new book, Become a Global Leader, you can find it at http://www.culturecuppa.com/book - plus access the free book resources that accompany the book. And if you're already reading it and finding it valuable, I would love for you to share your Amazon review- thank you! https://mybook.to/GlobalLeader Resources:
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| 147 - Authentic leadership with Sri Sharma | 22 Sep 2025 | 00:36:31 | |
Evolving your leadership today isn't only about strategy, goals and performance, it's about people, being real and growing through change, with all its highs and lows. In this episode, I'm joined by Sri Sharma, serial technology entrepreneur, who has founded 2 companies that have both sold to private equity, and is now a strategic advisor to B2B software and agency scale-ups. In our conversation we explore what it means to be a leader with authenticity, how to build global teams, and stay resilient and strong in moments of uncertainty and business pressure. Sri shares about how leadership is different from management, the power of truthful communication, and how to lead high-performing remote and multicultural teams. He offers brilliant insights on empathy, mentoring, and how to keep learning and evolving your leadership style. What you'll learn in this episode:
Reflection Questions:
Boost your leadership communication skills with my free training resource to accompany the podcast, Global Leader Impact. Download it now at https://www.culturecuppa.com/leader and strengthen the key communication skills you need. Resources:
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| 066 - Guest Interview: Breaking the cultural autopilot with Vanessa Paisley | 18 Dec 2023 | 00:36:16 | |
Vanessa Paisley, trainer and lecturer in the field of intercultural communication and English as a global language, was born in Tanzania, grew up in the UK, lived and worked in Austria for 23 years, and repatriated to the UK 9 years ago. In her work she helps people to meet the challenges of living and working across cultures, both in relocating individuals from one country to another (especially to the UK and Austria) and in supporting multicultural project teams to communicate and cooperate effectively. Vanessa also works on a cross-cultural study program for professional students from Austria and India. Vanessa and I explored how to break the cultural autopilot to understand the people we work with, how globalisation does not automatically lead to a successful global mindset, and why slowing the pace of communication is critical for connection and inclusivity. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 065- 7 tips for a successful informational interview | 11 Dec 2023 | 00:11:37 | |
7 tips for a successful informational interview. In this fourth and final episode of my new mini podcast series about strategies to optimise your communication for job searching, we are exploring how to maximise the time you have available to talk with a connection who has agreed to help you on your job search. You may have only 15-20 minutes, so how you approach the conversation matters, including what you choose to talk about, how you open and close the conversation impactfully, and connect well with them. I will also share what not to talk about, and what you can request as a follow up after the informational interview. What you will learn in this episode:
Why not explore the full series of episodes on communicating in your job search:
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| 064 - Career outreach: crafting compelling cold messages | 04 Dec 2023 | 00:12:05 | |
Career outreach: crafting compelling cold messages. In this third episode of my new podcast mini series about strategies to optimise your communication for job searching, we discuss how to send messages to connect and meet people who can help you with your job hunt. Some of you may feel uncomfortable sending cold and outreach messages to people you don't know, and feel like you come across as very sales-y. While some of you are happy to send the messages, however the way you write them today does not connect and you will be ignored. So how can you in a brief message connect with the other person, so they want to accept your request and give you their time to help you with your job search? Today I share in this podcast episode the mindset reframe on outreach and cold messages, best practices to writing great messages which have a higher chance of reply and how to avoid the common mistakes I often see. What you will learn in this episode:
Why not explore the previous episodes in this podcast mini series- Strategies for CV and resume success, and First impressions in networking: the power of impactful introductions. Look out for the next episode on Tips for a successful informational interview. Resources:
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| 063 - First impressions in networking: the power of impactful introductions | 27 Nov 2023 | 00:12:49 | |
First impressions in networking: the power of impactful introductions. In this second episode of my new podcast mini series about strategies to optimise your communication for job searching, we are talking about how to answer that deceptively simple question, 'What do you do?'. We start with exploring how you want to show up at networking events to maximise connections that can help your job search. I will then share the usual way people introduce themselves and why it doesn't work to open the conversation. Finally I will give you my framework to help you introduce yourself in a way which is impactful, memorable and helps you get closer to your ideal job. What you will learn in this episode:
Why not explore the previous episode in this podcast mini series: Strategies for CV and resume success. Look out for the next episodes on how to craft compelling outreach and cold messages, and tips for a successful informational interview. Resources:
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| 062 - Strategies for CV and Resume Success | 20 Nov 2023 | 00:18:30 | |
Make your CV/ resume stand out. Following on from our recent podcast mini series on interview success, I have received questions about other aspects of job searching and applications. So in this new mini series I am going to be sharing more strategies on optimising your communication for other job related themes, including strategies for CV/ resume success, how to introduce yourself impactfully at networking, send outreach and cold messages that get replies, and tips for a successful informational interview. In this first episode in the mini series, we are focusing on your CV/ resume, including how this enhances your personal brand, the key areas to the key areas to optimise and refine, what to consider in the layout and format, and answering questions about the professional approach to CV/ resume writing in the UK and US. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 061 - Guest interview: Cultural stereotypes vs reality: the Gulf with Corina Goetz | 13 Nov 2023 | 00:37:38 | |
Corina Goetz is our guest today on Cultural Communication Confidence. She is the Founder of Star-CaT, a Middle East Strategist and Cultural Expert for the Gulf. Corina helps Westerners further their cultural understanding, and create better relationships in the region and therefore grow and expand their businesses. Corina and I had a fascinating conversation, where we explored stereotypes in the Gulf, how cultural insight is important for business, and the main differences between the West and the Gulf in reality. She shares common mistakes businesses make when they try to expand here, including how to adapt your communication approach in interactions. Corina also talks about her tips on being a woman visiting the Gulf, and how to make the most of the rapidly growing commercial opportunities. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 060 - Guest interview: Authentic Global Leadership with Katie Keith | 06 Nov 2023 | 00:36:55 | |
Today's guest is Katie Keith, Executive Director with Global Chamber London and also Head of B2B Partnerships with Currencies Direct. She talks about creating space for effective communication in global teams, including how to build psychological safety in teams, we explore authentic global leadership, and how listening skills are critical in conversations and even in emails, to read between the lines. Finally, as somebody who is already leading her own portfolio career, Katie shares her perspectives on why it works. Katie is a thought leader with 20 years' experience within the Corporate and Retail Banking spaces, which means she has extensive exposure to corporate leadership, business growth and change management strategies within the business and finance sector. She recently completed an MSc with Henley Business School, focused on extending my leadership practice in Executive Coaching and Behavioural Change. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 059 - Guest interview: Communication for global teams to thrive with Febronia Ruocco | 30 Oct 2023 | 00:37:03 | |
Today we are starting a new era on this podcast as we start hosting guests to share with you a range of perspectives on successful communication, developing confidence and cross-cultural working from leading experts in the business world. Our first guest is Febronia Ruocco, Strategic Insights Professional & Executive Coach, who talks about encouraging multilingual and multicultural teams to thrive with their communication, the blocks that get in the way of us communicating confidently and building social connection, plus the key factors which will change the way we communicate in the future. Febronia has led insight teams for big brands such as Cadbury-Schweppes, Diageo, Heinz, Premier, General Mills, Heineken and GSK. She is also currently setting up her own Executive Coaching practice. Her mission is to empower global marketing, and other sector professionals, in leadership roles to realise their career goals, unlocking their full potential. Febronia is a University mentor and marketing lecturer as well as a mentor for WIRe, mentoring high achieving women in the insights/MRX space. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 058 - Closing the interview impactfully | 23 Oct 2023 | 00:17:57 | |
First impressions are critical in interviews, and so are last impressions at the end of the interview. How are you closing your interviews impactfully? In this competitive global job market, many people are currently asking me questions about preparing for interview success with global companies, and that's why I have created this mini series of 3 episodes focusing on what to do before, during and after the interview to land your ideal next role. In this 3rd and final episode of the series, we focus on how to handle challenging questions, key ways to close the interview and how to follow up appropriately to enhance your chances. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 057 - Make a great impression at the interview | 16 Oct 2023 | 00:20:36 | |
33% of hiring managers claim to know whether or not they would hire a candidate within 30 seconds of meeting them, and 4 in 10 employers would reject a candidate if they showed no enthusiasm, according to research in the UK from StandOut CV. Wherever you are looking for a new role, in this competitive job market many people are currently asking me questions about preparing for interview success with global companies, and that's why I have created this mini series of 3 episodes focusing on what to do before, during and after the interview to land your ideal next role. In this 2nd episode of the series, we focus on key points to make a great first impression from the first moments, and adapt your verbal and non-verbal communication to be professional and impactful in interviews. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 146 - More Engaging Meetings with Cultural Intelligence | 15 Sep 2025 | 00:19:23 | |
If you're leading global or cross-functional teams and finding your meetings fall flat, with cameras off, periods of silence and little interaction, this episode is for you. In today's podcast, I look at the culturally-driven behavioural preferences that could be silently shaping the level of your meeting engagement. Whether you're hearing from only one or two dominant voices, or struggling to encourage participation at all, this isn't only a communication issue, it's a cultural one. I share how understanding and applying your Cultural Intelligence (CQ) can transform your meetings from disengaged to dynamic. What You'll Learn in This Episode:
Reflection Questions:
To go further and explore more of the communication skills every global leader needs, download my free resource: Global Leader Impact. It's designed to help you lead with clarity and cultural intelligence: https://culturecuppa.com/leader Resources:
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| 056 - Preparing yourself for interview | 09 Oct 2023 | 00:17:51 | |
Employers will interview an average of 6 candidates for every job vacancy they advertise and 93% of candidates admit to experiencing job interview anxiety at some point in their career, according to recent research in the UK from StandOut CV. Wherever you are looking for a new role, in this competitive job market many people are currently asking me questions about preparing for interview success with global companies, and that's why I have created this mini series of 3 episodes focusing on what to do before, during and after the interview to land your ideal next role. In this 1st episode, we focus on what you do before the interview to prepare. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 055 - Building communication bridges in conflict | 02 Oct 2023 | 00:14:08 | |
Conflict happens. It's something we all experience at some point when working in teams, even if generally we have great relationships with our colleagues, co-workers, customers or partners. Conflict can cause short-term issues with collaboration, such as getting projects agreed and progressing forward. However, it clearly can impact the ongoing relationship, leading to long-term trust issues and negatively influencing the dynamics in the rest of the team. I believe we can get around conflict situations by building communication bridges. This means building a bridge with how you show up to the conversation, what you say and how you approach the interaction to find a step forward towards meeting each other. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 054 - What I've learnt about communication from launching a podcast | 25 Sep 2023 | 00:19:53 | |
I am excited to share that today's show marks the 1st birthday of my podcast, which launched in September 2022. This podcast is part of my vision to help 100,000 leaders and teams around the world to speak up confidently, and support teams to connect and grow globally in 100 countries. In today's episode I share my own communication learnings from launching a podcast and along the journey of the last year, which are equally relevant for you whether you are leading meetings, regularly presenting or public speaking, or building your communication confidence. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 053 - How to stop communication stress in English | 18 Sep 2023 | 00:14:42 | |
Your communication skills in English are a key enabler for your next promotion. They are part of your skills toolkit, so you have everything on your side, ready to make that next job move, to go for that promotion, or to expand your role. Sometimes they are known as soft skills, but they are anything but soft. They are the difference between influencing successfully and the board rejecting your project. They will help define if you land new business with a customer or miss out on a valuable sales opportunity. Your communication skills will shape how people see you and your reputation, and can be the fine line between the green light on your promotion or being passed over again. If you are an international manager, then achieving English communication confidence is critical to your success in your current role and enabling your next promotion. And that's where communication stress can come in. You could feel exposed, awkward and on the spot before key meetings when you need to lead the agenda, and worry about how you come across. So how do you deal with it and help yourself to move forward? What you will learn in this episode:
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| 052 - The top 8 myths about English communication | 11 Sep 2023 | 00:19:29 | |
Are you talented and ambitious, but it doesn't always come across when you're working in English? Do you feel frustrated by your professional English communication skills, and wish you sounded more confident? Today I want to talk about the 8 most common myths I commonly hear from the people I work with about their English communication and how it's holding them back. This could be impacting you too and stopping you from moving forward to your next promotion. So I'm going to bust these myths and share with you how you can reframe them! What you will learn in this episode:
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| 051 - Exploring your Cultural Values, part 2 | 04 Sep 2023 | 00:14:57 | |
What was your a-ha moment… ….when you listened to last week's episode about cultural values? Did you recognise that some of the challenges you might be experiencing with colleagues, co-workers, customers or partners are culturally-driven? What shifted in your perspective? It can be so easy to divide into 'them' and 'us' within a team, or with customers and partners, especially when what they say and do is out of line with your expectations. But do you really understand their motivations and drivers, and how culture is shaping their communication and behaviour? When you don't, this can lead to misunderstanding and miscommunication, impacting projects, performance, results and team spirit. This is why we need cultural intelligence. It's the choice to pause and consider alternative explanations, not just react to what's happening. Part of cultural intelligence is understanding your cultural values, which are your preferences for how you work, live, and interact. This is part of the work I do with my clients, so they can understand their own individual or team cultural values profile to identify what is driving the gaps and challenges. In this 2 part podcast series I will be explaining the 10 cultural values. Today, we are focusing on part 2 - the next 5 sets of cultural values. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 050 - Exploring your Cultural Values, part 1 | 28 Aug 2023 | 00:16:57 | |
What happens when you find yourself in a situation where a team member is being 'difficult'? What happens when people say things in meetings which leave you frustrated and wound up, because they're acting 'unprofessionally'? Do you roll your eyes, moan to your colleagues and blame it on 'them being them'? It can be so easy to divide into 'them' and 'us' within a team, or with customers and partners, especially when what they say and do is out of line with your expectations. But do you really understand their motivations and drivers, and how culture is shaping their communication and behaviour? When you don't, this can lead to misunderstanding and miscommunication, impacting projects, performance, results and team spirit. This is why we need cultural intelligence. It's the choice to pause and consider alternative explanations, not just react to what's happening. Part of cultural intelligence is understanding your cultural values, which are your preferences for how you work, live, and interact. This is part of the work I do with my clients, so they can understand their own individual or team cultural values profile to identify what is driving the gaps and challenges. In this 2-part podcast series I will be explaining the 10 cultural values. Today, we are focusing on part 1 - the first 5 sets of cultural values. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 049 - Summer season - What makes a good global leader? | 21 Aug 2023 | 00:17:23 | |
And now for the final one in the summer re-release season: What makes a good global leader? In this special re-release episode from April this year, I explored different leadership approaches, and how cultural values impact a team's view of good leadership, plus the cultural intelligence strategies you can use to be more effective. Enjoy listening and learning! https://culturecuppa.com/podcasts/what-makes-a-good-global-leader/ I have covered a wide variety topics on my podcast in the last year, and so in this final episode of a series of 4, I am sharing my summer season of re-releases. These are the top 4 topics which were most popular when they first came out, and are also among my favourites, and this gives you a review time to listen back on episodes and get greater learning, or catch up on episodes you missed the first time round. This is just for 4 weeks, releasing every Monday as usual, while I take a break, and then we will go back to sharing new podcast episodes and topics from next week. As we are doing something new, why not choose to learn about these topics in a different way? If you usually listen on your favourite podcast platform, then why not mix it up and watch the video version on my YouTube channel- I create video versions of all my podcast episodes! https://www.youtube.com/@culture-cuppa Or vice versa- if you usually watch my videos on my YouTube channel, then why not listen on your favourite podcast platform- Apple, Spotify or Google? https://culturecuppa.com/podcast/ And have you discovered my website for even more free insights, resources and topics to learn from? As well as the podcast and my videos, you can discover my blog, free training and the opportunity to sign up to receive my emails with all the latest resources and events. You can check that all out at What you will learn in this episode:
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| 048 - Summer season - Giving & receiving feedback | 14 Aug 2023 | 00:23:03 | |
Week 3 of the summer re-release season: Giving & receiving feedback- a very popular topic from June this year. In this episode, I explored the purpose of feedback, how to set up the conversation, adapting your feedback approach with cultural intelligence, and best ways to approach receiving feedback to make sure feedback really lands with you. Enjoy listening and learning! https://culturecuppa.com/podcasts/giving-and-receiving-feedback/ Remember, these re-releases give you time to listen back on episodes and get greater learning, or catch up on episodes you missed the first time round. This is just for 4 weeks, releasing every Monday as usual, while I take a break, and then we will go back to sharing new podcast episodes and topics from September. As we are doing something new, why not choose to learn about these topics in a different way? If you usually listen on your favourite podcast platform, then why not mix it up and watch the video version on my YouTube channel- I create video versions of all my podcast episodes! https://www.youtube.com/@culture-cuppa Or vice versa- if you usually watch my videos on my YouTube channel, then why not listen on your favourite podcast platform- Apple, Spotify or Google? https://culturecuppa.com/podcast/ And have you discovered my website for even more free insights, resources and topics to learn from? As well as the podcast and my videos, you can discover my blog, free training and the opportunity to sign up to receive my emails with all the latest resources and events. You can check that all out at What you will learn in this episode:
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| 047 - Summer season - The Future of Work- working cross culturally | 07 Aug 2023 | 00:18:23 | |
Next in the summer re-release season- week 2 of the top 4 podcast episode topics from the last year. This week we are going back to 'The Future of Work- working cross culturally', a topic from June which many of you had views on. In this episode, I explored the critical skills for working cross culturally in the future of work, navigating a culturally diverse world with AI, and how to develop your human skills and cultural values to give us an inclusive language to explore differences. Enjoy listening and learning! https://culturecuppa.com/podcasts/the-future-of-work/ Remember, these re-releases give you time to listen back on episodes and get greater learning, or catch up on episodes you missed the first time round. This is just for 4 weeks, releasing every Monday as usual, while I take a break, and then we will go back to sharing new podcast episodes and topics from September. As we are doing something new, why not choose to learn about these topics in a different way? If you usually listen on your favourite podcast platform, then why not mix it up and watch the video version on my YouTube channel- I create video versions of all my podcast episodes! https://www.youtube.com/@culture-cuppa Or vice versa- if you usually watch my videos on my YouTube channel, then why not listen on your favourite podcast platform- Apple, Spotify or Google? https://culturecuppa.com/podcast/ And have you discovered my website for even more free insights, resources and topics to learn from? As well as the podcast and my videos, you can discover my blog, free training and the opportunity to sign up to receive my emails with all the latest resources and events. You can check that all out at: https://culturecuppa.com/ What you will learn in this episode:
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| 145 - Stop wasting time: meetings with clarity | 08 Sep 2025 | 00:18:50 | |
In this podcast episode, I'm tackling one of the biggest time drains for global leaders: ineffective meetings. We've all sat through meetings that drift with no clear outcome. But with the right communication strategy, your meetings can become high-impact spaces that drive action, connection, and leadership growth. In this episode, I share my practical 5 Ps framework for meeting clarity, a tool I use with my clients who want to lead with purpose and build connection. This is how to stop wasting time and start getting results. What You'll Learn in This Episode:
Reflection Questions:
For more on developing the communication skills every global leader needs, explore my free training resource Global Leader Impact. Download it now at: https://www.culturecuppa.com/leader Resources:
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| 046 - Summer season - Is it appropriate to interrupt? | 31 Jul 2023 | 00:24:58 | |
And now for something a little different…. I have covered many varied topics on my podcast in the last year, and so in this episode and the next 3 episodes I am sharing my summer season of re-releases. These are the top 4 topics which were most popular when they first came out, and are also among my favourites, and this gives you a review time to listen back on episodes and get greater learning, or catch up on episodes you missed the first time round. This is today and the next 3 weeks, releasing every Monday as usual, while I take a break, and then I will go back to sharing new podcast episodes and topics from September. As we are doing something new, why not choose to learn about these topics in a different way? If you usually listen on your favourite podcast platform, then why not mix it up and watch the video version on my YouTube channel- I create video versions of all my podcast episodes! https://www.youtube.com/@culture-cuppa Or vice versa- if you usually watch my videos on my YouTube channel, then why not listen on your favourite podcast platform-apple, Spotify or Google? https://culturecuppa.com/podcast/ And have you discovered my website for even more free insights, resources and topics to learn from? As well as the podcast and my videos, you can discover my blog, free training and the opportunity to sign up to receive my emails with all the latest resources and events. You can check that all out at: https://culturecuppa.com/ In this special re-release episode we are going back to a very popular topic from April this year - Is it appropriate to interrupt? In this episode, I explored if it is OK to interrupt others, your cultural intelligence to understand others' interruptions, how to interrupt appropriately, and strategies to prevent being interrupted when we are speaking in meetings. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 045 - Influence through concise communication | 24 Jul 2023 | 00:14:32 | |
Influencing through concise communication is a topic which comes up time and time again with my clients. In our coaching conversations, they tell me they want to sound professional, clear, to the point, and like a leader, so people listen and act. However they worry they end up speaking too much, or only think afterwards how they could have said it better, or see others who influence effectively, making it look so easy and natural. So is communicating concisely a natural-born talent which only some people have? I am a great believer that we all have the ability to increase our influence and drive impact through our words. Every person can learn this skill, with intentionality, planning and practice. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 044 - How to engage your senior stakeholders | 17 Jul 2023 | 00:15:45 | |
As you progress your career, the way you engage senior stakeholders will not only be critical to delivering your objectives, projects and business results, but also impacts your personal reputation and opportunities to be promoted. However, I know from my coaching clients that issues can come up all too often, when you need to align stakeholders with different views or priorities, and in some situations this can lead to a lack of support, delaying or stopping projects, and even conflict. Stakeholder management starts with building trust through your intentional communication. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 043 - Amplify your verbal communication with your voice | 10 Jul 2023 | 00:14:10 | |
Your voice is a powerful tool which we can use for impact when speaking, whether for presentations, public speaking or talks. We need to know how to use it well and the techniques to use it more effectively, so you can amplify your voice as part of your communication and be heard. In today's episode, learn how to amplify your verbal communication with these voice techniques. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 042 - Communicating with vulnerability | 03 Jul 2023 | 00:16:51 | |
Vulnerability is a hot topic and seems to be spoken about everywhere. Leaders are being encouraged to be vulnerable with their teams for teams to be vulnerable with each other, and yet there is also a sense of wanting to be a leader. A client, who is a senior leader in their organisation, was recently asking me in coaching about vulnerability and how they found it challenging to know what it meant for them. They wanted to explore how they could be authentic in communicating with vulnerability in a way which was comfortable to them. That is why in today's episode, I am sharing more on how you can communicate with vulnerability. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 041 - Professional communication & culture for the UK | 26 Jun 2023 | 00:19:23 | |
When you are job searching, you want to communicate professionally and confidently in your interviews, and also when you start your new role. You want to know the key cultural dynamics so you can make a great impression and connect well with recruiters, managers and your new team when you start. These were the themes of a recent workshop I did for Roehampton University for their postgrad students. Although this was targeted at students in their early stages of career, I felt these themes were relevant for anybody job searching or establishing a new direction to their career in the UK today, and wanted to share topline insights here for everyone to benefit from! In today's episode, we explore professional communication and culture for the UK. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 040 - Giving & receiving feedback | 19 Jun 2023 | 00:18:10 | |
Feedback is a gift, according to the old adage, and yet sometimes that gift is unwanted, rejected or causes problems we did not anticipate. We have to understand when we give feedback, this is our observation of the situation in the moment from our point of view. We may not be aware how our culture influences our perceptions of the context, the drivers, motivations and intentions, and that might mean that we do not see how others interpret the events either. Equally, culture will impact how the other person reacts to the feedback, and this can help us anticipate the conversations that come up. In today's episode, we explore how to give and receive feedback. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 039 - How to have good conversations at work | 12 Jun 2023 | 00:14:47 | |
Collaboration tools are great for productivity and efficiency, and although we have more meetings than ever, they are becoming shorter on average and there seems to be less time to connect, get to know each other and have the human touch. The benefits of conversations are well researched for the individual- they can improve your mood, feeling of connection and belonging to a group, and can also be beneficial for career and productivity, especially when working across functions, departments and cultures. Conversations also have a great impact on teams including building trust, boosting morale and creating opportunities to learn something new about the world through another point of view. Social wellbeing is more important than ever, especially when working for the majority of time remotely and or in a hybrid way. Knowing how to create good conversations is a social skill, and some argue an art, in which we are losing our capabilities. I know that if we can make people feel at ease through our conversation and help them smile, we bring little moments of joy and connection to the world. In today's episode, we explore how to have good conversations. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 038 - The Future of Work- working cross culturally | 05 Jun 2023 | 00:13:55 | |
"It is the long history of humankind... that those who learned to collaborate and improvise Charles Darwin shared these words almost 200 years ago, speaking about ancient human history, and yet these words resonated with me when thinking about the future of work. The emphasis on our ability to collaborate and improvise is as true today, as it was 200 years ago, and in all our human evolution, and will be very much true as we move into a new era with AI impacts on the world of work. Today I share in this episode my views on the critical skills for working cross culturally in the future of work, which was part of my recent keynote for Roehampton University's Global Leadership Programme for the Future of Work Conference. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 037 - Key blockers to communication confidence | 29 May 2023 | 00:17:56 | |
Do you worry about how you sound and come across at work? Do you feel like you're not fully heard or visible? I often meet international executives who feel blocked in their communication confidence. They are on their journey to the next level and want to elevate and amplify their communication to leadership levels. They are knowledgeable, talented and expert at what they do. Yet somehow their communication confidence holds them back. Maybe this is you too? You want to build your confidence to speak up, talk clearly, concisely and with impact, and share your value as a next-level leader. Imagine speaking like the global leader you aspire to be. In today's episode we're talking about key blockers to communication confidence and strategies to deal with them. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 144 - Listening 101 for Better Communication | 01 Sep 2025 | 00:14:12 | |
In this podcast episode, I'm diving back into a crucial but often overlooked communication skill: active listening. It sounds simple, but in reality, truly listening, especially in fast-paced, distraction-heavy environments, is far from easy. Whether you're in a virtual meeting or face-to-face, your ability to listen well is a key part of your global leadership impact, helping you build trust, demonstrate emotional and cultural intelligence. We explore what it means to make a conscious choice to listen, how to manage the distractions that pull your attention away, and why showing you're listening (even without speaking) is essential for career growth and leadership development. What you'll learn in this episode:
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For more on developing the communication skills every global leader needs, don't forget to explore my free training resource Global Leader Impact. Download it now at: https://www.culturecuppa.com/leader Resources:
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| 036 - Inclusive communication for World Cultural Diversity Day | 22 May 2023 | 00:18:08 | |
World Cultural Diversity Day promotes dialogue and development and is on 21st May in 2023. I am grateful in my business that I get to work with a huge diversity of nationalities and cultures, from a range of almost 40 countries to date and my goal is to work with people from at least 100 countries! I am incredibly curious, which is why I love what I do. I help my clients to develop their communication and cultural skills, and yet I often learn as much about different cultures through our coaching and training together, which opens my world further. That's why I want to talk about cultural diversity in today's episode and share with you the key points from my masterclass I created for the STEMAZING Women Membership group, which encourages and supports women in STEAM careers to fulfil their potential. We all know, communication is key in building connected teams in every industry, so how do we communicate effectively in diverse teams with people from different backgrounds and cultures? Here I share the strategies to bring the best out of everyone at work through the simple things we say and do. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 035 - Handling conflict | 15 May 2023 | 00:15:00 | |
No matter how good your relationships are usually in your team, with your customers or external partners, conflict can happen, sometimes when we least expect it. So how do we handle this when relationships matter to us? I was part of a panel recently sharing my perspective on why conflict happens, how we can overcome it to achieve greater alignment and understanding, and the best practices for effective communication in conflict situations. We need to have the emotional intelligence and the cultural intelligence to find a way through professionally. Here I share my key insights and strategies for you to understand conflict and find the solutions. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 034 - 7 Top Conversation Starters | 08 May 2023 | 00:14:59 | |
Imagine you're at an informal networking event, conference or team event, where you don't know anybody else. You're by yourself, you walk in the room, you smell the coffee, and you hear laughter from groups already deep in conversation. How do you ease into mingling and socializing? How do you feel relaxed, join a group and start? This is an action episode, so grab some paper, take notes and put this into action! What you will learn in this episode:
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| 033 - AI & staying relevant in the workplace | 01 May 2023 | 00:13:53 | |
How can we maintain a uniquely human edge in this period of rapid evolution of ChatGPT and AI? How do we remain relevant and offer a compelling difference in the workplace compared to AI? How do we communicate, connect and create in this new world? I was part of a panel recently, sharing and listening to the latest perspectives on the human difference in AI and what skills are essential for our future careers. In today's episode I share my own perspective on why communication and cultural intelligence skills will keep us relevant and why. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 032 - What makes a good global leader? | 24 Apr 2023 | 00:12:36 | |
There tends to be a universal view of leadership, and that a good leader has a pre-defined set of skills and characteristics. However, the way people want to be led as a team may vary from culture to culture. What has worked for you as a leader in the past may not transfer across, and there may be issues when you relocate or start a new role heading up a diverse team based in different countries. In today's podcast episode we explore different approaches to leadership, and how cultural values impact a team's view of good leadership, and the CQ cultural intelligence strategies you can use to be more effective. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 031 - Is it appropriate to interrupt? | 17 Apr 2023 | 00:19:29 | |
How do you feel about being interrupted when you're speaking? When do you feel it is appropriate to interrupt others? Apparently we only wait 17 seconds on average in a conversation before interrupting. And yet you may feel frustrated, when you are interrupted yourself. In this episode we explore if it is appropriate to interrupt others, and strategies to manage being interrupted when we are speaking in meetings. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 030 - We don't have to agree | 10 Apr 2023 | 00:09:52 | |
What happens when you disagree with others? Sometimes we feel we have to prove that we and our ideas are right and the other person is wrong. You might keep putting forward new arguments to support your idea and to gain support. Like magnets we might end up constantly repelling each other, finding no way through, digging deeper into our 'them' and 'us' camps. Sound familiar? We don't always have to agree with each other, and yet we should attempt to see the person in front of us and understand where they are coming from. When we do, then we understand better their views, their drivers and motivations, and it might lead to a way through, even if we still disagree. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 029 - Public speaking confidence | 03 Apr 2023 | 00:11:49 | |
Standing up and sharing our voice is a key part of being heard, whether you run your own business or work in a company, and yet this is a major fear many people experience. I sometimes describe this fear as communication stress, which causes anxiety and can stop us from putting ourselves forward and showing our full potential. Most of us want to move through this and find a way to get more comfortable with being uncomfortable so we can speak up. Here I share my learnings of what can help us. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 028 - The worst business jargon and what to replace it with | 27 Mar 2023 | 00:16:39 | |
Are you aware of the amount of business jargon and buzzwords that you and your team use? Are they helpful to your communication? Do they add value to what you are saying? Jargon in theory is a shortcut, a way to explain what you mean, often using a metaphor or image, to help illustrate the point. But the question is why did we start using them and do they make us sound more professional in our communication? My view is that jargon can be confusing, exclude team members, especially in multicultural and multilingual teams, and does not add clarity to our communication. So what should we use as an alternative? What you will learn in this episode:
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| 027 - Birthday gratitudes | 20 Mar 2023 | 00:14:13 | |
20th March is the UN International Day of Happiness. The call for the day is that we can create a happier and kinder world together by adopting a simple, daily practice:
In our world today, we definitely need this more than ever. It also got me thinking how this relates to my business, as it happens to be my 8th business birthday this week. In these episodes I usually share my strategies, tips, skills and ideas for you and your team to improve their communication skills and cultural intelligence capabilities. This episode is going to be different today, and I'll share 8 things I am grateful for, a more personal insight into my world, how I work and live. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 143 - Lead with AI with Zahra Shah | 25 Aug 2025 | 00:32:39 | |
AI, automation and rapid digital change have transformed work, but what does this mean for the future of leadership? In this episode, I'm joined by Zahra Shah, AI expert and leader, to explore the leadership, communication and cultural skills leaders now need to grow and adapt to. We talk about the ethical and practical sides of AI, how to adopt it effectively in your organisation, and why strong human skills like empathy, cultural intelligence and critical thinking will define the next generation of leadership. Zahra also shares her inspiring journey to becoming a director on several boards, encouraging and supporting diverse women into leadership, and her own leadership lessons, including how she built resilience through challenge and change. What you'll learn in this episode:
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Boost your leadership communication skills with my free training resource to accompany the podcast, Global Leader Impact. Download it now athttps://www.culturecuppa.com/leader and strengthen the key communication skills you need. Resources:
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| 026 - Cultural Values, not stereotypes | 13 Mar 2023 | 00:15:25 | |
"Knowledge about other cultures will make the difference. I only need to know what people from the {fill in the culture} do in this situation. For example, how they start meetings, do small talk, make presentations, negotiate and give feedback." Awareness about other cultures is powerful to help us in culturally diverse situations, and yet we are all also individuals, shaped by our personal contexts. So how do we balance this? How do we increase cultural awareness without stereotyping and recognise how individuals prefer to communicate and interact with us, when they may have a multitude of cultural influences? In today's episode we explore what we mean by cultural values, and how to use them as part of a culturally intelligent approach to working with others across borders and in culturally diverse teams. We will look at some examples of cultural values and how to use them as a starting point to apply our cultural intelligence to make strategies and turn these into actions that make a difference. What you will learn in this episode:
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| 025 - Listening - a radical decision | 06 Mar 2023 | 00:15:02 | |
Listening is a radical decision. Did you learn how to listen at school? We forget sometimes that hearing is one of our senses, and listening is a skill. We might have been told to 'be quiet and listen', however not actually taught how. In our busy world, focused on delivering at speed and with efficiency by multitasking, we are judged by what we say. So to listen properly requires a radical decision to do something different. Even if we think our role is to be a good speaker, true communication happens when there is listening and speaking. Listening is a skill, which requires time, patience and an ability to tune our ears. To be told you are a good listener is a great compliment. So how do we listen better? What makes the difference? What you will learn in this episode:
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| 024 - The new rules of meetings | 27 Feb 2023 | 00:16:40 | |
According to the Harvard Business Review research, a vast majority, 92% of employees consider meetings costly and unproductive. Although the pandemic years have led to shorter meetings, the same research says that the number of meetings overall have increased +13.5%, leading to even more 'Zoom fatigue' and technostress. In 2023, it's not just business as usual, and meetings have fundamentally changed forever- whether in person, fully virtual or in hybrid mode. This is the perfect time to shake things up and do things differently in your meetings so you as a team are productive and achieve better outcomes. Remember less is more. 6 people in a 1-hour meeting = 6 committed people hours! Don't just put up with disengaging meetings, that don't add value and suck you and your team's time and energy. Here are my new rules of meetings. What you will learn in this episode:
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