14.When Home Feels Foreign: Revisiting Filipino Culture Through Work

When Ting takes on a new project with a Filipino client—only her third in a 15-year global career—she’s surprised by what she learns about her own culture. In this eye-opening episode, Ting and Dr. Catherine explore how working “at home” reveals powerful insights into time, hierarchy, empathy, and digital culture. From late meetings to quiet clients who blossom in the right setting, this conversation is a masterclass in applied cultural intelligence—and what it really means to bridge differences in global teams.

[00:00] Welcome to Season 3 + new studio upgrade

[02:00] Ting’s first Filipino client in over 15 years

[04:30] Excitement vs. reality: Cultural contrasts in business settings

[05:50] Time management differences: Filipino vs. Singaporean clients

[07:00] Chitchat and lateness—inefficiency or cultural norm?

[10:30] How workplace habits evolve through adaptation

[12:30] “Filipino time,” disorganization, and digital infrastructure gaps

[14:00] Feeling "more Singaporean than expected"

[16:00] The cultural impact of digitization and technology

[18:00] Hosting foreign teammates in the Philippines: Hospitality as cultural bridge

[21:00] Jeepney rides, hot weather, and urban logistics

[22:00] Time-based competition: “I will end on time!”

[25:00] Power dynamics and why Ting didn’t push back on a late client

[28:00] Is this a cultural issue—or a personal bias around hierarchy?

[30:00] Using cultural empathy to support a struggling client stakeholder

[33:00] Language, confidence, and creating psychological safety

[35:00] What true cultural intelligence looks like in practice

[37:00] Culture, spontaneity, and how small actions drive big outcomes

[39:00] Wrapping up: empathy, insight, and CQ growth in action