The Athrú Communications Podcast

Sarah Black
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The Athrú Communications Podcast is a series of conversations exploring how we can transform how we communicate across cultures and differences. Hosted by Cultural Intelligence facilitator, trainer and consultant, Sarah Black, the podcast aims to introduce ideas to help make your communications activity culturally intelligent, inclusive and effective, whether you are running a small business or leading a global organization.

  1. Cultural Intelligence for today’s world - with Dr David Livermore

    APR 28

    Cultural Intelligence for today’s world - with Dr David Livermore

    In the final episode of this series, Sarah talks with Cultural Intelligence expert, Dr David Livermore. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of communication across cultures, the future of Cultural Intelligence (CQ), its relevance beyond nationality, the importance of understanding organisational culture and how to navigate CQ as a marginalised person. David shares insights from his extensive research and experience, offering a thought-provoking perspective on CQ, especially in the context of a multifaceted and ever evolving social and political landscape.  About David: Dr David Livermore, PhD (Michigan State University) is a social scientist devoted to the topics of cultural intelligence (CQ) and global leadership and the author of several award-winning books, including Leading with Cultural Intelligence, Digital, Diverse & Divided, Driven by Difference, and Serving with Eyes Wide Open. His newest book, the third edition of Leading with Cultural Intelligence, is the bestselling book on cultural intelligence and is filled with the latest research, case studies, and strategies for anyone who has to lead someone who is different from them.   David is a founder of the Cultural Intelligence Centre, Director of the Society of CQ Fellows, and the Ahmass Fakahany Visiting Professor in Global Leadership at Questrom’s School of Business at Boston University. He consults with global organizations around the world, including Harvard, Google, Coca-Cola, the US Department of Defence, BMW, Qatar Airways, the United Nations, and dozens more. He has travelled to more than one hundred countries and is a frequent speaker at conferences. He also serves on several boards and is a Fellow with the Society of Leadership Fellows, Windsor Castle, a select leadership community that meets to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing us globally. David loves to make social science accessible to practitioners. He has been interviewed and referenced by myriad news sources, including The Atlantic, CBS News, Christian Science Monitor, The Economist, Forbes, NBC, the New York Times, USA Today, the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the South China Post.  David and his wife, Linda, have two adult daughters, Emily and Grace. Emily is a litigation lawyer, and Grace is a graphic designer. Some of their favourite family activities are travelling (fortunately!) and discovering new foods together. LinkedIn www.davidlivermore.com Mentions: Book: Tribal - Michael Morris

    24 min
  2. Listening Across Cultures - with Lucy Butters

    APR 21

    Listening Across Cultures - with Lucy Butters

    Sarah Black welcomes cultural intelligence expert Lucy Butters to discuss the transformative power of listening for effective communication across cultures. Lucy shares her journey into cultural intelligence, the importance of listening, and how our cultural backgrounds shape our perceptions and interactions. Tune in as they explore practical strategies for improving listening skills and fostering inclusivity in diverse environments. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their communication skills in an increasingly globalised world! About Lucy: Lucy founded Elembee in 2010 to provide training and coaching which supports and enhances the capability of leaders and teams to be inclusive and internationally effective. Lucy is a Master Facilitator in Cultural Intelligence (CQ) with the Cultural Intelligence Centre, (Michigan, USA). She started her career in research and teaching roles at the universities of Aberdeen, then Hertfordshire, before working in various management & leadership roles for the British Council supporting international ambitions of UK universities and leading a transformational leadership programme across nine Arab countries and the UK. On a personal level, Lucy is a mother of triplet boys who have taught her the true meaning of hard work; and are a constant reminder of the need to adjust thinking, actions and expectations. LinkedIn Elembee Mentions: Book: Driven by Difference - David Livermore Book:  Seven Habits of Successful People - Stephen Covey Book: Hysterical: Exploding the Myth of Gendered Emotions - Pragya Agarwal

    18 min
  3. Multilingualism - with Flor Bretón-García

    APR 14

    Multilingualism - with Flor Bretón-García

    Show Notes:Sarah chats with Flor Bretón-García about the joys and challenges of working in multilingual environments. Their vibrant conversation covers a range of subjects about language, including the significance of understanding accents and gestures, about transcreation – not translation! and the importance of empathy in communication.  Flor also shares her personal experiences and insights on how language shapes our interactions, and the cognitive costs which are associated with speaking in a second, third or even more languages. About Flor: Fluent in Spanish, English and German, Flor is a language-passionate, avid communicator and cultural-competence promoter from Venezuela. She is proud to support children and adults to use language in ways that enable them to operate effectively across cultures.  With sixteen years’ experience in delivering intercultural training in Spanish and English, Flor leverages her knowledge and passion for connecting with people from diverse backgrounds and identities, to help organizations around the world to be more inclusive and equitable. She has lived in Germany and the USA, where she learnt German and English to communicate with their people. These experiences have given her a better understanding of the process of using a foreign language to build bridges at work and in the community. She now takes full advantage of this time living, learning and working in other countries to implement in her trainings, these successful communication methods. Flor is also a Certified Legal Spanish trainer, and an academic curriculum and content creator.  Flor is also a Certified Legal Spanish trainer, and an academic curriculum and content creator. She also enjoys mentoring female business leaders in Frankfurt’s Latino community in Germany, and in her role as part of the Chappaqua Independent School District’s DEI Committee in New York, USA. LinkedIn Instagram Mentions:Book: The Culture Map - by Erin Meyer Podcast: Ute’s International Lounge The Kaleidoscope Group The Little Nómadas

    21 min
  4. Working Across Cultural Identities - with Gradiola Kapaj

    APR 7

    Working Across Cultural Identities - with Gradiola Kapaj

    Show Notes:This week, Sarah Black speaks with Gradiola Kapaj, a seasoned intercultural trainer and diversity consultant, about the intricacies of communicating across cultures.  Gradiola shares her insights on the positive and negative dynamics of multinational teams, the importance of understanding cultural values, and offers practical strategies for fostering effective collaboration. If you’re interested to discover how curiosity and openness can bridge cultural gaps in a globalised workplace, then listen in! About Gradiola: Gradiola is an experienced Intercultural Trainer and Diversity & Inclusion Consultant. She works with multinational organizations, global NGOs and non-profits. She has led multinational teams, experiencing first-hand difficulties of working and managing cross-cultural teams in multiple time-zones in hybrid, F2F and virtual environments while also witnessing the benefits of global work, speed of information, global network and cultural and innovation enrichment. As an intercultural trainer, she has consulted for international organisations by designing intercultural educations, up-skilling trainers and delivering program training in the field of cross-cultural management tailored to each organisational requirements. As a DEI consultant, she has analysed, assessed, educated and strategised for global organisations, deploying her intercultural expertise to recommend global solutions with locally relevant implementation approaches. Gradiola has lived and worked in Austria, Italy, France and Albania. She speaks 6 languages with Albanian as a mother tongue, English working proficiency and conversation level in Italian, French, Spanish and German. She was a guest lecturer the University of Leibniz Hanover in Germany, FH Kaernten in Austria and is a lecturer of Intercultural Communication and DEI at FH Wien der WKO in Vienna, Austria. LinkedIn Mentions:Book: Reach: A New Strategy to Help You Step Outside Your Comfort Zone, Rise to the Challenge and Build Confidence  by Andy Molinsky

    19 min
  5. Polarisation - with Hanlie van Wyk

    MAR 31

    Polarisation - with Hanlie van Wyk

    Show Notes:This week, Sarah welcomes Hanlie van Wyk to the microphone. Hanlie, a social scientist and hate crime scholar, explores the intricacies of fostering understanding and collaboration in polarised and challenging environments.   Drawing from her personal experiences in South Africa and her extensive research, Hanlie shares about the importance of leadership in driving change, how to navigate polarisation with hope and offers a series of practical strategies for communication. About Hanlie: Growing up in Apartheid South Africa, Hanlie witnessed firsthand the transformative power of leadership during Nelson Mandela's presidency. This experience instilled a profound understanding of how strategic leadership can foster cultural change and promote inclusivity.  She has since dedicated herself to helping leaders navigate thorny issues and solve complex human problems. Hanlie’s professional journey has taken her across four continents, where she led BRATLAB, a behavioural research lab, for ten years. In this role, and her work as a global cultural consultant at the Kaleidoscope Group, Hanlie honed her skills in developing and implementing strategies that promote diversity as a business advantage, equity as a core value, and inclusion as a leadership gift. Hanlie is currently working on a Ph.D. in hate crime prevention. Hanlie van Wyk LinkedIn Mentions:The Kaleidoscope Group Book: A World of Three Cultures: Honor, Achievement and Joy Book: Fascism: A Warning

    17 min
  6. Creating an inclusive culture - with Advita Patel

    MAR 24

    Creating an inclusive culture - with Advita Patel

    Show Notes:In this enlightening episode Sarah talks with Advita Patel, the founder of CommsRebel and co-author of the award-winning book 'Building a Culture of Inclusivity'. Advita shares her journey from feeling excluded in the UK to becoming a leading advocate for inclusivity and Cultural Intelligence.  Sarah and Advita delve into the importance of understanding cultural differences, the barriers to creating inclusive environments, and the role of vulnerability in fostering belonging.  This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to explore how leaders can cultivate a more humane workplace and embrace continuous learning to drive positive change. About Advita: Advita is the founder of Comms Rebel, an internal communication and employee experience consultancy, and the President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).  She is also the co-founder of A Leader Like Me, a global communication consultancy, the co-founder of the Asian Communications Network, and the co-host of Amplifying Diverse Voices – A Leader Like Me podcast.  As an experienced communications professional and qualified coach she supports organisations to cultivate inclusive cultures through effective change management and revolutionary communications so all colleagues can belong and thrive in their work.  With a background in project management, Advita brings a unique set of skills and specialises in culture change, communication audits, employee experience, inclusive communication, and digital and transformational communications – with measurement at the heart of the outcome. Advita has spoken at more than 150 events worldwide and appeared on several podcasts where she speaks about internal communications, change management, inclusion, and confidence. She is a chartered PR practitioner and a fellow of the CIPR. In 2023 she published the award-winning and best-seller Building a Culture of Inclusivity book, with her A Leader Like Me business partner Priya Bates. This book helps leaders build a culture of inclusivity, so all colleagues thrive. Advita is currently writing her second book focused on confident leadership. Advita Patel Book: Building a Culture of Inclusivity Instagram LinkedIn CommsRebel A Leader Like Me Calm Edged Rebels Asian Communications Network Mentions:Mindvalley Kathy Tann Ted Talk - ‘Cultural Intelligence in our Society’

    23 min
  7. HSE and Leadership - with Greg Dearsly

    MAR 17

    HSE and Leadership - with Greg Dearsly

    Show Notes:In this insightful episode, Sarah Black speaks with Greg Dearsly, a HSE professional and Cultural Intelligence specialist about the intersection of cultural intelligence, communication, and health and safety.  Greg shares his thoughts on how and why safety professionals can improve their communication to cater for diverse workplaces. He introduces the concept of power skills as a means of influencing behaviour change, and highlights why trust, cultural awareness, listening and curiosity are so important when building communication in safety practices. About Greg Greg Dearsly works to help organizations build valued relationships with their employees through health and safety, due diligence, worker engagement, and continual improvement. He has decades of experience in health and safety, and among his many qualifications, a Master of Advanced Leadership Practices. In 2023 he became a Certified Cultural Intelligence Facilitator and now explores the world of cultural intelligence through online content and his podcast, ‘The Culturally Intelligent Safety Professional.’ He is part of the 2025 CQ Fellows Programme with the CQ Centre. Mentions:Shireen Chua Book: Humble Inquiry

    22 min
  8. Credible Leadership - with Jenni Field

    MAR 10

    Credible Leadership - with Jenni Field

    Show Notes:Sarah speaks this week with Jenni Field, an international speaker and business communications strategist. Together, they delve into the complexities of cross-cultural communication within organisations, exploring how tensions can lead to personal and team disruption, and why effective communication in leadership creates calm.  Jenni shares her insights on the importance of listening, understanding different perspectives, and the impact of hybrid work environments on organisational culture, especially during the pandemic. Jenni also introduces some of the eight practices of credibility that are essential for leaders navigating diverse workplaces. About Jenni Jenni Field is an international speaker, author, podcaster, researcher, and business communications strategist. She specializes in helping teams and leaders use communication to take people and organizations from chaos to calm. From Canada to Slovenia, you’ll find her talking about credible leadership, relationships at work, and how to be more impactful with your communication. A well-respected thought-leader in the communications industry, she is known for her optimistic outlook, energy, and honesty on any stage she is speaking on. Jenni’s podcast, Redefining Communications with Jenni Field, provides short 15-minute episodes focusing on different business topics and providing advice to help organizations go from chaos to calm. In 2021, Jenni published her first book, Influential Internal Communication.  Jenni has led several research projects to help organisations tackle some of their biggest challenges; In 2019 she carried out the only research into communication with deskless workers, repeating it in 2023 to see the impact of the pandemic on frontline teams.  Her research in 2021 explored the role of line managers and in 2023 she researched the different practices that make a leader credible – leading to the publication of Nobody Believes You; Become a Leader People Will Follow in 2024. https://redefiningcomms.com  LinkedIn Instagram Book: Influential Internal Communications Book: Nobody Believes You: Become a Leader People Will Follow Mentions:David Livermore Book: Leading with Cultural Intelligence Book: Digital Body Language

    15 min
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About

The Athrú Communications Podcast is a series of conversations exploring how we can transform how we communicate across cultures and differences. Hosted by Cultural Intelligence facilitator, trainer and consultant, Sarah Black, the podcast aims to introduce ideas to help make your communications activity culturally intelligent, inclusive and effective, whether you are running a small business or leading a global organization.

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