What does it really take to lead across 77 nationalities, 7 countries, and 160 years of organisational history — and still keep your humanity intact? In this episode of the 5th Discipline Podcast, Lindy Taylor sits down with Bernard Asnong: international speaker, moderator, Global HR Business Partner at TÜV SÜD, and author of Be Awesome, Be Global. Bernard's journey from barefoot beginnings in Zimbabwe and Zambia to corporate leadership in Madrid is not just a career story — it's a masterclass in cultural intelligence, adaptive leadership, and what it truly means to listen. With over 30,000 employees across 77 nationalities at TÜV SÜD, Bernard has tested every leadership theory in the real world. What he shares in this conversation is hard-won, practical, and immediately applicable — whether you manage a team of 5 or 5,000. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODEThe two formative experiences from Bernard's early life that shaped how he sees people and culture at workWhy fun and humanity unlock diversity better than any formal policy or training programmeHow living across 7 countries redefined his understanding of great leadership (hint: it has nothing to do with being right)The crucial difference between being kind and being nice — and why confusing them is failing your teamHow to adapt your leadership style across cultures: practical advice on The Culture Map by Erin Meyer and DISC profilingWhy one-off diversity and culture workshops rarely work, and what continuous cultural engagement actually looks likeThe warning signs of psychological safety breakdown that leaders must not ignoreHow to keep culture alive in remote and hybrid global teams after COVID changed everythingCross-border team building strategies that work without flying everyone to the same cityBernard's personal mental wellness rituals: gym discipline, vinyl records, mentorship, and a nightly self-gratitude practiceThe one Swahili word — sikiliza — that Bernard says is the most important daily habit for any leader who wants to grow their cultural intelligenceHow active listening can shift unconscious bias and transform relationships over time EPISODE CHAPTERS00:00 — Introduction and welcome 00:51 — Be Awesome, Be Global: Bernard's book and journey from Zimbabwe to Madrid 03:02 — Barefoot to global: the pig farm and Dilly's Thriller moment 07:42 — Living in 7 countries: what great leadership really means 09:03 — Kind vs nice: why tough feedback is the most generous thing a leader can give 10:15 — The Culture Map, DISC, and adapting style across cultures 13:15 — Why one-off training fails: what continuous cultural engagement looks like 14:37 — Psychological safety and mental wellness: warning signs leaders must not miss 17:18 — Global citizens vs HQ vs regions: navigating matrix organisations 19:22 — Remote work and hybrid teams: keeping culture alive post-COVID 21:15 — Cross-border team building that actually works 23:17 — Bernard's personal wellness rituals for global HR leaders 27:18 — Sikiliza: the one daily habit that grows cultural intelligence 28:50 — Active listening, unconscious bias, and transforming relationships ABOUT BERNARD ASNONGBernard Asnong is an international speaker, moderator, trainer, and Global HR Business Partner at TÜV SÜD — a 160-year-old global testing, inspection, and certification company with over 30,000 employees across 77 nationalities. Having lived and worked in seven countries across three continents, Bernard brings a uniquely lived perspective to cross-cultural leadership and people strategy. He is also the author of Be Awesome, Be Global, an honest and unpolished account of his journey from Zimbabwe to the global stage. RESOURCES MENTIONEDBe Awesome, Be Global by Bernard Asnong — available on AmazonThe Culture Map by Erin Meyer — essential reading for leaders of globally distributed teamsDISC Profiling — for understanding team dynamics, personalities, and leadership styles CONNECT WITH BERNARD ASNONG LinkedIn: Search "Bernard Asnong" on LinkedIn Book: Search "Be Awesome Be Global Bernard Asnong" on Amazon CONNECT WITH TÜVSÜD Website: https://www.tuvsud.com LinkedIn: Search TÜV SÜD on LinkedIn CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST — LINDY TAYLOR LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindy-taylor-renewable-energy-sustainability-5th-discipline Website: https://the5thdiscipline.com ABOUT THE 5TH DISCIPLINE PODCASTThe 5th Discipline Podcast explores everything to do with people, culture, and systems in the climate change and sustainability space. Hosted by Lindy Taylor, each episode brings together global leaders, HR professionals, and change-makers to share the insights and strategies that build thriving, future-fit organisations. Subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if this conversation resonated with you, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts — it helps more people find the show. KEYWORDS global leadership, cultural intelligence, cross-cultural management, diversity and inclusion, leadership development, psychological safety, mental wellness at work, remote team culture, hybrid teams, Be Awesome Be Global, Bernard Asnong, TÜV SÜD, The Culture Map, Erin Meyer, DISC assessment, active listening, unconscious bias, HR business partner, Africa business, climate sustainability leadership, international HR, matrix organisation, 5th Discipline podcast, Lindy Taylor
