Aaron Licht

As the term suggests, most biases are unconscious - and they affect us all. Therefore, increasing our awareness of them is crucial, but it’s a journey. Besides setting an example, I believe it's vital to foster allyship by actively encouraging my team to support and advocate for each other. Additionally, tools for bias awareness, such as self-assessment options or educational content on common biases and how to counteract them, can help people recognize their unconscious biases and challenge their behaviour. Establishing diverse hiring practices, using inclusive language, and offering equitable opportunities can provide a structural framework for this effort.

Follow the ABC: Acknowledge cultural differences, build inclusive environments, and communicate effectively. As an executive, your team will not do as you say, but do as you do. Lead by example and make sure you have processes that cater to the individual needs and backgrounds of your team members. This does not mean you have to go to minute detail, but you can offer structures that are flexible enough to allow any differences to find their place and utilize their greatest potential. Simultaneously, as an executive, it is within your responsibility to provide the overarching common vision and mission, wherein everybody, no matter their skill set and background, unites and finds common ground.

Embracing a global career comes with a unique set of challenges - the more resilient you are, therefore, the better. Besides language barriers, it’s managing the different cultural codes that can be difficult. To master an ever-changing environment, the first thing you need is confidence. This comes with practice and preparation. Then you need to be inherently curious and open to engage in situations that will feel outside your comfort zone. You need to tap into your emotional and cultural intelligence and trust the process as you go along. All of this will allow you to be as flexible and adaptable, without loosing sight of your inherent goals and visions.

Lay-offs can be tough. But as with all challenges in life, hitting these kinds of obstacles shouldn’t be framed as defeat, but rather as an opportunity to open your perspective to new horizons. Networking in these situations can be your key moment to boost your visibility on the market and strengthen professional ties, free from any company loyalties. Use platforms like LinkedIn to engage with former colleagues and other industry representatives that you believe hold professional potential for you. Attend relevant fairs and alumni networking events, and join online communities. Reach out proactively and utilize your expertise to foster your next career opportunity - if you're on it and open for it, you’ll make it.

I’m all about making sure everyone feels heard and understood, no matter where they come from. To help communication across cultures, it’s important to provide different communication channels, allowing everyone to voice their opinion safely. Cultural sensitivity training can cover communication styles, non-verbal cues, and cultural norms to facilitate smoother interactions across cultures, and implementing cultural ambassadors can help a team learn from one another and celebrate the differences. At the end of the day, all processes you implement should aim at improving clarity and reducing misunderstandings, whilst fostering an environment that makes sure everyone feels valued and respected.

Different cultural habits can be challenging in the first place, especially when you have never really come in contact with them. Hence, be curious and watch how your counterpart is acting. You can learn so much from just paying attention! Some cultures prefer different forms of greetings, while others have different dining etiquette or need more personal space. So, take some time to get familiar with the culture in question while meeting your counterpart with a curious mind. By being open-minded and sharing your culture also, you can build strong relationships in the long run!