#107: Expats, intercultural leadership, social wealth

The International Business Podcast

If you work across time zones, borders, and cultures, this is the show for you. Welcome to the international business podcast. Today, we discuss expats. To learn more about each guest joining Leonardo today, please check below.

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Expats are crucial for global companies as they bring diverse perspectives, specialized skills, and cultural insights that enhance international operations.

⁠Gabor Holch⁠ is an intercultural leadership coach, consultant, speaker and author specialised in East-West executive assignments and business relations. He supports corporate executives and public-sector leaders in succeeding across national and cultural boundaries instead of getting lost in translation.

An expat since age 4, he transitioned from diplomacy to consulting, moved to China in 2002 and became China’s first foreigner granted a Certified Management Consultant degree in Mandarin Chinese. In 2005 he founded Campanile Management Consulting.

He has advised, coached and trained leaders for 100+ clients in 25+ countries through his own firm, partner consultancies and the business academies of half a dozen multinational corporations. He has spoken at conferences and corporate events and lectured at business programmes in Europe and Asia. He currently splits his time between his Shanghai base and international jobs, mainly in the Asia-Pacific and Europe.

He has written three books and published about a hundred articles. His latest book, Dragon Suit: The golden age of expatriate executives in China, was published by Business Expert Press, New York, in summer 2023.

⁠Chis Smit⁠, has become a role model for many individuals throughout his career. Cultural Diversity and Company Culture can be greatly misunderstood within an industry that is continuously evolving and Chris is looking to spread awareness in these areas to help implement change. When booked as a speaker, Chris focuses on topics such as Intercultural Management, Leadership, Management, and Marketing.

In 1987, Chris attended the University of Amsterdam where he was awarded a master’s degree in Organisational Psychology. This was then followed by him gaining a Business Consultant role at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Dedicated to making a difference, Chris has now become a Managing Partner of Culture Matters. His beliefs not only benefit himself but thousands of people throughout the business world which is why he has been able to build a successful career.

Chris hosted the TEDx Talk ‘⁠Humor and culture in international business⁠ in 2014. He is also the author of the two books, ‘How to Overcome Cultural Differences in Business and ‘Uncertainty Avoidance in International Business which have both become very popular.

⁠Shelley Doyle⁠ is a pioneering Social Wealth Strategist and a Master's student at Royal Roads University, specializing in enhancing the social wellbeing of remote and hybrid leaders. With over 20 years in communications, Shelley has pivoted to empower corporate teams, remote leaders, and founders to foster meaningful connections and sustain their social wellbeing in our digital age. Through her innovative workshops and talks, Shelley merges cutting-edge research with her global experiences, equipping leaders with tools and strategies to reconnect, enabling them to feel deeply trusted, connected, and supported.

Shelley’s work is widely celebrated for its transformative effects, making her an invaluable resource for leaders and founders. Shelley is on a mission to prove that distance does not have to define the depth of our connection.

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If you work across time zones, borders, and cultures, connect with ⁠Leonardo Marra⁠ and come on the show to share your story.

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