Our 1st semester MBA students were invited to learn more about intercultural communication in the form of a 1-day workshop, designed and presented by Mrs. Barbara Sametinger, founder of Sametinger Business English and Cross-Cultural Training. Mrs. Sametinger is a communication and leadership consultant with over 20 years’ experience and has worked with various multinational teams in corporations, and with business professionals.
The session started with a bang as students were, through interactive exercises, exposed to the perceptional bias individuals possess. Students learned how perception and culture influence the way individuals think and process information and how this impacts the behaviour of people around them. German culture in detail and the cultural standards inherent within Germans were some of the addressed topics of the workshop. Practical, relevant, and thought-provoking case studies were assigned to the individual MBA students. They were complemented by practical tips in how to approach cultural differences they would likely encounter in their work as well as life in general in the future.

Some important takeaways from the Intercultural Communication workshop were:
1. Our values and cultures shape our perception immensely. We see the world through our cultural filter or lens
2. A smart thing to do, is to know one's own cultural compass. The more we know our roots, the more grounded we are. This leads to less judgement and more empathy while dealing with others
3. The art of delivering a constructive feedback (both positive and negative) lies in fostering a dialogue and trying to deal with the situation, rather than taking things personally by attaching emotions to them. Hence, a timely and constructive feedback leads to progress and growth.

Thank you, Barbara, for unfolding the mystery of culture to us. We now feel equipped with the understanding of intercultural competence and how one can learn from diversity and make an effort to integrate within different cultures.

Text: MBA, Aditya Yardi, MBA Class of 2025
Photos: Aditya Yardi