News

VIML Congres 2023

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The Vereniging International Management Leiden (VIML) is an association of students. All students have registered for the Minor International en Intercultural Management of the University of Leiden, where I lecture. Every year, the VIML organizes…
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Trademission Ghana

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From 19 to 30 April 2023 I was visiting Accra, Ghana. I was a member of a Trademission, together with other Dutch companies and organized by the NABC. The delegation took part in the General Assemblee of the World Trade Centre Association,…
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Ghanaian friends and family

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It has been marvelous to be back in Ghana and to be able to have face to face contacts with friends, former colleagues, partners in crime and my Ghanaian brother. I was very happy to see everybody is doing fine and wonderful to experience we…
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BNR: business in Tanzania

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On March 9, 2023, I was again a co-host and 'world conqueror' on BNR radio. This time it was about doing business in Tanzania. Listen back to the broadcast here. 'Pole pole pole' is a common Tanzanian expression: it means: 'calm, calm', or…
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BNR: business in India

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On Feb. 9, 2023, I co-hosted BNR radio as "World Conqueror," to provide cultural explanations on doing business in India. Listen back to the broadcast here. Many people in India see education as the most important route to break the existing…
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On TV with EditieNL

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Why is the word GRATIS (for free) one of the most googled words in the Netherlands? I've had a chance to explain it shortly on Dutch television in the program Editie NL on RTL 4. In comparison to other countries, the people in the Netherlands…
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Culture training at my old place

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I gave a beautiful training for the development organisation that was once my employer for 10 good years on the African continent, working in Ghana and in Benin. It was great to be back at the old nest!
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IODA 2022 in Barcelona

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It is always lovely to be back with the IODA family, especially after two corona years and online conferences. This year I learned a lot especially about Corporate Life cycles of Adize, generously shared by friend and colleague Willie Marais…
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Dr. degree for colleague

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On September 24th 2022 my dear colleague Okey Okere from Nigeria celebrated his doctorate graduation from the Business School Netherlands, which we were happy to celebrate with him!
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Beautiful training location

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And again my colleague Divya and myself are able to give a training on a beautiful location, this time in Rotterdam. It seems water remains a common factor! Again, it is an organisation which is involved with the environment and the steps we…
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Soba’s in Angola

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Traveled once again to Portugal to continue, together with Vasco Silva, the writing of the book about the Soba Council in his former company in Angola. With an occasional nice walk along the Ave River in Santo Tirso.
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Syrian women

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These Tunisian delicacies came along during, for now, the last training I gave for Oumnia Works. It was a promising group of Syrian women with many stories and sometimes acrimonious situations, but with a fantastic counselor/translator who…
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A compilation of images: a training setting; the participants outside and the trainers: Alette and Pa.

Sierra Leone: Intercultural Teambuilding

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A full week Intercultural Teambuilding for a development organization in Sierra Leone. Working through disturbed relationships, solving issues and creating understanding. Wonderful work done together with Papa Arkhurst from Ghana.
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University exams

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Grading the exams is always quite a job. Luckily for me, the cat is keeping me company. 😉 The exams are for Intercultural Management, one of the topics of the minor International and Intercultural Management (IIM) of the University of Leiden.…
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Writing in Portugal

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A week of writing in Portugal, focussing on the Angola book. Reading, reflecting and writing, with some walks along the robust shore in between. In Portugal I had a chance to discuss it further with partner in crime Vasco Silva and also enjoyed…
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The two trainers Divya Varkey and Alette Vonk smiling on the bunker island of Ijmuiden.

NGO Culture Training

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Did a good training with Cultural Insights colleague Divya Susan Varkey for an ecological NGO. Good insights, happy client and a wonderful location in Fort Island in IJmuiden.
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International students

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Information and training for international students on Dutch culture, executed with our book See what the Dutch Say. These activities are part of the Orientation Week of the University Leiden.
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New Cooperative!

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On the 11th of May 2021 we created the Cooperative Cultural Insights. Together with 9 other Associate Partners of Hofstede Insights in the Netherlands , we're going to work together more closely. With this professional and diverse team we will…
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