It was a pleasure to speak on the panel at the Agile Lean ME Summit 2025 earlier this year, on the topic "Cultural Shifts: From Silos to Synergy."

In this article, I’ve pulled together some of my key reflections from the panel — from leadership stories to failed change efforts, and thoughts on the future of collaboration. I hope these insights resonate with others navigating similar transformation journeys.

The ability to navigate cultural dynamics is more than just a skill, it’s a crucial asset for leaders, teams, and organisations aiming to thrive internationally. My passion lies in fostering cross-cultural intelligence (CQ) as a developmental tool that empowers people to adapt, collaborate, and succeed globally. Drawing from personal experience and insights from companies like Netflix, where adaptability and a strong People & Culture (P&C) function are embedded into their DNA, I’ve seen firsthand how cultural awareness can shape success.