The nature of internationalization can vary from one organization to another. A company that sells equipment and infrastructure put in place for the long term does not face the same type of challenges as a non-profit organization that offers international exchange programs for teenagers. What they do have in common, however, is growth beyond borders and the desire to seize the opportunities which present themselves.

We can put together a customized training plan and design or adapt workshops to accommodate your specific needs as well as to help you and your teams reach your full international potential.

Below are a few examples of projects we have put in place:

"Communication & Decoding", HEC MBA

For 7 years we facilitated a workshop entitled "Communication and the art of decoding cultures" during orientation week for MBA students at HEC in Jouy en Josas, France. The attendance of between 60 and 100 participants per session enabled lively and memorable discussions on the impact of globalization on individuals and on their relationships with others.

A few reactions:

"Just a note to let you know that your presentation this afternoon was fantastic! I hope that you will be presenting on a regular basis during our MBA program so that we can keep the human aspect in mind and don't become office robots by the end of the program!"
A student, Class of 2003

"My friend P.H. attended your session at HEC on Thanksgiving Day last year. That evening at dinner (in a raclette restaurant, a far cry from the traditional turkey and cranberry sauce), she spoke with great enthusiasm of the concepts you had presented that day, particularly those linked to what you call Culture C. After two hours of discussion and fascinating analysis, we had convinced the guys that the reason we got along so well was not due to our common American experience (we are both immigrants; P. from Iran and myself from France), but rather because of this experience of having to understand and adapt one's self; this life-changing experience.

I want to thank you for having given me a clear and precise way to express what I feel, my reactions and my points of view and the possibility of sharing them with those who may have already traveled but haven't had this experience of living in another country."
Friend of a class of 2003 student

An approach of mobility focused on the family

For France's large oil companies, expatriation has been common practice for decades and hundreds of expatriates, most of them French, have settled abroad with their families. In recent years, these companies have seen an increase in the number of expatriates from around the world who are sent on assignment to France. Consequently, these companies have encountered new needs and have had to adapt ways to accommodate and help the expatriates get the most out of their stay.

We have worked with one of these companies' mobility team to explore ways to respond to the needs of expatriate families in France for each stage in their assignment. An action plan has been developed and put in place to ensure that the expatriates feel they are offered the support they need in order to feel at home both in France and in the French work environment.

Customer service... without borders

One of the world's largest public transportation companies asked us to contribute to the development of a global customer service approach to be implemented in 25 countries. In the months following, we worked with the marketing team to develop a program called "Going for Green, Creating a Customer Service Environment" as well as the awareness campaign to go with it. Since we, ourselves, travel frequently we were thrilled to see how committed the Group was in making mobility a positive experience for the 2.5 billion passengers they transport every year.

Working with international students: a workshop for university professors

In Winnipeg, Canada, the francophone branch of CUSB (Collège universitaire de Saint Boniface) is enrolling an increasing number of international students. For the majority of these students, whether they be from Europe or Africa, acclimation can be a challenge that goes beyond dealing with below freezing temperatures! Adapting includes understanding what is expected of them in class, how they should behave with their Canadian classmates, and the basis on which they will be judged and evaluated.

A committee of professors asked us to design and facilitate a workshop to enable professors to help their international students make the most of their stay.

The workshop lasted two days and was divided into two parts: the first day focused on the experiences of students who study abroad and their perception of the professors and the school. The second day highlighted the professors' experiences in terms of the challenges they faced in their classes and ways to help students to feel at home.

Some feedback:

"As I'm sure you'll see, your work was extremely well received by the participants. The Committee for Cultural Diversity and myself in particular wish to sincerely thank you for having facilitated this very successful workshop. It was a success thanks to your collaborative approach and your sensitivity to our needs as ETP professors."
President of the Committee for Cultural Diversity, responsible for putting the June 2004 workshop in place

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