What Works Across Cultures

Creativity: Perspective from Poland | Paweł Karpiuk

What can one of the world's most successful game studios teach us about creativity, culture, and collaboration? Why do Polish teams often focus on what can be improved rather than what's already working?  In this episode, Anna Kostecka speaks with Paweł Karpiuk, Senior Training & Development Specialist at CD Projekt Red, the Polish video game company behind The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077.  Together, they explore how culture shapes creativity, why Polish teams approach problem-solving differently, and what global organizations can learn from working across cultures.  In this conversation, you'll discover: * What creativity really means beyond art and creative industries * How Polish cultural values show up in game narratives, storytelling, and teamwork * Why psychological safety, trust, and communication are essential for creativity * The idea of "creative tension" and what makes Polish creativity distinctive * Why Polish teams are often perceived as critical when they are actually highly engaged * What international colleagues often misunderstand about working with Poles * Practical ways to encourage creativity and collaboration in multicultural teams Want to know more? Review the additional materials from this episode: https://whatworks.pl/podcast-episode-6/ [https://whatworks.pl/podcast-episode-6/] Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share the episode with someone who works internationally, or buy us a coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/whatworksacrosscultures] to support the show. If this topic resonates with you, it's exactly the kind of work we do with leaders and teams. Get in touch [https://whatworks.pl/#connect] to learn more. Podcast jingle 106 by ⁠Lundstroem⁠ [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/] is licensed under a ⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠ [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0].

Community: Perspective from Ukraine | Maria Andruchiw

What does “community” really mean? And what happens to communities in times of crisis?  In this episode, host Anna Kostecka speaks with Maria Andruchiw, a Ukrainian community organizer, activist, and cultural advocate based in Poland. With over 10 years of experience in cultural diplomacy and community organizing, Maria brings both expertise and lived experience to the conversation. Together, they explore how culture shapes the way we understand, build, and rebuild communities.  Anna and Maria explore: * How culture influences our understanding of community: is it something we choose or something we are born into?  * How communities respond when a crisis hits, and what holds them together  * Surprising cultural differences between Poland and Ukraine — two neighbouring countries often assumed to be alike * Practical ways to collaborate across cultures, especially with colleagues from Ukraine Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share it with others, or buy us a coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/whatworksacrosscultures] to support the show. If this topic resonates with you, this is exactly what we work on with leaders and their teams. Get in touch [https://whatworks.pl/#connect] #Community #Ukraine #Poland #CrossCultural #InterculturalCommunication #GlobalTeams #InclusiveLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #GlobalLeadership #Collaboration #InterculturalCompetence Podcast jingle 106 by ⁠Lundstroem⁠ [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/] is licensed under a ⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠ [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0].

Psychological Safety: Perspective from Japan | Keiko Sakurai

Is building psychological safety the same everywhere? How can cultural differences impact speaking up during meetings? What are other important indicators of psychological safety? What can you do when you don’t hear much from colleagues in Japan or across APAC?  In this episode, host Anna Kostecka speaks with Keiko Sakurai, Director of Consulting at Aperian, based in Japan. Keiko has over 20 years of experience supporting collaboration across European, North American, and Asia-Pacific (APAC) teams. Together, they explore the importance of culture in building psychological safety and what leaders and team members can do to foster it.  * What psychological safety really means and its stages * How cultural differences shape speaking up * The 5 dimensions of culture (GlobeSmart®Profile) and their impact * Practical ways to encourage sharing ideas and challenges in a global team 🎁 Review the bonus materials from this episode, including an exclusive discount code to get 15% off an Aperian platform subscriptions:  https://whatworks.pl/podcast-episode-4/ [https://whatworks.pl/?page_id=1783&preview=true] Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share it with others, or buy us a coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/whatworksacrosscultures] to support the show. If this topic resonates with you, this is exactly what we work on with leaders and their teams. Get in touch [https://whatworks.pl/#connect] #PsychologicalSafety #GlobalLeadership #CrossCultural #InterculturalCommunication #GlobalTeams #APAC #Japan #LeadershipDevelopment #CulturalDifferences #InterculturalCompetence #Cross-culturalCollaboration Podcast jingle 106 by ⁠Lundstroem⁠ [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/] is licensed under a ⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠ [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0].

Conflict Style: Perspective from Canada | Hamlin Grange

Conflict happens in every team. But in global and multicultural teams, misunderstandings often arise because culture shapes how we disagree, express emotions, and resolve conflicts. When we misinterpret the behaviour of colleagues from other cultures, trust can quickly erode. In this episode, host Anna Kostecka speaks with Hamlin Grange, a Canadian interculturalist and IDEA strategist (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism) with over 26 years of experience. Together, they explore how culture influences conflict in the workplace and how leaders and teams can navigate disagreements more effectively. * Different conflict styles: direct vs. indirect communication and expressive vs. restrained emotional approaches * How culture shapes the way people approach conflict at work * The Canadian perspective on addressing disagreements * Real-life examples of conflict dynamics in multicultural teams * Practical tips for navigating conflict across cultures 🎁 Download and review the additional materials from this episode: https://whatworks.pl/podcast-episode-3/ [https://whatworks.pl/podcast-episode-3/]  Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share it with others, or buy us a coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/whatworksacrosscultures] to support the show. If this topic resonates with you, this is exactly what we work on with leaders and their teams. Get in touch [https://whatworks.pl/#connect] #ConflictStyles #GlobalLeadership #GlobalTeams #InterculturalCompetence #CrossCulturalCommunication #CulturalIntelligence #CrossCulturalLeadership #GlobalWorkplace #InterculturalCommunication #LeadershipAcrossCultures #CrossCulturalCollaborationPodcast jingle 106 by ⁠Lundstroem⁠ [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/] is licensed under a ⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠ [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0].

Communication: Perspective from the U.S. | Karen Cvitkovich

What makes a good communicator? What do people tend to get wrong about communicating with colleagues from the United States? Join our host, Anna Kostecka, for a conversation with Karen Cvitkovich, a U.S. consultant, author, and facilitator with almost 20 years of experience in the intercultural field. In this episode, Anna and Karen discuss: * What “good communication” really means across cultures * The difference between low-context and high-context cultures * How direct vs. indirect communication styles often cause misunderstandings * Giving effective feedback across cultures * Practical tips to help you communicate when working globally, especially when collaborating with U.S. team members Who is it for? Leaders and team members collaborating in global teams, HR and L&D professionals, and curious minds, wondering what works across cultures and why. Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share it with others, or buy us a coffee [https://buymeacoffee.com/whatworksacrosscultures] to support the show. If this topic resonates with you, this is exactly what we work on with leaders and their teams. Get in touch [https://whatworks.pl/#connect]. #InterculturalCommunication #CommunicationStyles, #HighContextCultures, #LowContextCultures, #DirectCommunication, #IndirectCommunication, #Feedback #Cross-culturalCollaboration #GlobalTeams #WorkingWithUSTeams #WorkingWithPolishTeams #WhatWorksAcrossCultures #CulturalDimensions #Cultural Awareness Podcast jingle 106 by ⁠Lundstroem⁠ [https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/] is licensed under a ⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠ [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0].