Strategies in Multicultural Communication: Japan and South Korea 2027
Course Description
Business success in our increasingly globalized and virtual world requires the skills to navigate cultures, the ability to identify and adapt to different communication styles, to rapidly build trust and relationships, and to hold a high degree of awareness and emotional intelligence.
In a world increasingly driven by AI, emerging business leaders need critical, strategic communication frameworks, and experience with and exposure to global cultures to succeed in conducting international business today.
This course introduces frameworks for analyzing how cultures influence the way business is conducted globally through a communications lens. The goal is to provide participants with strategic communication tools and actionable steps to practice business around the world with greater ease, awareness, and overall success.
Leadership strategies that work in one country or region may fall completely flat in another. Communicating across cultures and leading professionals from around the world introduces new complexities. Challenges such as culture, language, and logistics confront even the most seasoned and experienced leaders. Entering new global industries can be exciting and rewarding; however, the first step is understanding the many ways culture influences business practices. This course empowers students to understand and navigate nuances of new cultures more effectively and emphasizes methods to increase overall awareness while maintaining an authentic self.
Course Description:
This course explores how to analyze various cultures and aspects of global organizations in today's ever-changing business and political environment. Participants explore challenges, gaps, and opportunities that arise when initiating or leading business across diverse cultures, markets, and channels. Specifically we:
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Gain analytical frameworks, actions, and communication strategies to cultivate and navigate global business relationships emphasizing the power of relationship first
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Explore research-based methodologies to analyze how culture impacts business interactions, communication and operations. For example, exploring approaches of task-based v. relationship based cultures.
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Experience the difference between high context and low context culture communication and collaboration
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Analyze, develop, and deliver presentations to non-US countries
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Experience strategies to navigate difficult conversations and missteps globally
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Expand skillsets in relating and adapting to other cultures while maintaining authentic self
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Explore US based organizations that conduct global business leadership programs and identify opportunities for growth or success
During the course students develop new global business relationships, explore how to effectively tailor communication strategies, and how to analyze corporate training programs for US-based organizations that conduct international business. Through coursework and immersive activities, participants develop personal awareness of their own leadership strengths and gaps and how to best adapt culturally. We cover critical leadership and communication skills to recognize, support and lead increasingly diverse teams.
Finally, the goal will be to meet and talk with specific industry leaders to explore their perspectives, pitfalls, failures, and successes in conducting global business. Participants will be exposed to a variety of diverse experiences and thought leadership strategies.
Japan and South Korea
This course exposes students to two leading international markets that have notable differences in how business is approached and driven. We explore Japan and South Korea to experience the subtle, sensitive and sometimes glaring opposite methods and approaches. Each country provides the opportunity to hear from industry leaders and provides exposure and experience in putting course theories into practice.
Japan and South Korea vary in not only language but communication and relationship building strategies. We experience low context communication varieties and the complexities in the pace of which business is conducted.
Who Should Take this Course?
Current and aspiring leaders of organizations conducting global business in both US-based and international-based organizations. Entrepreneurs with visions to expand globally. Leaders aiming to improve executive communication skills and heighten self-awareness and overall cultural intelligence. Leaders eager to gain new analytical skills for best travelling and exploring the world personally and professionally.
Faculty Bio
Heather L. Barnes, M. A. Heather has over 20 years of experience leading people and directing, producing, and delivering large scale presentations. She has worked as a director at both the John G. Shedd Aquarium and at the Museum of Science and Industry to transform communication, culture, and methods of engaging audiences. She has successfully implemented improvisational techniques to engage teams, communicate complex content to the public, and create innovative programs for millions of guests annually.
In 2017 Heather founded Improv @ Work, LLC, to deliver highly experiential workshops at museums, organizations, and universities worldwide to empower organizations to evolve. Heather has been a keynote speaker and has presented at several international conferences including the American Alliance of Museums, The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, the Association of Science and Technology Centers, and the American Society of Cytopathology. She has been teaching essential communication skills to faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, lawyers and executives since 2014. During the pandemic Heather developed and delivered a suite of virtual educational programs, experiential workshops, and corporate leadership retreats.
Heather was a faculty member of the Second City Training Center Chicago and has directed, produced, and performed in several sketch comedy and improvisational shows throughout the Chicago land area. Heather has a Master of Arts degree from the School of Social Services at the University of Chicago.