Theoretical approach

After more than fifteen years of working as an intercultural consultant and coach, my current work focuses on strategic intercultural management with an emphasis on Asian countries. Strategic preparation is the key to success.

Values and attitudes, the basis of culturally different behaviour, are at the core of my work as an intercultural trainer.

There are great cultural differences between Europe and Asia. All too often, these are not considered in project planning. This results in serious difficulties which can be avoided by preparing well and acquiring cultural knowledge.

On the basis of many years of experience, I advise companies in the initial phase so that positioning works from the very start and mistakes can be avoided. Today, strategic intercultural management is the key to successfully conducting business abroad.

I work in a very practice-oriented manner and am very careful to fulfill the wishes and expectations of my customers.

My work is based on various cultural models like Geert Hofstede, Fons Trompenaars, Nancy Adler, Edward Hall, Alexander Thomas, Wolfgang Welsch, Jürgen Bolten, Wolfgang Barmeyer, theories on intercultural competence according to Darla Deardorff, and in particular to the Intercultural Readiness Model by Ursula Brinkmann & Oscar van Weerdeburg, as well as the philosophical approach of François Jullien. I also apply approaches from systemic management based on Fritz Simon as well as negotiation models (Harvard model) and conflict resolution models (relational conflict resolution according to Sonja Radatz), aspects of Chinese war tactics according to Sunzi and the teachings of Confucius – all of which can be adapted very well to the intercultural context.

My questions always look at which cultural, historical and economic factors form the basis of behaviour and thought patterns. The differences in thinking between Asia and Europe fascinate me in particular. They help me find the key to mutual understanding in a business context, the focus of my work.