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As a startup founder, you already know the importance of accessing top global talent to bring your solution to market and scale internationally. In fact, disrupting your industry and achieving success requires assembling the right team.

But how do you manage multicultural teams effectively?

And how can you leverage the diverse cultural differences within your workforce to enhance performance?

In this post, I’ll share insights from my conversation with Dr. Ma Cherie Cortez, a certified Cultural Intelligence (CQ) trainer and facilitator who has worked with global brands like Microsoft and SAP.

In Episode 69 of Women Disrupting Tech, we dive into the world of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and explore its critical role in startup success. You can listen to the episode by clicking play below or look for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast app.

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Timestamps

04:10: The importance of Cultural Intelligence in managing international teams
12:40: Researching customs and practices
34:21: Defining Cultural Intelligence
36:56: The seven steps of cultivating Cultural Intelligence
43:20: Balancing cultural intelligence with staying true to yourself
47:30: The importance of cultural intelligence in remote and hybrid work environments
52:25: Enhancing conflict resolution and negotiation skills with CQ
55:55: The role of CQ in effective leadership
58:48: CQ as a key skill for startup founders
1:00:31: DEI in decision making
1:03:33: Using the agile framework to set goals for implementing CQ
1:06:26: The importance of learning the local language
1:15:02″ Continuous improvement and feedback when implementing CQ

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What we cover in this episode

1. Timestamps
2. What we cover in this episode
3. What makes this episode magical🌟?
4. Free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech
5. About Dr. Ma Cherie Cortez
6. What is Cultural Intelligence (CQ)?
7. Why Cultural Intelligence is Critical for Startups
8. CQ’s Role in Leadership, Conflict Resolution, and Decision-Making
9. CQ and the Remote or Hybrid Work Environment
10. Dr. Cortez’s Seven-Step Framework for Mastering CQ
11. How to Implement CQ in Your Startup
12. Continuous Improvement and Feedback
13. Final Thoughts
14. Listen to Episode 69 and Win a Free Book!
15. Let me know what you think!
16. What’s coming up?

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What makes this episode magical🌟?

This episode is a Cultural Intelligence Masterclass. It starts with her own story of how she went from humble beginnings to getting a foot in the door at major brands like Microsoft and SAP, working as an IT expat, and ultimately working with companies and individuals as a certified CQ trainer and facilitator.

Ma Cherie shares so much knowledge and wisdom. It is clear that she lived the experience. Being an expat required her to become culturally intelligent and learn the customs and practices of other countries. Adapting to new circumstances became the key to her own success.

In that sense, there are many parallels to the life of startups and scale-ups. Every time you start out in a new country or move to a new phase, there are new things to explore and challenges to overcome. And cultural intelligence will help you make the best of it.

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Free ways to support the Women Disrupting Tech

When you’re ready to support my guests in making this podcast obsolete by the end of 2032, help out by doing these two things:

1. Use the share button to share the podcast with friends, family, and co-workers. This way, you give the women disrupting tech the platform they need to make it happen. Use the buttons below to share.
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About Dr. Ma Cherie Cortez

Dr. Ma Cherie Cortez is a certified Cultural Intelligence Master Trainer and Facilitator. She was born in the Philippines and always dreamed of going abroad. Fortunately, she was a good learner. This helped her get out of poverty and into one of the best schools in the Philippines.

From there, she worked for international companies (including well-known brands like Microsoft, SAP, and InBev) for her entire career, most of it as an IT expat. So, she experienced the benefits of Cultural Intelligence firsthand.

As a master trainer and facilitator, she uses her own knowledge and experience to help people and companies improve their team performance and their bottom lines by becoming culturally intelligent.

She is also an award-winning author with three books in her name:
– 10X Expat Success (a free download on her website)
– Deliver Outside The Box
– Mastering Cultural Intelligence in 7 Steps.

You can find more information about Ma Cherie, her services, and her books on her website. Of course, you can also connect with her on LinkedIn and follow her on Instagram.

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What is Cultural Intelligence (CQ)?

Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is the ability to relate to and work effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds. While IQ measures cognitive ability, CQ measures how well you navigate cultural differences.

As Dr. Cortez explains:

“CQ is about more than understanding customs; it’s about adapting your behavior to different environments while staying true to yourself.”

Mastering CQ is essential for founders looking to build high-performing, diverse teams, particularly when scaling globally.

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Why Cultural Intelligence is Critical for Startups

For startup founders, CQ is an essential skill that can make or break your success. Here’s why:

– Global Talent Management: As you scale, you’ll attract top talent from across the world. To manage those diverse teams effectively, you need to understand cultural nuances and foster a collaborative environment.

– Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Prioritizing DEI is not just a trend; it’s a driver for innovation and success. Founders with high CQ can use diversity as an asset, enabling their teams to thrive and innovate.

– Authenticity and Adaptability: Founders often struggle with balancing authenticity and adaptability. Dr. Cortez’s seven-step framework helps you navigate this, ensuring you stay true to your values while successfully leading multicultural teams.

“To be successful, startup founders need to have cultural intelligence as a tool in their toolbox.”

Dr. Ma Cherie Cortez

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CQ’s Role in Leadership, Conflict Resolution, and Decision-Making

Cultural Intelligence is also crucial when it comes to leadership. Whether you’re resolving conflicts, negotiating deals, or making decisions, CQ helps you approach these tasks with a global mindset. In diverse teams, misunderstandings and conflicts can arise, and effective leaders know how to navigate these situations by recognizing cultural differences.

By incorporating CQ into your leadership, you will enhance your ability to manage conflicts, build trust, and make decisions that consider the cultural contexts of your team members.

“Without being culturally aware, it makes it more difficult to communicate and be productive,” says Dr. Cortez, especially in remote and hybrid work environments.

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CQ and the Remote or Hybrid Work Environment

In today’s world, remote and hybrid teams are the norm for many startups. Dr. Cortez emphasizes that Cultural Intelligence is vital in this context. Miscommunication and misunderstandings can occur easily when teams span across different countries, time zones, and cultural backgrounds.

Leaders with high CQ can build trust, foster effective communication, and keep remote teams engaged, helping the company preserve productivity despite geographic differences.

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Dr. Cortez’s Seven-Step Framework for Mastering CQ

In Episode 69, Dr. Cortez shares her seven-step framework for developing Cultural Intelligence, a guide that startup founders can implement:

1. Personal Mastery: Develop a drive to learn about different cultures and integrate that knowledge into your behavior.
2. Intercultural Competence: Build cultural sensitivity and awareness, recognizing the subtle differences that impact team dynamics.
3. Relational Synergy: Foster collaboration by bridging cultural gaps and creating harmonious working relationships.
4. Inclusive Leadership: Lead diverse teams to success by creating an environment where every voice is valued and heard.
5. Advocacy and Impact: Use your cultural intelligence to make a meaningful difference in your organization and beyond.
6. Mastery and Growth: Continuously set self-development goals and adopt a growth mindset.
7. Reflection and Refinement: Cultural Intelligence is not static; it requires constant reflection, feedback, and improvement.

This framework provides a step-by-step approach to mastering CQ, ensuring that you stay adaptable, empathetic, and effective in your leadership.

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How to Implement CQ in Your Startup

To bring Cultural Intelligence into your startup, Dr. Cortez suggests setting clear, actionable goals using the agile framework. This method helps you implement CQ gradually while tracking progress. Another key aspect is learning the local language of your teams. Even if just a few phrases, it goes a long way in building rapport and respect.

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Continuous Improvement and Feedback

Developing CQ is a continuous process. Dr. Cortez highlights the importance of feedback and self-reflection to refine your approach over time. By being open to learning and adapting, you’ll ensure that your team remains cohesive and successful in the long run.

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Final Thoughts

Cultural Intelligence is more than just a buzzword. For startup founders, it’s a critical skill that enables you to lead diverse teams, scale globally, and stay competitive. By mastering CQ, you can navigate the complexities of cultural differences while remaining authentic and adaptable.

Whether you’re managing remote teams, resolving conflicts, or expanding into new markets, CQ is the key to unlocking startup success. Don’t miss the chance to learn from Dr. Cortez and get practical insights on how to elevate your leadership game.

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Listen to Episode 69 and Win a Free Book!

Ready to dive deeper into Cultural Intelligence and learn how to apply it to your startup? Listen to Episode 69 of Women Disrupting Tech on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube.

Plus, the first five listeners to email me at dirkjan@womendisruptingtech.blog will receive a free copy of Dr. Cortez’s book—a resource valued at thousands of euros!

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Let me know what you think!

Please let me know your thoughts about this episode of Women Disrupting Tech in the comments.

This blog is an experiment to see what happens if I include more information. Please let me know what you think about it.

If you believe this blog and podcast have been relevant to you as an entrepreneur, would you do me a favor and share them with friends, family, and co-workers? This way you give Ma Cherie and the other Women Disrupting Tech a platform to increase diversity in tech.

PS. If you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email or a DM on LinkedIn. 

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What’s coming up?

Next week, on Women Disrupting Tech, I will have a guest who has been at the top of my “people to interview” list since the beginning of the show. Constantijn van Oranje will be my guest to talk about how to be a royal ally for Women Disrupting Tech.

He’s followed by a man who does not want to be called an ally. Sergio Panday joins me to talk about promoting ethnic diversity in corporate boardrooms and beyond. 

So stay tuned for more inspiring women disrupting tech and their male allies in season three of Women Disrupting Tech!