Successful global leaders have innate cultural intelligence.
Today’s leaders must have global literacy encompassing four intelligences: business intelligence; cultural intelligence; social intelligence; and personal intelligence - all vital to their effectiveness within increasingly diverse workplaces and cultural engagements.
They have deep awareness of who they are, their fundamental values, together with the capacity to embrace ambiguity and achieve results in unfamiliar environments.
We help to develop global literacy encompassing the four core intelligences – business, cultural, social and personal – to navigate complex situations successfully.
Our cultural intelligence programs are tailored to the particular needs of each client. They include: working internationally, global leadership, cultural inclusivity and cultural coaching.
We ensure leaders know the rules that guide decisions and understand and appreciate the different values of their global counterparts.
“The underlying key to culture is a clear story”
What do we do in the face of considerable uncertainties?- In what way should we position our organisation for success?
- How can we chart a path for the next five years or beyond?
These are just some of the questions organisations are grappling with and searching for the capacity to address.
Businesses who are resilient and courageous value - innovation, spontaneity and the unique talents of their people.
They have the courage and the capacity to:
- take a long-term focus
- maintain stability through balancing knowledge and skill with intuition, innovation and insight
- embrace strategic agility, essential to succeed in these challenging environments
- embrace ambiguity and navigate complexity and
- above all are conscious and live their true purpose.
As thought leaders we work with you to ensure your people are able to respond to complex demands of the unknown, balancing insight with – readiness, responsiveness, and revitalisation…..plus a clear story!
Shaping teams for spontaneity, and growth starts with realising the individual and collective purpose.
How as leaders do we create a collective purpose?- What is our best response as a leadership team to the complexity of the uncertainties we face?
- What will it take for us to get beyond our functional roles and work collectively together?
We work with individuals to help them
- know their strengths,
- their individual purpose and
- what they bring to the team
This ensures ongoing success through:
- shaping a collective purpose for the team
- developing resilience through increased agility
- resolving differences and
- ensuring their unique capacitance can be fulfilled.
When they understand the story of their organization, are involved in shaping it, they then create an environment enabling them to live their story, and define ways to sustainably walk this truth.
Leadership is not a guarantee; it is a journey and it starts with resilience.
Leadership is not a guarantee: it is a journey and it starts with resilience.
“Transitioning” or “Transforming” yourself to being a leader requires a level of personal insight to enable you to embrace the opportunity and provide solid leadership to others. This new opportunity will require you to have a greater understanding of how the business runs and how its people operate. The critical factor is knowing how to move from a specialist to a generalist. Research shows that leaders who have the agility to see a wider view of the world, and act on it, are highly valued by organisations, and more importantly their value creation to society.
An integral part of success is a deeper awareness of how you operate individually and as a part of the organization – you are more visible and need to be more present.
Leadership today means ‘being better and being different, working wiser, and in full integrity with your deepest self.’
We call this “shapeshifting”, rather than coaching because it involves a deepening awareness and self-reflection.
We work with you to:
- truly look in the mirror and honestly ponder your own mental models
- determine what is important to you and to all others
- appreciate and embrace the stages of development
- deal with the anomalies and address those behaviours that do not serve you well
- honour your highest values and aspirations
- shape your leadership story.
The transition process is both holistic and pragmatic, and an authentic leader needs both. Through reflection on our inner world and that of the outer in which we operate, we are able to identify meaning, connection and purpose, and to be who we want to be.
Executives who want to expand their career must be able to access and develop a fuller range of their possibilities and this comes to the fore in times of executive transitions.
Our clients tell us that ‘they have never been listened to so deeply and well.’
Shaping your legacy requires conscious awareness of your perspectives, how they shape you and your story. It is a very personal pursuit and one that takes courage and commitment.
Our passion for what we do helps individuals “stand tall’, owning the core of who they are, and expressing themselves skilfully at work and beyond.
The Tall Journey
The Standing Tall Process can help you develop:
- Greater clarity and understanding about your values and vision, your deeper purpose – in your work and in your personal life
- The capacity to come up with more insightful, more innovative options for you and your organization
- More nuanced ways of working, living and engaging with community.
Throughout the Standing Tall process, we purposefully challenge you to ‘think better’ beyond the known, tried and true; to expand horizons, synthesizing diverse views to realize the best possible paths. All of this is crucial to making wise choices and is integral to living consciously.
Having the ‘clarity of purpose’ is the key to making wise choices.
It takes mindfulness and awareness of one’s intentions and actions and how they align to purpose. Perhaps this sounds left field, and it is our intention.
We believe leaders who are comfortable in their own spontaneity and outrageousness are those who Stand Tall, who walk at the edge, and are working towards owning their legacy.
A Standing Tall coach is like a sherpa on your leadership trek. Part companion, part guide, the Standing Tall coach can help you find the limits of your current thinking.
To lead is walk at the edge. Barry Brailsford
If you want to delve deeper please look at our Standing Tall program on www.thetalljourney.com
Our people
Cultural Shapeshifter’s people are accredited practitioners and extraordinary thought partners.
Anna Harper
Anna leads Cultural Shapeshifters, a consortium of accredited practitioners and extraordinary thought leaders. A shapeshifter and guide, she works as a leadership advisor and systems change agent. For 30 years, Anna has focused on individual and collective transitions and transformations, drawing on her behavioural training, capacitance work to define the story and establish new possibilities.
Her wealth of international experience and appreciation for different views is invaluable where cultural differences are involved. She specializes in executive transitions and leadership development, with a particular focus on cultural transitions.
Anna holds a Masters Degree in OD, majoring in Chaos, Complexity and Creativity, focusing on human and organisational dynamics. She also has a Fine Arts degree and is passionate about design. Prior to establishing Cultural Shapeshifters in 2003, she worked for international organisations in Europe, Australia and Asia. Currently based in Sydney, Australia with extensive work throughout Asia.
Anna is also a certified Narrative Coach™
KEY ATTRIBUTES:
Shapeshifter – awakening and expanding the status quo and leadership within
Synthesizer – bringing pieces into a whole, and taking it beyond
Focaliser – focusing on what will help you to make wise choices.
Cellene Hoogenkamp
Cellene works with you to deepen your awareness, enabling you to be a more effective leader communicating with clear intentions.
Cellene has over 25 years experience in both private and public sectors as diverse as pharmaceuticals, health, financial services, music and management consultancy. She worked as a manager, consultant & coach, senior executive and board director, has broad cultural experience in various world regions and a deep understanding of global leadership issues. Cellene’s strategic capacity enables her to see patterns where others see complexity, sees potential blocks and around corners.
Her high energy enhances engagement. Cellene has worked internationally, as an executive coach, with clients ranging from Fortune Top 500 companies to individual entrepreneurs, in the USA, Europe and Australasia. Currently residing in Seattle, WA, USA, travelling extensively in Europe and to Sydney (Australia) . She speaks, English, Dutch, German and French.
KEY ATTRIBUTES:
Ideator – always looking for connections, changing perspectives
Relator – encourages deepening of relationships
Connector – building bridges for people of different cultures, sees connections between separate things, we are part of something larger
Jeremy Norton
Jeremy is a thought shaper, fostering the conditions for shifts to arise and for new stories to take shape. He specializes in individual transformation and collective transitions with a focus on cross cultural work and multicultural environments. More than 20 years working with top global companies leading organizational change in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, has given Jeremy a deep understanding of the challenges facing today’s leaders.
He has travelled extensively through Asia, Central and South America, and been a teacher of mediation and yoga at one of Europe’s top retreats. This capacity is integral to his approach in transitions and shaping one’s story. He has provided guidance to business owners, executives, and people facing personal and career crossroads.
His wealth of experience and genuine commitment to helping people reach their potential is a result of his appreciation of different perspectives and his drive to serve others. Jeremy is currently residing in Auckland, New Zealand.
KEY ATTRIBUTES:
Strategist – Able to sort through the clutter to find the best route. To see patterns where others see complexity.
Connector – Bridge builder for people of different cultures, looks for connections, changing perspectives. Considerate and accepting.
Adaptor – Able to remain aware and focused when all is unclear. Can move responsively with unforeseen detours.
Diane Wilcoxson
Diane is a mindshifter, shaping your thinking to align with what is truly valuable to you as an individual, and thereby allowing you to be an exceptional leader in whatever field you are operating.
Specializes in executive transformation and leadership development with particular focus in multi-cultural environments. More than 25 years working with Fortune 500 companies whilst based in Hong Kong, has given Diane an intimate understanding of global leadership issues.
She has provided executive and personal guidance to senior level executives and owners of a wide range of businesses in Hong Kong, Europe and USA. Her wealth of experience, commitment to shaping clients thinking to jump-start their transitions is a result of her appreciation for different views and life experiences. Currently residing in Hong Kong, SAR, travelling extensively within Asia, the USA and Europe.
KEY ATTRIBUTES:
Mindshifter – Shapes your thinking to what is possible
Enabler – Assists you to see the pieces and pinpoint your focus of attention
Clarifier – Refocuses your attention on what will allow you to make wise choices to best fulfil your goals in life
Eileen Broer
Eileen is an exceptional people shaper. She redefines your thinking, enabling you to show up as an extraordinary leader, aligning you with what is truly important to you. Eileen specializes in executive coaching and leadership development with particular focus on multi-cultural environments.
More than 25 years working with Fortune 500 companies in the USA, Europe, China and Hong Kong has given Eileen an intimate understanding of global leadership issues. She has provided executive and personal coaching to senior level executives and owners of a wide range of businesses across the globe.
Her wealth of experience, commitment to shaping clients thinking respectfully, is a result of her extensive knowledge and her appreciation for different views. Currently residing in Colorado, USA, Eileen travels extensively within the USA, Europe and Asia.
KEY ATTRIBUTES:
Peopleshaper: Shapes your thinking to what is possible
Focaliser: Assists you to see the pieces and pinpoint your focus of attention
Changemaker: Refocuses your attention on what will allow support you to more fully fulfil your goals in life
Our Advocates
We work with international corporations, entrepreneurs, small business enterprises, not-for-profit organisations, and the public sector. They all have one thing in common - they are courageous and willing to think differently.
Our clients include leading edge companies in many sectors such as accounting, energy, financial services, IT, medical technology, telecommunications, engineering and pharmaceutical industry. Our relationships are trusting and discreet. Cultural Shapeshifters' guides and advisors have been active for many years in business themselves, and enjoy working with our clients.
“This was one of the most insightful processes that I have experienced. Anna has a way of acknowledging differing views and finding the synthesis between them. The group became aligned to the vision and the story we wanted to embody.”
– CEO, Thomson Reuters
“After a merger, there was a need to bring differing views to the surface, create a common set of values and shape the culture needed to succeed in moving forward. CultureScan was used as a tool to align the language, embrace different perspectives and establish a blueprint for optimizing the future.”
– Group VP, Frucor
“Shaping our culture for an unknown future was always going to be challenging. The processes that my team and I have experienced helped us to make sense of the differences and utilize these to assist us in developing a stronger entity. Anna was instrumental in identifying these differing views and finding the synthesis between them.”
– CEO, AVA
"Endeavouring to turn the business around after no-one had been in this position for 2 years, was always going to be a challenge. You helped me identify that what was missing was 'the story' of who we were, and sharing this with all our customers, both internal and external. This was key in aligning the ‘why’, clarifying the vision and more importantly, in defining 'how' we wanted to BE. We reset our focus - serving others.
Your coaching enabled us to overcome many challenges and turn the business around. The team is aligned, the vision clear and performance improved.
I have grown as a leader, through knowing who I AM, and this was at the heart of coaching sessions. I always left with a deeper sense of knowing."
– General Manager, ALCON HONG KONG
“The 3 day workshop was more than teambuilding, it was developing deeper awareness, understanding and collaboration to define how we create understanding and respect for different values, approach to business and move forward as a group following the merger.”
– Senior Executive, SINGTEL OPTUS
"Just a quick note to say thank you once more for your support and guidance throughout the AYG program! I am committed to embedding these principles into my daily work and making sure my development, and the development of my team, continues to grow.”
– Director, AMERICAN EXPRESS - Global, Hong Kong
“Bringing together 3 departments with very different areas of focus, to form a key Division, required acknowledgement of expertise, contribution, defining the underlying strengths that each individual brought to the team, enabling the shaping of a common story, a set of values, from which to position the division for maximum influence with its stakeholders.”
- Director, UN-ESCAP, IDD DIVISION
“Throughout my coaching, Anna exposed me to a combination of practical techniques and theoretical concepts which I was able to relate to my own situation, which also challenged me to develop new approaches, and was extremely valuable to me personally and professionally.”
– CFO, ROCOIL
“My Cultural Shapeshifters coach was able to provide clear, concise and direct coaching that empowered me as an individual to develop a realistic action plan that lead to my desired results, and contribute to taking the company in a new direction.”
– Regional VP, Finance, OMGEO
“Change is inevitably uncomfortable and significant personal change is often excruciating as we discard the old and comfortable and try on the new and unknown. In working with Anna, during our leadership program the group felt safe to deal with some of these patterns that were holding us back from reaching our leadership potential.”
– Director, Thomson Reuters INDIA
“This was an enlightening process for me, helped me understand my own cultural profile and how it shaped my leadership style. I would recommend this to any expatriate leader.”
– Director Marketing, KELLOGG’S
“I realised the challenges of being a global leader, engaging my team, and implementing the change agenda, required astute navigation. Cultural Shapeshifters helped me in understanding my own profile and how to adapt to what was needed by my cultural team.”
– Senior Executive, DEUTSCHE BANK
“In any merger situation, the cost of cultural conflicts can be significant if not addressed directly and effectively. Cultural Shapeshifters process was instrumental in the re-alignment of our newly integrated executive team. Anna’s unique ability to assist people in re-aligning their focus has enabled our team to re-focus on achieving significant business deliverables.”
– Group VP, SINGTEL OPTUS
“Anna helped me understand who I am at my core. What I love about Anna’s coaching style is her ability to consistently tune into me and maintain a dialogue of intensity that feels both comfortable and challenging. Anna’s insights had real impact and enabled me to expand my thinking, examine my thought patterns and deeply investigate who I want to be and do in this world.”
- Legacy Coaching
“Everyone comes into your life for a reason, though often that reason is not so apparent. Anna was one of those individuals whose reason has never been in doubt, to guide and catalyze my personal growth. Over the last 3yrs of working with Anna I have learnt that sustaining myself on all levels is my first obligation, from where all else flows.”
- Legacy Coaching
“The coaching sessions were particularly rewarding. It not only raised my self-awareness, but through the probing questions asked by Anna, I was able to not only identify areas to enhance my leadership but to initiate them and expand my level of influence across the business.”
– Director, AMERICAN EXPRESS - APAC, SINGAPORE
"I like this idea of “soft power”, Anna. It seems so quick that we’re nearly at the end of 2019
I’ve had a good year at work - they told me last week that they’re going to promote me so I’ll be moving roles in January.
Thanks again for your support - you really helped me to get out of a hole and to believe in myself again which was so important for me to move on."
- Legacy Coaching
"The coaching engagement within the AYG leadership programme, took me to another level of awareness, not only in how I lead, but also how I ‘show up’ as a person. Having recently been promoted to a Director role, in a new business, the coaching enabled me to step back, slow down and look at how I wanted to lead in this business. One year on I now have a team of five persons who are all thriving and I am able to engage and contribute to the business direction across the region. Thank you."
- Director, Regional Risk Officer - AMERICAN EXPRESS
"Thank you so much for your coaching over the past six months. Your insights and guidance helped me in expanding my awareness, and deepen my connections globally. As a direct result of the coaching engagement, I have been promoted to a new leadership role and I am deeply grateful for your stretching my way of thinking, reshaping my beliefs and believing in me."
- Director of Insurance and Internal Acquisition, AMERICAN EXPRESS - Japan
"I wanted to let you know my Pulse results for last year, which was the key focus for me during the coaching engagement - they turned out very well! Five categories scoring 80% and above - still work to do, but I see progress and commitment from my 50 plus staff. Thank you for your support, wisdom, insights and the PAUSES."
Manager, Premium Merchant Serving, American Express - Malaysia
"Over the 18 months of working with Anna, whilst on IDP in Australia, she helped me broaden my thinking of what my ‘value creation’ was and how I contributed to not just the company, but to look deeply as who I was as a leader, a person and how I engaged with my family, my team, community and the wider touch points. This shifted my focus from strategic thinking to relational engagement, shaping the story and taking people on the journey of what is possible.
It has changed how I see myself and what is important."
- Director of Marketing, Rheumatology - Janssens (J&J)
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