In the space of three sentences: How did you come to do what you do (for a living)? 

My professional orientation to become an intercultural coach just started after having finished my studies in the UK. When at that time I came back to my home country Iran, I realized so many culturally driven differences in business management, which lead me to examine the reasons behind this and to analyse the management styles in Iran. I asked myself: „Why do we lay less importance on following rules in Iran? Why do these differences exist?“ Being back in Iran after having lived in the UK opened a whole new world to me and made me think things over. Driven by my thoughts about cultural influence, I continued my journey to the middle East to learn to know the Islamic countries and values.

How might intercultures’ customers find you unique? 

We live in an uncertain world, which is why uncertainty and risk will as well always be part of an international working environment. I have lived and grown up with a steady uncertainty and learned to handle it, which led me understand that „truth“ can always mean different things to people. Limits as well as the importance of loyalites are considered differently depending on the people‘s cultural values. I know the Western World standards and expectations quite well and I am aware of the cultural differences compared to the Iran or the Arab World. My personal added value as intercultural coach is being able to overcome these differences between people of different backgrounds with success and diplomacy.

What do you like about working with intercultures?

Intercultures has a great team, they work highly solution-oriented and accomplish their goals in a professional, positive and personal way.

In a global context – why do you think is your work – and our work together important?

Differences and divisions are much easier to create than to build a strength of unity. In a global context, it is extremely important that people become aware of their similarities and that they establish a way of overcoming their differences, which means the first step for a successful collaboration. For this reason my and our work is now and will continue to be extremely important for individuals, societies, teams and organisations.