My Story
I was born into a mixed-race family with an Indian mother and a Nigerian father - I grew up in different continents spanning from Asian to Europe, UAE, Africa and North America. Being exposed to diverse cultures at such a young age made me hyper aware of cultural dynamics within different contexts - I quickly understood that a sense of belonging does not always come from speaking the same language or being from the same ethnic group, It also comes from shared values displayed in a single moment of interaction.
These early childhood experiences sparked my curiosity to understand human behavior and that is what led me to study behavioral neuroscience with further specifications in emotional and cultural intelligence. As a professor, coach, mentor and business leader, I understand the importance of expanding our cultural context in an intelligent way because the world is getting more diverse and businesses with cultural intelligence are seen to making better decision 87% of the time. with an outperformance rate of over 40%.
Cultural Intelligence
Culture is how people exist together and this can be displayed in a personal or professional context - The culture of a room can create a strong sense of support and belonging or a sense of alienation, indifference and disconnection. The COVID-19 pandemic reiterated to us that people need people and we were not built for isolation - As much as we would like to think that the professional version of us is different from the personal version, it is proving otherwise because who we are at home leaks into who we are at work. Seeing as we spend many hours at work, it is vital to share healthy professional culture where there is psychological safety to perform at a high capacity. Unfortunately this is not the case for most employees and the the lack of healthy company culture reflects in overall performance and output. Companies that pay attention to the cultural health of the business are guaranteed more success.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional Intelligence is the ability to understand and manage our emotions and the emotions of others - I like to call it the art of the heart.
If culture is how we exist together, emotion management dictates the "how" part of that equation. Both culture and emotions are synonymous because to have a healthy culture means having a healthy emotional climate where behaviors like passive aggression, projections, irregulated reactions and dismissive behaviors are limited. The ability to see ourselves in every interaction ignites the self awareness required to see how our actions cause a ripple effect that leads to the impact we create. This self leadership enables us to be better leaders in our homes and at work because we are able to zoom out and see the full picture within each interaction. This conscious emotional action eventually becomes a habit that informs the culture we co-create in different environments. Business leaders have started understanding the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace because professional environments with a culture of emotional intelligence experience overall business success - Employees with emotionally intelligent leaders report an increase in engagement and creativity of over 76% and 90% of top performers at work are emotionally intelligent. Emotional intelligence accounts for over 50% of people's personal and professional achievements.
SERVICES
Business Consulting
In today's increasingly global and diverse work environment, cultivating cultural intelligence is not just an asset—it's a necessity. Our comprehensive training programs are designed to equip businesses with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate cultural complexities effectively. Through targeted assessments, in-depth workshops, and personalized coaching, we empower teams to foster inclusivity, respect diverse identities, and create a cohesive, culturally intelligent workplace. Whether addressing unconscious biases or enhancing team collaboration, our programs are tailored to help your organization thrive in a multicultural world through the following steps.
- Step 1: Survey Assessment
Conduct a comprehensive team survey assessment where each team member will respond to a series of questions designed to measure their awareness of cultural intelligence. This will encompass areas such as multiculturalism, diversity (both visible and invisible), equity, equality, categorization, cultural nuances, and individual and social identities. The results will then be analyzed and presented to company representatives, highlighting areas of opportunity and identifying key learning objectives.
- Step 2: Four-Week Training and Development Program
Deliver a four-week training program aimed at closing gaps in cultural intelligence, ensuring all team members develop a shared understanding. Each session will focus on cultural awareness from both individual and group perspectives, addressing biases, misrepresentations, conscious and unconscious categorization, and the distinctions between prejudice and ignorance. Sessions will conclude with actionable homework assignments, allowing team members to apply and internalize key takeaways.
- Step 3: One-on-One Coaching
Provide personalized one-on-one coaching for team members who may struggle with grasping and applying the learning objectives from the training sessions. These sessions will address specific barriers and integrate emotional intelligence tools to help uncover and manage biases within an emotional context.
Cultural Intelligence Training Workshops
- The Power of Individual Identity
This session explores the true meaning of identity, its origins, and the critical role it plays in shaping our interactions with the world.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Understand the roots of their sense of identity.
- Recognize how identity influences their interactions.
- Comprehend the role identity plays in their lives.
- How Group Identity Develops into Cultural Identity
This session examines the intersection between individual and group identities, illustrating how differences and similarities can create clusters of separation. These clusters can lead to unconscious categorization, which can obscure the benefits of diversity.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Respect diverse identities while appreciating the advantages of diversity.
- Understand the impact of unconscious bias on stereotyping.
- Differentiate between prejudice and ignorance.
- Navigating Cultural Differences: How to Connect with Someone Different from Me
This session addresses challenging situations involving visible cultural differences such as race, values, preferences, and social norms. The focus will be on how individuals with varying values can practice civility and foster a sense of belonging.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Define civility and understand its role in cultural intelligence.
- Recognize that people with different values and beliefs can still create inclusive environments.
- Appreciate that differing beliefs do not necessarily lead to conflict.
- Case Study Examples and Q&A Session
This session presents case studies that illustrate the concepts discussed in previous sessions. It provides participants with the opportunity to apply cultural intelligence frameworks and engage in open discussion and practical exercises.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Apply cultural intelligence tools in diverse cultural contexts.
- Clarify practical concerns related to cultural sensitivity and understanding.
- Understand the role of acceptance in fostering empowerment.
TRAINING WORKSHOPS
Leadership development We train leaders who are ready and looking for guidance on how to improve their cultural intelligence using emotional intelligence tools to enhance self awareness. This workshops aims at educating leaders on how to communicate in an impactful way that creates an emotionally safe work environment where there is belonging, accountability, assertiveness and empathy.
ONE ON ONE COACHING
One-on-one private virtual leadership training offered for a duration of time that includes specific learning objectives measured through implementation and practice. Metrics will be included in the training plan to track growth and results. Thorough EQ assessment and cultural awareness tests will be conducted.
SPEAKING
One hour Keynote presentation describing how culture and emotions are synonymous and how healthy emotion management results in flourishing interactions that create thriving cultures. Emotionally intelligent people create culturally intelligent environments where a sense of belonging is present.
Teams with high Cultural Emotional intelligence are 87% better at making decisions and 67% more empowered with high risk tolerance.
CULTURAL EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Step 1.
We connect over a discovery call.
Step 2.
We outline objectives and create a plan of action that measures results.
Step 3.
We implement and tract behavior outcomes.
Some shared experiences
Let's Connect
Send us a message:
Contact Us
Email: Sunee.samuel@behaviormap.ca
Toronto, Canada.