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August 20th, 2024

The Two-Way Street: Cultural Adaptivity and Building Trust Across Borders | Amit Agrawal

"Go slow to go fast." Amit Agrawal joins Josh to dismantle the myths of international relocation and professional integration. Amit explains that moving to a new culture isn’t just about changing your GPS coordinates; it’s about recalibrating your leadership style while staying true to your core values.

Josh and Amit discuss the "Yes vs. Acknowledgment" trap in cross-cultural communication, the role of "Third Spaces" like food and sports in building team bonds, and why the Entertainment industry often feeds us harmful cultural biases. This episode is a masterclass for any leader managing a global team or any professional stepping outside their cultural comfort zone.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
✅ The Honeymoon vs. Reality: Why the first few months of a move are deceptive and how to prepare for the "dip."
✅ High-Context Communication: Understanding why a "Yes" in the US might just be an acknowledgment, while in India it might mean agreement.
✅ The Power of Community: How Amit built an Asian-affinity group within his plant to foster belonging.
✅ Sports as a Bridge: Using American Football and Cricket to open doors to deeper cultural conversations.
✅ Overcoming Media Bias: Why New York TV shows didn’t prepare Amit for the "Small Town" warmth of Greensboro.
✅ Intent vs. Impact: Navigating the 95% of human interactions that come from a good place, even when they are imperfect.
✅ The Business-Focused Engineering Culture: How Amit integrated a result-driven Indian work ethic into a US-based engineering group.

🔗 Connect with Amit Agrawal:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-agrawal-162a88a/

📬 Contact Josh: [email protected]
📱 Follow Leadership in Quarters: Instagram, YouTube & TikTok @leadinquarters

Artwork by: Adam Powell
Music by Bensound.com
License code: BNAFXH5N0LX38LJO

#LeadershipInQuarters #AmitAgrawal #CulturalAdaptivity #GlobalLeadership #Inclusion #DiversityAtWork #EngineeringLeadership #JoshSeldin

Josh Seldin Director of Manufacturing Initiatives | Author | Speaker | Podcast Host | Builder of Culture and High Performance Leaders | Ally

Josh Seldin is a seasoned Director of Manufacturing at a Fortune 50 company, with deep expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, and maintenance systems. With a proven track record of operational excellence, Josh brings not only technical mastery but also a human-centered leadership philosophy to every environment he leads.

He is the author of Constructing a Healthy Culture and the host of the podcast Leadership in Quarters, where he explores the intersection of leadership, culture, and operational performance. Josh has a deep passion for building workplace cultures where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to bring their best selves to work every day.

At the core of Josh’s leadership approach is a commitment to developing leaders—both emerging and experienced—who can coach effectively, build trust, and lead with empathy. His focus is on cultivating psychologically safe environments, enhancing communication, and fostering inclusion across all levels of an organization.