Leading with a global mindset is not only about being globally oriented and accepting of other cultures and customs. It is a combination of adaptability, adventuristic and authentication in global teams and leadership positions. This experience has provided me with the outlets to learn about, immerge in, and adapt to a variety of new cultures. Having never left the continental United States prior to this experience, I was astonished with the various similarities and differences in professional, educational, and social settings. From taking a course and being in teams with German graduate students to asking dozens of locals for directions, assistance, and advice, I have grown in my personal confidence, global mindfulness, and flexible leadership.
Cross Cultural Teams
While in Reutlingen, DE, our cohort of 16 NC State Students joined with 11 German graduate students studying International Business at ESB Business school. We were placed in diverse teams and tasked with various assignments and corporate case studies. I had never worked in a multicultural team prior to this course, and it was very interesting to learn about the German work ethic and how it compares to the American style. I learned that Germans are very goal oriented and require intense planning and structure. Personally, this work ethic aligned very well with mine, as I believe that teams succeed and fail based on their efficiency, structure, and cohesiveness. On the contrary, I learned that when teams lack direction and intellectual diversity, they will experience an uncreative and over analyzed result. The combination of effective communication, challenging mindsets, and appropriate inclusion will lead to a successful global team.
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Cultural Immersion
While classroom learning and professional exposure plays a large role in leadership development, cultural immersion is the necessary to build a global mindset. By studying in these three countries, I was put in many situations that tested my adaptability and leadership skills. From communicating with locals to traveling with 16 Americans, a global mindset is built by growing from enriching experiences and uncomfortable situations. I believe that my global mindset advanced the greatest through adapting to difficult logistics and navigating many cities and towns. I experienced this by taking initiative to plan our group's weekend logistics to Zürich, Switzerland. This task proved very difficult, as I had to coordinate our large group while critically adapting to broken down trains and mistranslations. Despite these speedbumps, I was successful in this task and got everyone to and from Zürich safely. Global mindset is not something that can be taught, but has to be grown through cultural immersion.