Why Smart People Miscommunicate Across Cultures (and How to Handle It)

This talk offers a grounded look at what it actually means to communicate across cultures, shaped by years of living and working in very different parts of the world with real life examples. It reflects on how shared words do not always lead to shared understanding, and how everyday habits, expectations and workplace norms can shift the meaning of even simple interactions.The session also considers what happens when good intentions are interpreted through different cultural lenses and how easily assumptions can form when curiosity is missing.It moves from personal observations to broader reflections on how public narratives and collective history influence the way people see one another and how confidently they express themselves. The goal is to give a realistic sense of the forces that shape intercultural exchanges and to invite a more attentive approach to communicating in international environments.