Build Your Cultural Agility

"In accessible, lively prose, Paula Caligiuri explores how qualities such as curiosity, resilience, humility, relationship-building and empathy form the building blocks of cultural agility. More importantly, she bridges theory and application, offering a practical manual for cultivating the characteristics essential for success in our global, connected society. With its lucid exercises and straightforward guidance, Build Your Cultural Agility is an indispensable resource." * Joseph E. Aoun, President, Northeastern University *
"Having a diverse team in the military and in all organizations is critical for decision-making in complex and uncertain situations. To foster trust within a diverse team, leaders need cultural agility to help them remove their perceptual blinders. Build Your Cultural Agility is a book that will help leaders gain this critical leadership competency." * General David Goldfein (USAF Retired), 21st Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force *
"In Build Your Cultural Agility, Paula has done a great job to go beyond a clear definition of what cultural agility entails. It discusses task and relationship management in a very thorough way and combines theoretical insights with very practical advice. A must-read." * Fons Trompenaars, co-author, Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Diversity in Global Business, and CEO, Trompenaars Hampden-Turner Consulting *
"Build Your Cultural Agility is a must-read for anyone navigating cultural differences, both within and across nations. Filled with self-assessments, empowering case studies, and practical advice grounded in the best science, your intercultural effectiveness is guaranteed to grow in countless ways." * Michele J. Gelfand, Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland, and author, Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our World *
"Interconnected and multicultural. Unpredictable and unfamiliar. Such is the world we live in, no matter where we are, geographically, organizationally and socially. How might we succeed in this era of a rapidly evolving and always-novel environment? How should we make sense of and respond to ambiguous and foreign signals? How should we build resilience and adaptability to thrive in cross-cultural situations? You will find extremely valuable insights and practical tips in Paula Caligiuri's fascinating book Build Your Cultural Agility." * Haiyan Wang, Managing Partner, China India Institute, and co-author, Getting China and India Right *
"The world of work has evolved dramatically over the past few decades. In the area of employee development, companies are embracing new models and practices. The new models include a more strategic adoption of pro bono and skills-based volunteerism. For managers to develop, they need to build a variety of competencies that can be gained through strategic volunteerism. Among these essential competencies, cultural agility has become a game-changer. In Build Your Cultural Agility, Paula Caligiuri shares her wisdom in a compelling and practical book for all employees and supervisors. This book will become a valuable read for global managers in all industries." * Michael Bzdak, Global Director, Employee Engagement, Johnson & Johnson, and author, Corporate Cultural Responsibility, Graduate Faculty, School of Communication and Information, Rutgers University *
"The value of cultural agility is amplified in today's global business economy. In her book, Paula Caligiuri leverages her expertise in this space to pose thought provoking questions, offer viable options for development, and share key takeaways to advance and build critical cultural competencies that make an impact. This book is a must for any current or aspiring global professional. The world isn't slowing down, neither should you. If you want to be more effective in intercultural situations, this book is an excellent guide!" * Victoria Di Santo, Director, Organizational Development & Effectiveness, Brother International Corporation *
"For those in search of a successful international career, or those looking to support the growth of global talent in their organization, this book is packed with practical advice on how to be effective in cross-cultural situations. What is particularly interesting in this book is the compelling argument that the same practices that help us to be culturally agile in an international setting can also make us more effective in navigating the prevalent subcultures (organizational, professional, generational) that surround us. As a trusted adviser to leading companies across the globe for more than three decades, I highly recommend Paula's research-backed thinking and advice on how to build cultural agility and a more robust pipeline of global talent." * Michael Elia, CEO, TraQs *
"If you want to master handling yourself well in and with different cultures, both quickly and effectively, this book is a must-read! Having worked in several countries with many different nationalities, I found this absolutely useful for adapting to various environments. With Build Your Cultural Agility, Paula has managed to create awareness on the different layers within cultural agility and how to assess one's own position. But more importantly, it provides simple instruments to help overcome challenges that can rise through cultural differences. This book has made both my professional and personal life as a globetrotter much, much easier." * Paul Grommel, People Practices, DPR Construction *
"The world economy is rapidly becoming multipolar. For managers to succeed in the new era, cultural agility is becoming more critical, by the day. In fact, one does not even have to cross continents to witness the reality of cultural heterogeneity. Just look at the enormous cultural differences within the United States, within Europe, within Asia, as well as within other regions. In Build Your Cultural Agility, Paula Caligiuri has written an extremely practical book. It offers managers at all levels crisp tools to assess one's current cultural agility, ideas regarding how to behave, and guidelines for how to further build cultural competence. An essential read for the global manager." * Anil K. Gupta, co-author, The Quest for Global Dominance, Michael Dingman Chair in Strategy and Globalization, Smith School of Business, The University of Maryland *
"To succeed in today's global economy, people must become adaptable, flexible and comfortable when encountering other cultures, a concept Paula Caligiuri calls "cultural agility." In this comprehensive and impressive new book, Dr. Caligiuri expertly details the key capabilities necessary for developing cultural agility when working with others, executing professional tasks, making decisions and building relationships. The book is well-researched and contains useful self-assessments throughout for readers to engage with the content as they read along. An excellent resource for anyone interested in the topic of cultural adjustment and adaptation." * Andy Molinsky, author of Global Dexterity and Reach, Professor of International Management and Organizational Behavior, Brandeis University *
"The ability to work across cultural boundaries is no longer a nice-to-have; every entrepreneur, businessperson and global citizen must be able to bridge the gaps between cultures. In Build Your Cultural Agility, Paula has provided the framework required for all of us to work effectively across any cultural boundaries. Build Your Cultural Agility is required reading for all the entrepreneurs in my portfolio." * Andy Palmer, CEO, Tamr, and Founder, Koa Labs *
"Having worked in multi-national corporations and done global work, I wish I had read this book earlier. It is a treasure chest of ideas and practical tips for building one's cross-cultural agility. The nine competencies provide a useful roadmap to navigate the challenges of working and leading cross-culturally. Reading about the three task management competencies took me back to my days as a leader making decisions in a cross-country context. Wish I had these heuristics then to guide my decision making: knowing what strategy is more appropriate when. The book is an absolute must-read for anyone doing global work today." * Pradnya Parasher, Founder & CEO, ThreeFish Consulting and co-author, The Secret Life of Organizations *
"As a global HR executive, I find Dr. Caligiuri's book to be timely and pertinent. The world is continuing to rapidly evolve, and while doing business across borders has become more commonplace, it has also become more complex. Understanding your own unique cultural lens and adapting your approach to ensure inclusion and respect for others is key to success in any language. The current environment with the global pandemic has only made this book more important. While travel and physical cues used to serve as a key guidepost, providing more immediate feedback for global leaders, we are now faced with a largely virtual environment. Dr Caligiuri's pragmatic guidance on all nine competencies comprising cultural agility, as well as her focus on developing trust, continuous learning, thoughtful communications and strong relationships are critical for all global leaders to embrace to maximize their impact." * Nicolette Sherman, Chief Human Resources Officer, Oyster Point Pharma, Inc. *
"As a global mobility professional and thought leader, I appreciate deeply how Dr. Caligiuri quickly establishes the principles underlying cultural agility and provides a how-to guide to improve upon or develop foundational elements contributing to cultural adaptiveness. The timeliness of this book cannot be overstated as an effective tool for corporate leaders, HR practitioners and career-climbers to elevate DEI initiatives through mindful practices and personal accountability. It is no secret that the greatest success comes when we focus on inclusive and diverse teams!" * LaShell Tinder, Executive Board Member, Families in Global Transition *
"Cultural agility is a key competency for effective global leaders everywhere today. Yet mostly misunderstood; it is much more than awareness. This competency is needed for globally oriented organizational performance and execution but is essential for working through the range of strategic options, and leveraging diverse talent to succeed in charting a truly global business future. Paula Caligiuri's new book takes her academic thought leadership and deep experience in this space into practical, real and tangible action items for leaders thinking and working strategically in the global world of mobility, connectivity and diversity. Thoroughly recommended." * Ian C. Woodward, Professor, INSEAD, and co-author, The Phoenix Encounter Method: Lead Like your Business is on Fire! *