Hi Cecilia, can you tell us a bit about who you are and what you do?
Sure! Hi, I'm Cecilia, founder of Cultural Nexus Ltd. I'm a DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion) and cultural intelligence expert and consultant, passionate about fostering inclusive environments and bridging cultural divides in the global business landscape.
At Cultural Nexus Ltd., we specialize in helping organizations leverage diversity for better communication, collaboration, innovation and growth through cultural intelligence strategies. Through data led intentional and informed interventions, we support your business to create a workplace that invites, welcomes and celebrates difference, recognising it as an asset.
When did you decide to set up Cultural Nexus, and what was the driver behind it?
In 2022. Cultural Nexus Ltd. is a natural progression of my corporate experiences in multicultural environments, learning and understanding about people and how they interact; the psychological aspect of relationships has always fascinated me. The driver was a desire to create a more inclusive global landscape with different industries and sizes of business, where diversity is leveraged for innovation and where each individual is valued for what they bring. Moreover, I was driven to ensure that it was transparent for all that individual growth was as important as collective growth, strengthening the ties between people.
What’s the one question people always ask you when you tell them what you do?
When I explain my work in cultural intelligence, people often ask, "But isn't diversity just common sense?" My response is always that it's far from it! Cultural intelligence requires deliberate effort, continuous learning, and a genuine openness to different perspectives. It's a skill that needs cultivation, and that's where Cultural Nexus comes in.
The other “interesting” question is “What is the business case for DEI – what is the ROI?” Well, I would need a lot more time and space here to explain this…!
We know you’re multi-lingual – what languages do you speak, and how has it helped shape the way you connect with the world, and what you do?
I speak English, French, Spanish, and Italian fluently, with a basic knowledge of Greek. Each language has given me a unique lens to view the world, profoundly shaping my approach to cross-cultural communication, but also an even greater desire to explore other cultures’ lenses with curiosity. This (multi-lingual) ability has been instrumental in developing my services at Cultural Nexus Ltd., allowing me to connect more deeply with diverse cultures and provide more nuanced, but robust culturally intelligent solutions. My services are offered currently in English, Italian and French.
You’re launching Intelligent Inclusion Ltd in November – can you tell us about the collaboration and frameworks behind this?
Intelligent Inclusion Ltd is an exciting new venture with my friend and associate Siobhan Godden, that combines the cultural intelligence framework and the emotional intelligence one, with the innovative GC Index as the cheery on top! This collaboration aims to provide a more comprehensive approach to equity, diversity and inclusion, focusing on both cultural and emotional understanding and individual impact. We're hosting a full-day immersive experience to introduce this concept, designed to go beyond surface-level discussions of inclusivity, and invite co-creation and collective problem-solving.
What is the GC Index and how can it help HR and business leaders?
The GC Index is a game-changing tool that helps identify how individuals can make their best impact in any given role or organization. Unlike personality assessments, it focuses on how people contribute and make an impact. For HR and DEI business leaders, the GC Index offers a fresh perspective on talent management and team dynamics. It allows organizations to harness the full potential of their diverse workforce by understanding each individual's preferred way of making an impact. When combined with both the emotional and cultural intelligence frameworks, it creates a powerful approach to building truly inclusive and high-performing teams.
If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be?
Sign-language! I am so keen to learn it. I have started but it isn’t easy and I haven’t got enough time to dedicate to it at the moment, sadly. In addition, or rather to expand on this, I would like to have the ability to learn a new language in record speed, overnight.
With thanks to Cecilia Harvey from Cultural Nexus. Find out more on her website - and you can find out more and sign up to her launch event for Intelligent Inclusion here.
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