CONFERENCE

In 2018, I worked as a consultant at the Sales Conference of a major technology company in Hanoi. My primary responsibilities were developing the conference narrative and dramaturgy, as well as coaching selected senior leaders. I also directed and produced the conference opening film.

To prepare, I travelled to Hanoi a week in advance to immerse myself in the local environment. Rather than focusing solely on landmarks, I observed the rhythms, processes, and everyday interactions of daily life, using these impressions to shape the creative concept and connect them to the conference themes.

What fascinates me most about working with global organizations is the challenge of creating genuine connection for audiences from vastly different cultural backgrounds. Regardless of culture, successful communication begins by finding shared meaning and building experiences that resonate across perspectives.

Values that are taken for granted in Western Europe may not necessarily apply in other parts of the world, such as Asia. The challenge is therefore to create an environment in which the individuality of different cultures is respected and preserved without losing the shared language and purpose of the organization.

This requires recognizing the diversity of values, acknowledging differences, and consciously identifying common ground. Diversity should be seen as an asset rather than a threat. The inspiration that emerges from engaging with different ways of thinking and acting becomes a catalyst for innovation, encouraging us to question, expand, and reimagine our own patterns of thought and behaviour within the organization.