BACKGROUND

Doug's international experience began at age 16 when he began studying Japanese. He developed a passion for the study of other cultures and after earning a graduate degree and becoming fluent in Japanese, Doug joined Disney. Fast-tracked into management, Doug helped launch the company’s first international theme park, Tokyo Disneyland. Following the highly successful opening of Tokyo Disneyland, Disney’s top executives selected Doug to lead the company’s training team at Disney’s corporate headquarters.

Doug left the Walt Disney Company to pursue his passion for researching and analyzing successful global corporations. Doug’s fluency in Japanese, combined with his recent experience at Tokyo Disneyland, fueled his decision to help multi-national organizations facing issues related to international teamwork. With a professor from Stanford University, Doug helped lead a private Palo Alto-based consulting firm and think-tank called the Intercultural Relations Institute (IRI). He taught IRI’s clients, such as Procter & Gamble and Intel, to develop and implement strategies for better leadership and management of diverse teams of professionals in the growing global business arena. 

PROGRAM

Doug personalizes this presentation to address the specific needs of the client by including thought-provoking activities, success stories and learning modules to reinforce key messages. Needs assessment time with Doug is included with every presentation. Great attention to organizational challenges and/or mission is considered when designing a client’s presentation. Presentations may be a one-hour keynote or up to three hours in a workshop format. Global competitiveness, culture and diversity may contain any of the following learning modules.

• Backyard Globalization: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally

  The era of backyard globalization is upon us. How is your company tapping into the ever-growing cultural diversity in which you operate? In this segment, learn how some of the world’s most effective teams have leveraged diversity of language, culture and values to accomplish their goals. Attendees will assess the global effectiveness of their region or division.

• "International", "Global", and "Multicultural"

  Companies large and small are often involved in projects that include the words international, global and multicultural, even if their client base is predominantly domestic. Learn how some of the world’s most successful teams have utlized diversity of language, culture and values to build and maintain market share. What do they know about these concepts that could help you?

• This Thing Called Culture: Culprit or Asset?

  What is the connection between cultural awareness and business success or failure? And how should you use knowledge of culture to your advantage in providing global customer service. Companies that ignore culture find it to be a tremendous barrier. Companies that recognize culture and its effect on virtually every business decision learn to celebrate and benefit from cultural differences, whether in their employee or customer base.

• From "Common Sense" to "Cultural Sense"

  This segment introduces the six most common obstacles and opportunities facing every company in our new global economy. Learn –  the easy way –  what companies such as Intel, Hitachi, IBM and Microsoft learned the hard way.

• Excuse Me, What Did You Say? English, the Not-So-Global Language

  Communicating with people from other cultures can be massively challenging, even if you speak their language! Learn important concepts the world’s most effective leaders understand:
  -Cross-cultural Communication and How it Can be Adopted in your Workplace.
  -Direct vs. Indirect Communication Styles: Which do You Use?
  -Communicating Across Cultures: "I Only Speak English, Now What?"
  

Want more? Check out Doug’s other speech topic pages for additional learning modules

TESTIMONIALS

"Thank you for helping us launch our Global Finance Diversity Day. Your message was right on target both for the live audience in the theater and for the international attendees who joined via our satellite link. We really appreciated the time you took to get to know our issues and how you wove them into compelling stories and examples. Your own international background and experience with major corporations helped support your message. I enjoyed reading your book "The Changing Face of Today?s Customer". It absolutely reflects key issues we are dealing with as our population of employees and customer grows more diverse. We would love to work with you again to build on the themes you introduced."         JP Morgan Chase Bank

"Approximately 30% of the executives at our recent Worldwide Reengineering Workshop were from foreign regions. The key to your successful presentation was your ability to blend an important message with a style which is effective to an international audience. The techniques and approaches you shared will undoubtedly help our business units communicate more effectively around the globe."         IBM

"1On behalf of our OKI International Sales Team Meeting, thank you for presenting both relevant and entertaining messages. Judging by the number of people wanting one-on-one time with you afterwards, you obviously hit on key topics that sales people can benefit from right away We are off to a great start with our fiscal year and you were an important part of that."         OKI Printing Solutions