In this conversation, Anke Schmidt shares her journey into public relations, beginning with an internship in France that sparked her interest in intercultural communication. She discusses her extensive experience working in Asia-Pacific as a communications leader for BASF, highlighting the cultural challenges and strategies she developed to navigate complex international environments. Throughout the discussion, Anke provides insights on indirect influence, managing global teams, and the importance of understanding cultural contexts when implementing communication strategies. She also reflects on her involvement with Global Women in PR Germany and the importance of balancing career ambitions with family priorities.
Takeaways
- Anke's career in PR began through intercultural experiences between French and German business practices
- Cultural adaptation requires both resilience and strategic thinking about indirect influence
- Understanding power dynamics across cultures is essential for effective global communication
- When managing global teams, consider resource disparities between headquarters and regional offices
- Successful international PR requires flexible approaches to planning and implementation
- Indirect influence strategies can be effective in hierarchical organizational cultures
- Building community among global team members helps overcome resource and expertise gaps
- Women need networks and visible role models in PR leadership positions
- Family should remain a priority even amid successful career development
- Effective intercultural communication often comes through lived experience rather than just training
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In this conversation, Anke Schmidt shares her journey into public relations, beginning with an internship in France that sparked her interest in intercultural communication. She discusses her extensive experience working in Asia-Pacific as a communications leader for BASF, highlighting the cultural challenges and strategies she developed to navigate complex international environments. Throughout the discussion, Anke provides insights on indirect influence, managing global teams, and the importance of understanding cultural contexts when implementing communication strategies. She also reflects on her involvement with Global Women in PR Germany and the importance of balancing career ambitions with family priorities.
Takeaways
- Anke's career in PR began through intercultural experiences between French and German business practices
- Cultural adaptation requires both resilience and strategic thinking about indirect influence
- Understanding power dynamics across cultures is essential for effective global communication
- When managing global teams, consider resource disparities between headquarters and regional offices
- Successful international PR requires flexible approaches to planning and implementation
- Indirect influence strategies can be effective in hierarchical organizational cultures
- Building community among global team members helps overcome resource and expertise gaps
- Women need networks and visible role models in PR leadership positions
- Family should remain a priority even amid successful career development
- Effective intercultural communication often comes through lived experience rather than just training
In this conversation, Heather shares her journey from Canada to Japan, detailing her career in public relations and communications, including her role with the Special Olympics. She discusses the importance of inclusion in sports, as well as her experiences of adapting to Japanese culture in her current role, and the dynamics of leading a diverse team at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology. Heather emphasizes the significance of curiosity, patience, and the universal principles of PR, despite cultural differences.
Takeaways
• Heather's journey into PR began with a master's in publishing.
• The Special Olympics focus on inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• Cultural adaptation is crucial when working in a new country.
• Building communication norms helps facilitate teamwork in diverse environments.
• PR professionals in Japan often rotate through various roles, gaining broad experience.
• Networking and relationship-building are key in the Japanese PR landscape.
• Curiosity and patience are essential traits for success in a foreign environment.
• The core principles of PR remain consistent across cultures.
• Humor can bridge language barriers and foster connections.
• The future of PR education should include cultural literacy and communication skills.
Women in PR
In this conversation, Anke Schmidt shares her journey into public relations, beginning with an internship in France that sparked her interest in intercultural communication. She discusses her extensive experience working in Asia-Pacific as a communications leader for BASF, highlighting the cultural challenges and strategies she developed to navigate complex international environments. Throughout the discussion, Anke provides insights on indirect influence, managing global teams, and the importance of understanding cultural contexts when implementing communication strategies. She also reflects on her involvement with Global Women in PR Germany and the importance of balancing career ambitions with family priorities.
Takeaways
- Anke's career in PR began through intercultural experiences between French and German business practices
- Cultural adaptation requires both resilience and strategic thinking about indirect influence
- Understanding power dynamics across cultures is essential for effective global communication
- When managing global teams, consider resource disparities between headquarters and regional offices
- Successful international PR requires flexible approaches to planning and implementation
- Indirect influence strategies can be effective in hierarchical organizational cultures
- Building community among global team members helps overcome resource and expertise gaps
- Women need networks and visible role models in PR leadership positions
- Family should remain a priority even amid successful career development
- Effective intercultural communication often comes through lived experience rather than just training
