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Eighty percent of Israeli startups are planning on incorporating abroad (Israeli Innovation Authority for Globes) and currently 58% of them have already moved their headquarters to locations outside of Israel. This is partly in response to Moody’s downgrading of Israel’s credit outlook from positive to stable and due to the current instability in Israel’s government. 

“Our R & D center is in Israel, but our sales and marketing are in California.  Israel is 10 hours ahead of the U.S. so when my workday begins, the U.S. team is already getting ready for bed."

“Firing in the U.S. is like pulling off a Band-Aid: you have a problem, you pull off the Band-Aid, it hurts a lot, then the problem is gone. In Europe, it’s more like boiling a lobster: you put the lobster in, slowly the lobster cooks, and finally, the time is done.”

We interact with people from a different culture with our own “cultural lenses.” We judge people's behavior based on our values, what we perceive as normal or common sense, but may not be so in other cultures.

Cultural awareness and sensitivity are essential in every aspect of working life, including how teams are managed and motivated, how feedback is structured and delivered, and how disputes are handled.

Using tactics such as applying time pressure, opening with your best offer, or making expiring offers, could be interpreted as signs that you are impatient and not willing to invest time in building a relationship.

In the UAE, every part of your body has meaning when communicating with your potential business partners.

When making a presentation, please note that Arabs are circular thinkers and thus tend to learn through their senses and through memorizing. The use of imagery, analogy, repetition, and graphics are important.

When doing business in a society which combines innovation and tradition, it’s important to pay attention to the cultural differences.

Global leadership involves being able to identify and maximize one’s abilities as a leader, recognize and adapt to the various demands of a diverse global workforce, and retain the unique perspectives and talents of a team in a collaborative way.

The fact that we don’t always understand others does not mean that they are wrong. In culture, there is no RIGHT or WRONG, there are just different values that drive peoples’ behavior.

We need to remember that when comparing cultures, everything is relative. The British are “coconuts” in California but “peaches” in Paris.

For individual managers and employees, a merger of acquisition is not just a corporate strategy; it’s a personally disruptive – often traumatic event

For individual managers and employees, a merger of acquisition is not just a corporate strategy; it’s a personally disruptive – often traumatic event

Remember that the language of business is the language your client speaks

The purpose of small talk is to be “small” and light, but when you are not used to the parameters small talk covers, you can easily fall into the “How are you?” trap: The notorious “How are you?” or it’s cousin “How’s it going?” question is sometimes perceived as not only superficial but also insulting.

When it comes to working overseas, the number one destination is, of course, the United States, which accounts for 35% of the world’s relocations.

One of the challenges individuals and organizations face in interacting with intercultural colleagues is the confusion between the behaviors of the "culture of origin" vs. the "acquired culture."

One of the challenges individuals and organizations face in interacting with intercultural colleagues is the confusion between the behaviors of the "culture of origin" vs. the "acquired culture."

In the 21st century, the hard skills are easy, the soft skills are hard. (dfa Intercultural Global Solutions)

We all want to take vacations, we understand that vacations are important to refueling our body, mind and soul. That said, Work-Life balance has become an issue for people all over the world.

After losing an important deal in China, an Israeli medical device company learned in hindsight that his Chinese counterpart would have appreciated a slower pace with more opportunities for relationship building.

"Though working in Israel as a professional lawyer before relocating to Silicon Valley, it took me two years to fully understand the different cultural nuances when communicating with my U.S. clients." (Israeli attorney)