The Value of an Open Mind in a Global World

This article comes from the heart. One thing international experience has taught me is the importance of keeping an open mind—and a good dose of self-awareness—when engaging with different cultures.

One of the great privileges of working internationally is the opportunity to experience different cultures up close. And over time, one realization keeps coming back to me: every culture has its own logic.

From the outside, certain behaviors may seem unusual, inefficient, or even frustrating. But when you spend time within a culture—working alongside people, understanding their history, and seeing how decisions are made—you often discover that what initially seemed strange actually makes perfect sense.

That’s why I’ve come to believe that opinions about cultures should ideally come from experience, not distance.

It’s easy to form quick judgments based on headlines, stereotypes, or second-hand stories. But culture is rarely that simple. The deeper context usually tells a much richer story.

Take Germany as an example.

Germans are often described as financially conservative. And in many cases that observation is accurate. German households, companies, and institutions tend to value stability, careful planning, and long-term security.

But labeling that mindset as simply “conservative” misses something important. Much of it is shaped by history. Over the past century Germany experienced periods of extreme economic instability—from hyperinflation in the 1920s to the rebuilding years after World War II. Those experiences left a deep imprint on how financial stability is perceived today.

A small side anecdote comes to mind. When I was a kid, I remember sitting in a restaurant with my German grandmother. Finishing everything on your plate was, of course, simply good manners in her book. But she took the idea of not wasting food one step further. As we were leaving, any leftover bread would quietly find its way into her purse.

At the time, I mostly found it amusing—and slightly embarrassing as a young kid. Looking back now, it makes perfect sense. Growing up in a generation shaped by difficult economic times, wasting perfectly good bread simply wasn’t an option.

It’s a small and somewhat humorous memory, but it illustrates how everyday habits are often rooted in deeper cultural and historical experiences. What may seem quirky at first glance often has a story behind it.

The same kind of misunderstanding can happen in business.

A few years ago, I was involved in developing a new high-tech material that needed to be validated with a real customer in the field. After considerable searching, the only company willing to partner with us and apply the technology in their product happened to be based in China.

As a U.S.-based company, we were understandably cautious. Intellectual property protection was a real concern, and there was some hesitation internally about moving forward.

Fortunately, we had a Chinese research team working alongside us. They understood both the local business culture and the dynamics of working with the partner company. Their guidance turned out to be invaluable.

What struck me most about the Chinese partner was their ability—and willingness—to move incredibly fast. Decisions were made quickly, resources were mobilized immediately, and trials could be organized in a fraction of the time we were used to with other partners.

The challenge was that validating a new material requires careful testing and due diligence. Speed alone is not enough.

This is where the local insight of our Chinese team made the difference. They helped navigate the relationship, ensure the right controls were in place, and balance the partner’s drive for rapid progress with the discipline needed for proper validation.

In the end, the project was a success. The technology worked, the trials were conducted appropriately, and the Chinese company ultimately became a valuable customer.

Looking back, we had approached the collaboration with a fair amount of caution—and in some ways that caution was justified. But the experience also showed how easy it is to form incomplete opinions about working with another culture.

With the right understanding and local support, we were able to manage the risks and benefit from strengths that we might otherwise have overlooked.

And that’s the real lesson.

Every country carries its own historical experiences, economic structures, and social norms that influence how people think, work, and make decisions.

The more time you spend within different cultures, the more you realize that there are very few “right” or “wrong” ways of approaching things—only different approaches shaped by different contexts.

This perspective becomes particularly important in international business. When teams from different countries come together, misunderstandings often arise not from bad intentions, but from different assumptions about how things should be done.

One culture might prioritize speed and experimentation.
Another might emphasize precision and risk management.

Both approaches can create value.

The real opportunity lies in learning from each other rather than judging too quickly.

In my own experience working across North America and Europe—and occasionally beyond—the most successful teams are not the ones that try to eliminate cultural differences. Instead, they are the ones that stay curious about them.

They ask questions.
They listen.
And they remain open to the idea that another perspective might reveal something new.

In a global world, that openness may be one of the most valuable leadership skills we can develop.

Beyond the professional benefits, there is also a simple human beauty in experiencing different cultures. Traveling, working, and building relationships across borders exposes us to new ways of thinking, new traditions, and new perspectives on everyday life. What starts as professional collaboration often turns into something richer: friendships, shared experiences, and a deeper appreciation for how diverse the world truly is. In that sense, embracing global cultures is not only a strength in business—it is also a gift in our personal lives. It broadens our perspective, challenges our assumptions, and ultimately makes us better partners, better leaders, and more curious people.

Food for thought: the world becomes a much more interesting place the moment we stop judging cultures from a distance and start experiencing them up close.

I would love to get your thoughts and experience

PS: In this family picture you have a German, a Spaniard, an Italian, three Venezuelan born Germans, a Mexican, two Chinese and a first generation American born Chinese.