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Gary M. Wederspahn is a recognised leader in the field of intercultural relations and communications. His experience includes eight years as planner and manager of community development projects in cross-cultural settings and 13 years overseas as a manager and country director responsible for host government relations at the highest levels. In that role he also oversaw the selection, training and in-country support of hundreds of US expatriates and supervised a staff of about 30 host-national employees. In the past 20 years he has designed and delivered cross-cultural training programmes for many hundreds of international assignees of major multinational corporations. He has published more than 70 articles in the business press. He is currently living in Geneva, Switzerland, and writing a book on intercultural services. He has given over 100 presentations on intercultural topics at conferences of organisations such as the Society for Intercultural Education Training and Research (SIETAR), the Society for Applied Technology, the World Trade Institute and many others. Gary Wederspahn's formal education in cross-cultural studies began as an undergraduate at the University of Washington, and continued with an MA degree from Stanford University and self-directed graduate studies at Harvard. In addition, he studied law for two years at the Universidad Libre of Bogotá, Colombia.
Proposed themes
Proposed themes Gary M. Wederspahn's presentations cover a wide range of topics. They have in common a deep insight into the cultural issues and challenges that confront today's global business executive. All presentations are designed to appeal to the specific audience. They are delivered with humour, audience participation and credible business examples. His delivery style is engaging, entertaining and involves the audience. The content includes general concepts, practical examples, useful insights and pithy, memorable anecdotes. His use of visual presentation aids enhances the audience's learning and enjoyment. Subject of some of his recent conferences have been Managing Intercultural Ethics and Developing Intercultural Business Awareness.
Recent publication
A Worldwide Buyer's Guide and Sourcebook Gary M. Wederspahn
Foreword by William R. Sheridan, Director International Compensation Services, National Foreign Trade Council
Whether you are managing a multi-cultural workplace, preparing to enter the global business arena, or are already competing internationally, this easy-to-use guide supplies practical advice to locate, evaluate, purchase, and oversee intercultural services that are high-impact, productive, and cost effective.
To buy this book: A Worldwide Buyer's Guide and Sourcebook
Review
Anyone who feels concerned by the implications of globalisation for human resources - and that means just about everyone from top management downwards - needs to be aware of the intercultural issues impacting on multinational management.
This is the first time someone has had the courage to bring order into the proliferating global jungle of interculturalism. As American consultant Gary Wederspahn indicates in the introduction to his pioneering book, Intercultural Services: A Worldwide Buyer's Guide and Sourcebook, the intercultural discipline is evolving exponentially.
The frontiers of interculturalism are being pushed back as globalisation proceeds, yet concepts of intercultural effectiveness are still under dispute, and the ranks of intercultural service providers (ISPs!) and the range of offerings is growing every day.
The result is that HR managers are confused. "The abundance of options," says the author, "has caused some purchasers to view the services as interchangeable commodities and has made it more necessary than ever for the buyer to be discriminating."
That is the purpose of this book. It starts by explaining key intercultural concepts and relating them to the needs and issues facing multinational organisations, large and small, then goes on to list the options and opportunities available to HR managers, with bibliographies and comprehensive details of service providers and products.
Introductory summaries, follow-up checklists and practical exercises to help analyse issues and enhance intercultural sensitivity make this a valuable tool for anyone - and that means just about everyone! - implicated in global or even local business.
Gary Wederspahn, Intercultural Services: A Worldwide Buyer's Guide and Sourcebook, Houston (Texas): Gulf Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0-87719-344-4.
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