Client Testimonials

 

"In Over 33 Years In The Navy,

This Is BY FAR The Best Training I Have Ever Attended."

 

"This Is The Only Training Our Personnel Fight To Get INTO!"

 

"In 10-Plus Years Of Working With The Navy,

This Is Simply The Best Training I Have Experienced."

 

"It Was It Great!"

 

"Absolutely Awesome!"

 

 

DR. CULTURE -- AMERICAN CULTURE TIME TRAVELER: 

"[The actress] was very, very good...made you feel like you were right there in the period of time that she presented to you."

"The two skits performed by [the actress] really added to the overall learning experience."

"VERY POWERFUL! She had me in tears several times."

"She gave me a better understanding of differences in discovery of North and South America.

"I enjoyed the Pilgrim & 1830s Wagon Train Woman....was able to think and consider what was sacrificed."

 

"[The actress presentation] was absolutely fabulous and definitely provided the desired effect."

 

RUSSIA-UKRAINE-EASTERN EUROPE-CZECH REPUBLIC:

"I had NO idea!"

"The Gypsy Episode was revealing -- I know I would have handled that poorly."

"Your Russia trainer was powerful -- overwhelming content.  Great Brief."

"Very Educational"

"[Russia Presenter] Very educational!"

"Great info on the Chechnya situation and especially, the theater take-over debacle."

"This and all presentations this week very professional and well done. Bravo!"

"[Russia] Excellent Brief!"

 

"He is excellent."

"I now am able to look at the cultures and understand better why things are the way they are."

"I never realized how deep the Asian's roots are."

"Extremely interesting."

"[most important] was the importance of relationships and how to maintain the relationship."

"Very informative."

 

COUNTRY SPECIFIC -- TAIWAN:

 

Dr. Culture: American-Taiwanese Cross Cultural Kung Fu -- Achieving Cultural Competency:

Dr. Connell did a fantastic job with his presentation --

being mindful of what you say in your dialogue with Taiwanese was very good. 

I am guilty of doing that quite often  -- good analysis of hand shake.

 

Excellent introduction by Dr. Connell, will be useful for my upcoming trip to Taiwan.

 

Great! The chart showing the qualities that most Americans value compared to how

much the Taiwanese value the same qualities was very helpful.

 

Yes, I found the gift giving and dining etiquette very interesting.  Also the fact that

the younger generation mixes the new culture with the older generation.  It was especially

interesting to learn about the focus the place on the past.

 

His intro is a good base for cultural training.  It sets the tone for the reasons we

need to be culturally aware of other global partners.

 

I found the presentation of our culturally defining events intriguing.

 

Broad scope that touched on many areas. I wanted to hear about Chinese retaliation

with US industry and you [did] touch on that.  Good course.

 

Most useful to me was the socially accepted behaviors such as greetings and gift

giving and also the communication styles like not specifically saying no when they

mean it and the Taiwanese use of nonverbal cues.

 

I enjoyed learning about the differences between Taiwan and mainland China languages and writing. 

 

Outstanding brief.  Very much brought to light in many areas.  Thank you (signed)

 

"[Taiwanese Trainer] definitely passes on valuable knowledge. The examples are very down

to earth situations that will happen when interacting with the locals on a variety of

occasions, from business to personal.

 

His ability to compare and interact the American culture and the Taiwanese culture made this

training very helpful.  The cultures and courtesies will enable me to be less prone

to “losing face” and respecting their face.

 

Very much so.  Dos and Do-nots are always most useful.  Greetings, courtesies, and customs help,

however but there was no good way to say “good bye” or how to make an early or abrupt exit.

 

The introduction to greetings, gift exchange, dining, and the idea of ‘facer” were most useful.

 

Yes.  Saving face was important.  As an instructor, there are many times you are looking for a response and it is difficult to get an answer.  Thank you very much for the training.

 

Absolutely -- Very informative and entertaining.  Relationship dynamics most interesting. 

Meeting dynamics extremely good -- informative.  Very well presented by both

Dr. Connell and [the Taiwanese trainer].  Keep up the good work! (signed)

 

I have been to Taiwan any times and now have better understanding of why and the

dynamics of cultural and social interactions.

 

Excellent presentation.  Very useful information.  Helped explain some situation from recent trips to Taiwan.

 

 

REGION SPECIFIC--SUB SAHARA AFRICA, GULF OF GUINEA:

" I'm learning that] we are the odd man out!  Most cultures are group/family oriented."

"Very informative.  I didn't realize how many tribes or subcultures there are in AFrica."

"Very interesting.  Learned about the Africa I didn't know."

"Valuable] to understand family importance to people of this area [and] trivial connections."

"I enjoyed his personal stories."

 

THE MIDDLE EAST:

"Extremely beneficial.  Had NO idea how complicated the Islamic world is."

"Understand how hopelessness drives all this -- your Middle East trainer was powerful."

"Excellent Presentation."

"She enlightened me on a lot of things -- would love to visit the Middle East soetime.  she is very good."

"Absolutely wonderful.....there is nothing more to say."

Wonderful!  Wonderful!  Could ave listened to her for a week."

"[Middle East Presentation] was the best!  Makes you think."

"THE BEST!"

"What a great explanation of Islam.  Excellent to bring in Christian and Jewish examples as well."

"[Middle East Presentation] Enlightening!"

 

COUNTRY SPECIFIC 2-DAY PROGRAM: KUWAIT

Dr. Culture: American-Kuwaiti Cross Cultural Kung Fu -- Achieving Cultural Competency:

"Absolutely a very good speaker and clearly communicated some of the major cultural issues!"

"Wow!"

"He was great!"  REALLY liked his list of 'slang' words that confuse internationals."

"I found the talk fantastic."

"Enjoyed hearing about how strongly their religious beliefs impact how they interact with the rest of the world."

 

Kuwaiti Culture:

"[Trainer] was excellent!"

"Overview of history helped me understand why the conflicts [of the Middle East] exist."

"Very Informative -- want to read more about the Kuwaiti Culture."

"I have much greater understanding ...changed some of my attitudes."

"Extremely interesting to hear about the Sunni/Shia interaction and the distinction between the two."

"Excellent--the family-tribe-regional outlooks of Arabs in general explains a lot about the way they are."

"NOW, I understand why there has been reluctance for "on-the-spot" decision-making on the Kuwaiti's part!"

"[Trainer]fascinating.  He is a wealth of knowledge ...enjoyed learning so much about the culture and religion of the Middle East."

"Going through bedouin history/lifestyle and how it has impacted modern society in the Persian gulf was most useful.  The in-depth synopsis of Islam was also very helpful."

 

MASTERING THE KUWAITI CULTURE -- HOW IT WAS DONE:

JIM MILLER, EMMY AWARD WINNING CNN PRODUCER DURING GULF WAR 1:

"Fantastic!"

"Great Insight"

"In depth stories and changes in Kuwait across last 20 years helped me understand how to work with them in a more hands-on scenario."

"Very Enjoyable."

"[His] videos were excellent.  I'm glad he presented the Do's and Don'ts."

"Absolutely helpful."

 

ACHIEVING CULTURAL COMPETENCY IN LATIN AMERICA:

[DR. CULTURE] IS A GREAT PRESENTER!"

"Excellent; definitely increased my understanding of [Latin American] cultures."

"Comprehensive explanation of complexities and diverse considerations."

"[Valuable] realizing the diversity within the Latin America culture."

"Excellent!  It provided a much better understanding."

"The history part was so good.  I guess when I was young I didn't pay attention in school."

 

TERRORIST THREAT & TRAVEL SAFETY:

Terrific explanation on the Psychology of Terrorism"

 

“The Al Queda Surveillance Video of us, Boeing Field, and the area [Seattle] was stunning -- and disturbing.  Wow.  Chilling.

 

"[Valuable] ‘chokepoint’ discussion"

 

"Made me more aware of things that go on around me"

 

"Extremely interesting"

 

"He was awesome"

 

"[As a result of this training] I learned how to protect myself at home as well as at work or out of US travels."

 

 

 

TERRORISM VICTIM--SHOT IN THE HEAD AND LEFT FOR DEAD:

 

“Inspiring--I was in tears”

 

“God Bless Her Remarkable Blessings.”

 

“Fascinating--so sorry she had to endure so much pain ad horror to have the opportunity to enlighten us.”

 

“Absolutely Riveting!! Found it very emotional and moving"

 

"Very much enjoyed it. Effective way of showing the victim’s side"

 

"Loved it—loved it—loved it"

 

"Having the story told by the person involved made the lessons learned more real"

 

"Provided more personal look at terrorist attacks"

"Fascinated by everything she said."

"[Terrorist Victim]was dynamic.  God bless her remarkable blessings."

"[Terrorist Victim] She was wonderful!"

"[Middle East Presentation] Extremely Beneficial."

"[Terrorism Presentation] A very good high level review—subject could take up the entire week.

"Excellent Speaker(s)."

"[Terrorist Victim] Amazing!"

"Extremely interesting."