Anna Kostecka

What Works Across Cultures

Business EN ↓ 6 episodes

What Works Across Cultures is a podcast on the art and science of global collaboration and leadership. Host Anna Kostecka has spent over 15 years exploring this topic. She now brings together experts from around the world to discuss how culture shapes the way we lead, communicate, and collaborate. Each episode offers different perspectives on cross-cultural collaboration, real stories from global teams, and practical insights. Perfect for leaders and team members collaborating in global teams, HR and L&D professionals, and curious minds wondering what works across cultures and why.

Author

Anna Kostecka

Episodes

Creativity: Perspective from Poland | Paweł Karpiuk 18.06.2026 40:42

What can one of the world's most successful game studios teach us about creativity, culture, and collaboration? Why do Polish teams often focus on what can be improved rather than what's already working? In this episode, Anna Kostecka speaks with Paweł Karpiuk , Senior Training & Development Specialist at CD Projekt Red, the Polish video game company behind The Witcher series and Cybe...

Community: Perspective from Ukraine | Maria Andruchiw 21.05.2026 40:40

What does “community” really mean? And what happens to communities in times of crisis? In this episode, host Anna Kostecka speaks with Maria Andruchiw , a Ukrainian community organizer, activist, and cultural advocate based in Poland. With over 10 years of experience in cultural diplomacy and community organizing, Maria brings both expertise and lived experience to the conversation. Together, the...

Psychological Safety: Perspective from Japan | Keiko Sakurai 16.04.2026 50:45

Is building psychological safety the same everywhere? How can cultural differences impact speaking up during meetings? What are other important indicators of psychological safety? What can you do when you don’t hear much from colleagues in Japan or across APAC? In this episode, host Anna Kostecka speaks with Keiko Sakurai , Director of Consulting at Aperian, based in Japan. Keiko has over 20 year...

Conflict Style: Perspective from Canada | Hamlin Grange 12.03.2026 41:33

Conflict happens in every team. But in global and multicultural teams, misunderstandings often arise because culture shapes how we disagree, express emotions, and resolve conflicts. When we misinterpret the behaviour of colleagues from other cultures, trust can quickly erode. In this episode, host Anna Kostecka speaks with Hamlin Grange , a Canadian interculturalist and IDEA strategist (Inclusion,...

Communication: Perspective from the U.S. | Karen Cvitkovich 13.02.2026 46:12

What makes a good communicator? What do people tend to get wrong about communicating with colleagues from the United States? Join our host, Anna Kostecka , for a conversation with Karen Cvitkovich , a U.S. consultant, author, and facilitator with almost 20 years of experience in the intercultural field. In this episode, Anna and Karen discuss: What “good communication” really means across cultures...

Building Trust: Perspective from India | Sudeep Chhabra 15.01.2026 48:00

Trust is the universal currency of collaboration, but how we build it differs across cultures. What makes us trust others? Join our host, Anna Kostecka , for a conversation with Sudeep Chhabra , a leadership development expert with over 26 years of experience based in New Delhi. In this episode, Anna and Sudeep discuss: The Trust Equation Cultural differences related to trust-building Practica...