Sharon Pitterson-Ogaldez (blog post in response to “Diversity Training Doesn’t Work")
“For a long time I have observed a two-fold paralysis that occurs in diversity training sessions in the US; paralysis from guilt of the dominant groups (race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc.) and paralysis from anger within the oppressed groups. This led me to seek another way of helping people learn about their differences and to see the major role culture plays in how we shape and view our world. The Cultural Detective is a very valuable tool for teaching people how to navigate these differences by assuming positive intent.”
Senior Instructional Designer, Major Payroll Services Organization
“In my search for training that we could purchase and customize to our specific needs, I came across Cultural Detective and discovered that we could, using your materials and methodology, offer our learners much more than the basics. In fact, what I found in Cultural Detective was an approach to cross-cultural communication that would leverage and greatly enhance the communication skills that our team already puts to use every day to achieve shared understanding with our U.S. business-to-business customers.”
Senior Diversity Consultant, global energy company with employees in over 100 countries
“From my perspective, the simplicity of the tool is what makes it so useful.”
People to People International, Global Youth Forum Leader
“The students enjoyed the topic and connected with the Cultural Detective materials. I think they learned a great deal by digging in to themselves and others. When I first read the lessons I thought they were simple and did not appreciate how deeply you could delve into them. I felt like I was peeling an onion and finally got to the sweet heart of it. I learned a lot, too!”
Turner White, Executive Professor of Management, Helzberg School of Management
“Cultural Detective is a beautiful illustration of the effect of the quality of cultural response in an executive's decision process. The interactive example was instructive and memorable—not a person in the room hadn't been in situations precisely like those we experienced in the practical exercise. Yet, we had in this case an opportunity to ‘unpack’ the experience and follow its likely conclusion. You fulfilled every expectation that I had for the seminar—my only regret is that we didn't have more time!”
Dr. Michael Vande Berg, former VP Academic Affairs, CIEE (Council on Int'l Educational Exchange)
”Cultural Detective is contributing very significantly to CIEE’s efforts to help students abroad understand core cultural concepts, and develop key intercultural perspectives and skills—and is doing all of this in cost-effective ways.”
Business Director, large multinational corporation
“One of the most valuable learnings has to be the ease with which miscommunication happens. To stand back and assess a situation and the ability to consider other needs/wants will help me in the future.”
Cultural Detective Facilitator Certification Attendee
“More than just talking about cultural diversity and cultural values and theories about how to bridge differences, Cultural Detective provides practical tools and experiential training that facilitate genuine learning. CD translates theory into applicable knowledge.”
Carolyn Rehn, Sr. Organizational Development and Learning Specialist, AFS-USA Intercultural Programs
“Cultural Detective is a wonderful resource that we use to help us bring to light and deal with the differences and adjustment issues that happen in a cross-cultural exchange.”
People to People International (PTPI) Global Youth Forum Leader
“During Cultural Detective students worked as team members to understand more about who they are: the value of exploring other people's values and discovering ways of making valuable connections with others.”
Sharon Pitterson-Ogaldez (blog post in response to “Diversity Training Doesn’t Work")
“For a long time I have observed a two-fold paralysis that occurs in diversity training sessions in the US; paralysis from guilt of the dominant groups (race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc.) and paralysis from anger within the oppressed groups. This led me to seek another way of helping people learn about their differences and to see the major role culture plays in how we shape and view our world. The Cultural Detective is a very valuable tool for teaching people how to navigate these differences by assuming positive intent.”
Senior Instructional Designer, Major Payroll Services Organization
“In my search for training that we could purchase and customize to our specific needs, I came across Cultural Detective and discovered that we could, using your materials and methodology, offer our learners much more than the basics. In fact, what I found in Cultural Detective was an approach to cross-cultural communication that would leverage and greatly enhance the communication skills that our team already puts to use every day to achieve shared understanding with our U.S. business-to-business customers.”
Senior Diversity Consultant, global energy company with employees in over 100 countries
“From my perspective, the simplicity of the tool is what makes it so useful.”
People to People International, Global Youth Forum Leader
“The students enjoyed the topic and connected with the Cultural Detective materials. I think they learned a great deal by digging in to themselves and others. When I first read the lessons I thought they were simple and did not appreciate how deeply you could delve into them. I felt like I was peeling an onion and finally got to the sweet heart of it. I learned a lot, too!”
Turner White, Executive Professor of Management, Helzberg School of Management
“Cultural Detective is a beautiful illustration of the effect of the quality of cultural response in an executive's decision process. The interactive example was instructive and memorable—not a person in the room hadn't been in situations precisely like those we experienced in the practical exercise. Yet, we had in this case an opportunity to ‘unpack’ the experience and follow its likely conclusion. You fulfilled every expectation that I had for the seminar—my only regret is that we didn't have more time!”
Dr. Michael Vande Berg, former VP Academic Affairs, CIEE (Council on Int'l Educational Exchange)
”Cultural Detective is contributing very significantly to CIEE’s efforts to help students abroad understand core cultural concepts, and develop key intercultural perspectives and skills—and is doing all of this in cost-effective ways.”
Business Director, large multinational corporation
“One of the most valuable learnings has to be the ease with which miscommunication happens. To stand back and assess a situation and the ability to consider other needs/wants will help me in the future.”
Cultural Detective Facilitator Certification Attendee
“More than just talking about cultural diversity and cultural values and theories about how to bridge differences, Cultural Detective provides practical tools and experiential training that facilitate genuine learning. CD translates theory into applicable knowledge.”
Carolyn Rehn, Sr. Organizational Development and Learning Specialist, AFS-USA Intercultural Programs
“Cultural Detective is a wonderful resource that we use to help us bring to light and deal with the differences and adjustment issues that happen in a cross-cultural exchange.”
People to People International (PTPI) Global Youth Forum Leader
“During Cultural Detective students worked as team members to understand more about who they are: the value of exploring other people's values and discovering ways of making valuable connections with others.”