#38 Global Leadership Today - Cultural Intelligence, Trust & Empathy with Victoria Rennoldson

Show notes

In a world where the rules keep changing or feel like they’ve disappeared altogether, leadership has never been more complex. Today’s leaders are navigating uncertainty, cultural differences, shifting expectations, and constant change, often without a clear playbook to follow. So how do you lead with clarity, credibility, and empathy when there are no fixed rules?

Culture Chat In this episode, Frauke and Marie-Christine are joined by Victoria Rennoldson, a global leadership and communication coach, founder of Culture Cuppa, and host of the Cultural Communication Confidence podcast. Shaped by her multicultural upbringing in London and an international career in marketing, Victoria brings a deeply practical and personal perspective to the conversation.

Victoria shares the story behind founding Culture Cuppa, explaining how repeated moments of miscommunication, unspoken expectations, and cultural misunderstandings in global teams sparked her passion for helping leaders work more effectively across borders. Rather than relying on stereotypes or surface-level cultural tips, her work focuses on building genuine understanding, confidence, and connection in complex international environments.

Having worked with leaders from more than 40 countries, Victoria supports professionals in strengthening their leadership presence, building trust across cultural differences, and communicating with clarity and confidence. Together, Frauke, Marie-Christine, and Victoria explore what it really means to lead across cultures today — and why cultural intelligence, empathy, and intentional communication are essential skills for modern leadership.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What cultural intelligence (CQ) really means and why it’s essential for global leaders
• Victoria’s 4-pillar CQ framework: Drive, Knowledge, Strategy, and Action
• How leaders can adapt to different cultural contexts without losing authenticity
• Why empathy in leadership goes beyond the “golden rule” and what the “platinum rule” looks like in practice
• How trust is built (and lost) across cultures in global teams
• Why leadership is not about titles and how everyone can develop leadership impact

Whether you lead global teams, work across cultures, or want to strengthen your leadership presence, this episode offers practical insights and thoughtful perspectives you can apply immediately. Tune in and discover how cultural intelligence can elevate your leadership — wherever you are in the world.

About Victoria Rennoldson: Victoria is a multi-award-winning coach, speaker, certified facilitator, and best-selling author specialising in global leadership, communication, and cultural intelligence. She helps professionals and teams thrive in their global careers by amplifying their impact: speaking up confidently, communicating clearly, and collaborating across cultures. Victoria is the CEO and Founder of Culture Cuppa and a top-ranked podcast host with over 160 episodes. Her first book, Become a Global Leader, became a bestseller in Career Advancement and Professional Development upon release.

Connect with Victoria Rennoldson: https://culturecuppa.com/book https://linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson https://culturecuppa.com/podcast/

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