Dallas Business Journal - Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2008

Stephanie Allen-Adams launched her company Cultural Moves Consulting Services, to help teacher, business executives, and healthcare providers better communicate across global operations and in increasingly diverse American workplaces.

Stephanie Allen-Adams applied for a full-time job at the University of Texas at Dallas campus several years ago, and it changed the course of her career. She was passed over for that job, but instead was asked to create a course and write a curriculum that would benefit the graduate students in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences. She designed her course to teach cultural sensitivity to students who are training to care for children with special needs and their families. Incorporating her experience of living in Japan into the curriculum she had developed, she created Cultural Moves Consulting Services to offer a lunch-and-learn series to teach hospital workers, teachers, and business professionals to better communicate in culturally diverse workplaces. Allen-Adams was interviewed by staff writer Shashana Pearson-Hormillosa. 

Q. What has the demand been for cultural courses from companies?

A. There's a great need for what I offer because just as our society becomes increasingly diverse, so do the values, customs, and beliefs that individuals bring with them. Oftentimes, the little things that we say or do can be unknowingly or unintentionally offensive, but can have a negative effect in the workplace. However, Cultural Moves Consulting Services can provide the tools, strategies, and techniques that will help individuals to become more "culturally competent" and begin to successfully maneuver through difficult situations. 

Q. What do you see as the most prominent social workplace challenge?

A. I wouldl have to say our cultural differences. As individuals, we are so ingrained in our culture that we don't even realize that a lot of what we say or what we do is cultural. We come into the workplace with our own values and then we're thrown together without any training on how to work with others.  Today, it's all about how to successfully manage those differences. It's not just an American perspective anymore--it's a global perspective!

Q. With so many foreign companies establishing branches in North Texas, what is the most common challenge these companies face, and how should they respond?

A. When we look at each other from a global perspective, we tend to focus on our differences, when what we should be focusing on is how to find "common ground." We don't want to lose who we are or lose our individuality, but we are faced with the challenges of trying to find a way to celebrate and appreciate our differences and yet create an inclusive environment where everyone is made to feel valued and respected. Because at the end of the day, it's all about people.