Leveraging Culturally-Adaptive Coaching Methods
In consulting, facilitating, and training
Dr. Nagesh Rao
Navigating cross-cultural communication dynamics is a core but often ignored aspect of Inclusion and Belonging work. This course provides practical, culturally-adaptive approaches for:
– Creating dialogue
– Designing information-gathering interviews,
– Facilitating focus groups and workshops, and
– Advising clients (externally) / constituents (in-house)
It demonstrates the power of simultaneously turning inward (cultural self-awareness, cultural humility) and turning outward (deep understanding of diverse others) in shaping productive, inclusive, and ethical outcomes for individuals and organizations.
Registration opens mid-June
In this course, you will learn how to help yourself and those you work with so that you/they can better:
- Understand how culture shapes communication patterns, preferences, and expectations.
- Practice communication tools and techniques that support culturally adaptive dialogue, including questioning, listening, silence, statements,
- Apply culturally-adaptive practices to your own contexts.
Nagesh Rao, PhD
Currently based in the US, Dr. Nagesh Rao is an accomplished DEI trainer, coach, consultant and professor who uses intercultural competence, cultural humility, storytelling and intercultural listening to develop leaders in healthcare/medicine, education and business.
In Nagesh’s three+ decades of teaching, consulting and training, he has worked with clients in Fortune 500 corporations, top medical schools and hospitals, educational institutes and community-based non-profit organizations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
In 2017, Dr. Rao was named special advisor on inclusion and faculty affairs and asked to design and implement Ohio University (US) Medical School’s Office of Inclusion. He has visiting lecturer appointments at numerous universities including the University of Groningen (Netherlands).
This course format is one that uses conceptual inputs, discussion, peer sharing, and interactive demonstrations of different techniques.
Nagesh’s philosophy is inspired by the Anais Nin quote, “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”
This course is for you if you are looking to deepen your cultural humility, better navigate cross-cultural communication dynamics, and adapt your communication strategies for the diverse audiences you serve.
COURSE TYPE
Communication focused
DURATION/DATES
Monday, 26 Oct 2026
8:30am-4:15pm
AUDIENCE LEVELS
All levels
TUITION FEE
CAD775
includes certificate from the Institute
“[I take away] some very valuable techniques to use and a theoretical framework to understand it. It was very rich in terms of learning.”
“Great, open trainer. A mix of humour and actual data is just splendid. Inspiring.”
“The most important takeaway I gained was the importance of culture in effective communication.”
