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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

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Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

What Works Across Cultures

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by Anna Kostecka

7 episodes

Updated Daily

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Podcast Overview

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.

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Publishing Since

1/15/2026

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Recent Episodes

July 23, 2026

Work-life Balance: Perspective from Denmark | Ekaterina von Gertten

What does it mean to be hardworking? While staying late at work can signal commitment in some countries, in Denmark, it can have the opposite effect. Being hardworking there means delivering efficiently within the agreed hours. Why? In this episode, Anna Kostecka speaks with Ekaterina von Gertten, who has been leading the global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion agenda at GN Group in Denmark. Drawing on years of experience helping Fortune 100 companies address the cultural challenges of global business, Ekaterina shares how Danish culture approaches work, commitment, and relationship building. Together, they explore how culture influences our understanding and expectations of work-life balance or sustainable work and explain why global teams often misunderstand one another. In this episode, you'll discover:<ul><li>How "being hardworking" means very different things across cultures</li><li>How Danish values shape expectations around availability, flexibility, and work-life balance</li><li>Real-life examples of common tensions around work-life balance in global teams</li><li>Why conflicts about work-life balance are often really conflicts about fairness, loyalty, and respect</li><li>Danish and Scandinavian rituals for building friendships and relationships at work</li><li>Practical ways leaders and organizations can manage tensions around work-life balance in the global teams</li></ul>If you work with or lead global teams, this conversation will help you better understand the invisible assumptions and realities that shape how people work — and why the same behaviour can be interpreted in completely different ways. Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share the episode with someone who works internationally, or <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/whatworksacrosscultures">buy us a coffee</a> to support the show.If this topic resonates with you, it's exactly the kind of work we do with leaders and teams. <a href="https://whatworks.pl/#connect">Get in touch</a> to learn more.Podcast jingle 106 by <a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/">⁠Lundstroem⁠</a> is licensed under a <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0">⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠</a>.

June 18, 2026

Creativity: Perspective from Poland | Paweł Karpiuk

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 Cyberpunk 2077. Together, they explore how culture shapes creativity, why Polish teams approach problem-solving differently, and what global organizations can learn from working across cultures. In this conversation, you'll discover:<ul><li>What creativity really means beyond art and creative industries</li><li>How Polish cultural values show up in game narratives, storytelling, and teamwork</li><li>Why psychological safety, trust, and communication are essential for creativity</li><li>The idea of "creative tension" and what makes Polish creativity distinctive</li><li>Why Polish teams are often perceived as critical when they are actually highly engaged</li><li>What international colleagues often misunderstand about working with Poles</li><li>Practical ways to encourage creativity and collaboration in multicultural teams</li></ul>Want to know more? Review the additional materials from this episode: <a href="https://whatworks.pl/podcast-episode-6/">https://whatworks.pl/podcast-episode-6/</a> Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share the episode with someone who works internationally, or <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/whatworksacrosscultures" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">buy us a coffee</a> to support the show.If this topic resonates with you, it's exactly the kind of work we do with leaders and teams. <a href="https://whatworks.pl/#connect" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Get in touch</a> to learn more.Podcast jingle 106 by <a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠Lundstroem⁠</a> is licensed under a <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠</a>.

May 21, 2026

Community: Perspective from Ukraine | Maria Andruchiw

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, they explore how culture shapes the way we understand, build, and rebuild communities. Anna and Maria explore:<ul><li>How culture influences our understanding of community: is it something we choose or something we are born into? </li><li>How communities respond when a crisis hits, and what holds them together </li><li>Surprising cultural differences between Poland and Ukraine — two neighbouring countries often assumed to be alike</li><li>Practical ways to collaborate across cultures, especially with colleagues from Ukraine</li></ul>Enjoying the podcast? Subscribe, share it with others, or <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/whatworksacrosscultures">buy us a coffee</a> to support the show. If this topic resonates with you, this is exactly what we work on with leaders and their teams. <a href="https://whatworks.pl/#connect">Get in touch</a> #Community #Ukraine #Poland #CrossCultural #InterculturalCommunication #GlobalTeams #InclusiveLeadership #WorkplaceCulture #GlobalLeadership #Collaboration #InterculturalCompetence Podcast jingle 106 by <a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/lundstroem/">⁠Lundstroem⁠</a> is licensed under a <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0">⁠Attribution 4.0 International License⁠</a>.

7 total episodes available

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What is What Works Across Cultures?: 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.
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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