During an intercultural training session on Polish culture, one participant offered a powerful moment.
Catherine, CEO of a retail brand, shared the story that made her fall in love with Poland.
As a child, she grew up listening to her father’s passionate stories about partridge hunting. In the 1990s, he discovered Poland’s vast forests, began learning Polish, and told his daughter about a country that felt mysterious, warm, and fascinating.
Years later, when she was offered a leadership position in Poland, Catherine didn’t hesitate for a second.
She arrived already carrying those positive images. Curious and enthusiastic, she quickly built strong relationships. She was welcomed warmly and soon felt completely at home — like a fish in water.
💡 Her initial mindset changed everything.
What I observe, training after training, is that those who succeed most in their expatriation share one thing in common:
they arrive with the willingness to love — to love the people, the culture, and the differences.
This is where intercultural support truly makes a difference: nurturing that openness, providing keys to understanding, and moving beyond stereotypes to build lasting bridges.
👉 Are you preparing to work in Poland or in France?
Do you want to embrace the experience, but aren’t sure how yet?
I’m an intercultural consultant and trainer, and I support leaders and teams step by step in their integration journey.
