Why Your Smartest Teams Still Underperform: The Culture Gap Explained

May 15

4PM (CET) 10AM (EST)

Online: Zoom Webinar

The Challenge

Even the most talented teams can hit invisible walls. Miscommunication and misaligned expectations often aren’t due to a lack of skills or effort, they stem from cultural disconnects. Diverse teams are normal and shared understanding is much more than having a common language. If your smartest teams are underdelivering, the problem might not be talent, it might be cultural intelligence.

The Discussion

Our panel will unpack the hidden cultural factors that impact team performance, even when you’ve hired the best. We’ll look at how understanding the cultural values within your team can turn friction into advantage, misunderstanding into deeper insight and confusion into robust solutions. You’ll learn how to implement strategies across your organization that encourage cultural adaptation and how this improves global team performance.

The Outcome

Recognize the hidden cultural preferences that impact team performance, even among top talent.
Gain practical strategies to improve collaboration, communication, and trust across international teams.
Learn how to develop and apply cultural intelligence to build more productive, high-performing teams.
Understand how to embed cultural intelligence into learning programs to drive sustained performance and engagement.

Your speakers:

Nikki Samant-Jones

Panel Host & Chief Revenue Officer, Country Navigator

Mary Jo

Senior Director, Learning and Development, Baker Tilly | ex Ferrero

Bret Nelson

Leadership and Development Consultant, Aggregate Consulting | ex S&P Global

Nikki Samant-Jones, Country Navigator

As Chief Revenue Officer at Country Navigator, Nikki Samant-Jones works closely with clients to enhance cultural intelligence (CQ) and foster inclusion within organizations. She specializes in consulting on CQ strategies, helping businesses measure success and maximize the ROI of their initiatives. In addition to her executive role, Nikki co-hosts The Hippo Question podcast, offering fresh perspectives on cultural intelligence and inclusion. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Psychology from Goa University.

Mary Jo Anderson, Baker Tilly | ex Ferrero

Mary Jo ("MJ") Anderson is a visionary leader in global talent strategy and organizational transformation, redefining how companies unlock human potential in the evolving world of work.

As Senior Director of Learning and Development at Baker Tilly and ex VP at Ferrero. She's an advocate for lifelong learning, pioneers bold, human-centered strategies that future-proof organizations, and empowers the next generation of leaders.

Bret Nelson, Leadership & Development Consultant

Bret Nelson is a transformational leadership and culture strategist with over 20 years of experience helping organizations elevate performance through people. He partners with senior leaders to unlock potential, build resilient teams, and lead cultural change that drives long-term success.

Bret holds a Master’s in Organizational Leadership and is known for making change stick whether through coaching, strategic planning, or team development. Based in Salt Lake City, he’s also an avid outdoorsman and proud Super Dad.