- Interview with Cross-Cultural Book Author, Julia Kirst
- 6 Tips for Succeeding in Business in Saudi Arabia
- Working in Saudi Arabia: Three Anecdotes
- 10 MORE Questions about Saudi Arabia: Answered!
- 10 Reasons Why I Love Saudi Arabia
- 5 Cultural Lessons on Italy for Teenagers
- 10 Questions about Saudi Arabia: Answered!
- I Left a 6-Figure Job in the Pandemic and Started a Company. My Thoughts 2 Years Later.
- Networking Skills: How to Connect with New People
- The Pivot Factor in Intercultural Management
- Why Foster Inclusivity in Your Workplace Culture?
- 10 Cultural Readiness Factors to Consider When Entering A New Market
- 5 Great Expat Podcasts For Travelers Abroad
- 10 Best Money Saving Tips for Expats
- Best Resources for Learning Italian Language
- Best Books to Read for Expat Wealth and Financial Success
- Preview of the Italy Digital Nomad Work Visa
- How I Got my Italian Work Visa per Lavoro Autonomo
- Tips for Getting Your Business Started in 2022
- ESL Teachers: Learn how you can earn more money in 2022!
- 10 Tips for Cultural Sensitivity during the Holy Month of Ramadan
- Which Countries Have the Best Healthcare in the World?
- 5 Safest Countries in the World for Expats in 2022
- How to Buy A House In Italy As A Foreigner
- 5 Best Places to Live in the World in 2022
- How to Migrate to the UK as a Skilled Professional – Get a job in the UK and Become a UK Citizen
- Moving Abroad For Expats in 2022 (With a Checklist)
- How Culture Has Influenced Your Life: Weirong Li Interviews Cheryl Obal
- Why Do Companies Need to Invest in Cross-Cultural Training When They Do Business Abroad?
- Guide on Relocating Employees Overseas in 2022
- 12 Steps for Buying Your DREAM HOME in Italy!
- The Cultural Importance of Saving Face
- 6 Reasons to Live in a Small City instead of a Big City in Italy
- 10 Observations of Italian Bureaucracy
- How I Became Fluent in Italian in 3 months
- How Saudi Arabia Changed My Life – for the Better
- Small talk, networks, and the beautiful life in Italy
- Why Indians are so good at technology
- Three Reasons why I Settled in Italy
Don’t just see the sights – get to know the people.
CULTURE SMART! Saudi Arabia
Culture Smart! Saudi Arabia will help you navigate the swirling waters of this important and fast-changing country. Social, cultural, and business life is demystified in concise chapters, while sections on the values, traditions, and attitudes that prevail will help you find your way through the new and unexpected situations that you are likely to encounter.
“The biggest problem companies face when working across borders is not marketing, sales, or generating leads. It’s lack of cross-cultural competence.”
Cheryl Obal
Founder, Cross-cultural Trainer & Consultant
Most companies fail to survive when working across borders because:
- They don’t know the culture in the target market.
- They don’t have a cross-cultural consultant to guide them through the process.
- They don’t have any personal contacts in those countries where they want to set up.
- They are afraid to invest their money in a foreign market.
- They are worried about taxation, compliance, or IP issues.
- They are misinformed of the costs and time frames needed to set up in a foreign market.
- They don’t know how to gain clients in a foreign country.
- They lack intercultural competence.
- Their management lacks experience in the new market.
Cross-Cultural Training
My expertise comes from several years of full immersion in:
Italy
India
Arab Gulf (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar)
South Korea
United States
Japan
Thailand
Pakistan
Additional 50 countries traveled to and worked short-term
Cultural Detective® – certified trainer
Lewis Model of Culture & Culture Active – certified trainer
Hofstede’s Dimensions
GlobeSmart®
Own strategies developed over 20 years of working in other countries
Utilize the most widely-used methodologies for intercultural training
Construct an effective training program
Conduct learner assessment
Engage trainees in interactive skill-building activities
Corporate Trainers
Learning & Development Professionals
Coaches
ESL teachers
Immersive keynote presentations going beyond information-sharing
Personal anecdotes and a unique blend of authentic insights
Available for online and offline engagements
Sharing my experiences of living and working abroad
A profound exploration of a selected culture
25 years of cross-cultural business communication
Online Pre-recorded Courses:
HOW TO BECOME A CROSS-CULTURAL TRAINER
Travel the world, teach people valuable skills, and enhance your career as a cross-cultural trainer.
- The best training methodologies in the industry
- How to do a new client intake
- How to engage learners in online and offline training programs
- How to build an online presence or start a consultancy
UK INTERVIEW SUCCESS - INTERVIEW PREPARATION COURSE
Taught by Cheryl Obal and Bianca Praino from Praino Careers. Learn how to land your dream job in the UK.
- Develop an understanding of different UK interview formats
- How to prepare examples tailored to different question types
- Know where to look for follow up support and resources.
- Learn about different types of questions to expect
Companies who have worked with us:
Testimonials
“I thoroughly enjoyed Cheryl Obal’s Cross-Cultural Train-the-Trainer course. Cheryl Obal integrated theory, business coaching and consulting strategies effectively into this insightful course. She exhibits an outstanding ability to connect with her trainees and comprehend their context-specific requirements. I would strongly recommend this course to anybody interested in honing their cross-cultural skills.”
Fizza Zaidi
Businessswoman
“Cheryl is highly educated, experienced in many different ways, very organized and a well-liked person. She has a lot of energy and enthusiasm, which brings her activities to life and can be quite creative and entertaining. Her passion in what she does is definitely noticeable by the results of her work. This is one person who would lift up a company's spirit and give value. Her wealth of global experience shows that she can adapt to any environment and still be the same professional and upbeat person.”
Deacon Pereto
Entrepreneur
“It was my pleasure to be in such a wonderful class, given by a wonderful instructor. The subject in my opinion applies across the organization: new hires, even staff who’ve been here a long time for objective awareness. I’ve suggested this to my Director and Business Manager, to allow for such a presentation within our department.”
Marie Hazelwood
Executive Assistant
My Story
About the Founder
Cheryl Obal
Cheryl Obal, Director of Training and Consultation, has 20 years of experience as a culture and communication skills trainer, executive coach and consultant at multinational companies and institutions across the world. Cheryl holds an M.A. in International Relations from The University of Trieste, Italy.
She is a certified trainer of the Lewis Model of Culture, Cultural Detective,® and GlobeSmart® methodologies for cross-cultural training and coaching. She is also certified as a TEFL – Teacher of English as a Foreign Language.
Cheryl was born, raised and educated in the USA (23 years); lived in Italy 18 years, India 3 years, Korea 2 years, Thailand 1 year, Japan ½ year, Saudi Arabia 4 years, and Qatar ½ year. She has visited 60 countries for work.
Mission:
My mission is to give companies and individuals the tools needed to thrive when working abroad. My passion is to promote mutual understanding among people from different cultures and backgrounds. Collaborating across borders has its challenges and I get it—I have been there!
Vision:
My vision is a world in which people celebrate cultural differences rather than criticize them. No culture is right or wrong, or better or worse—cultures are just different, and that’s what makes the world a beautiful place. With increased cross-cultural competence, people get along better, work more effectively, and maximize partnerships. This knowledge can change your world, and the world around you.
