Through the lens of the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity and Emotional Intelligence, participants will explore the nuances of clear communication within culturally diverse teams, gaining a deep understanding of how cultural perspectives influence interpersonal interactions. Participants will grow in understanding how cultural factors shape their own and others' actions in the workplace, and practice focused strategies for engaging in culturally sensitive workplace communication.
This course is available for StrongerBC future skills grant between September 1, 2025 - February 28, 2026. The course must have a start date between Sept 1 - Feb 28 to be eligible for funding. Please contact CPS@kpu.ca on how to apply.
What You Will Learn
- Engage with their personal cultural story in a workplace team.
- Identify relevant goals and emotional intelligence skills for increasing personal intercultural effectiveness and create a personal development plan.
- Assess intercultural communication dynamics in the workplace.
**Participants may opt to complete the Intercultural Development Inventory, which can include individual or team debriefing.
How You Will Learn:
You will join live, online, instructor-led sessions that blend theory with real-world application:
- Expert-Led Workshops: Learn directly from a seasoned practitioner.
- Hands-On Case Studies: Apply frameworks in small-group exercises.
- Personalized Feedback: Receive tailored coaching to refine your work.
- Live Q&A & Networking: Dive deeper with peers and the instructor.
- Ongoing Resources: Access slide decks, templates and an online forum to reinforce your learning.
Who This Course is for
This course is ideal for professionals who work in diverse, cross-cultural environments and want to improve team communication and collaboration, including:
People managers, supervisors, and team leads working with multicultural or globally distributed teams
HR, DEI, and learning & development professionals focused on building inclusive, high-functioning workplace cultures
Public sector and nonprofit staff engaging with clients and colleagues from a range of cultural backgrounds
Educators and community leaders working across generations, cultures, and belief systems
Employees and team members looking to strengthen their cultural self-awareness and communication effectiveness
Whether you're leading, hiring, or simply collaborating across cultures, this course offers valuable insights and strategies for deeper connection and clarity.
Why take this course:
Cultural misunderstandings can undermine trust, productivity, and team cohesion, even in well-intentioned workplaces
BC’s workforce is one of the most culturally diverse in Canada, and employers increasingly value intercultural effectiveness as a professional competency
Effective communication goes beyond language—it includes cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and intention
The ability to navigate cultural complexity is a critical skill for global collaboration, inclusive leadership, and employee retention
Tools like the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) can help individuals and teams measure and grow their intercultural capacity
Investing in cultural intelligence leads to stronger teams, better service delivery, and more inclusive organizational cultures
Instructor Bio
Maria Kilina, MBA, ACC
Maria is an executive coach, facilitator, and instructor with over 15 years of corporate experience in strategy, business and corporate development, leadership. As an ICF-certified coach and business educator, she blends academic insight with practical expertise to help individuals and organizations thrive. maria holds an MBA and a Certificate in Organizational Coaching from University of British Columbia, as well as EQ-i 2.0 and EQ 360 certifications - coaching based on the EQ-i 2.0 Emotional Intelligence model assessments.
Her passion is to combine business acumen, coaching, and emotional intelligence skills in developing mindful, inspiring leaders who generate growth in their teams and lead with emotional intelligence.