Case Study | Intercultural Agility for a Global Merger
Company A’s merger with Company B created a critical need for leaders who could navigate Southern U.S. cultural dynamics. To support a smooth integration, Company A partnered with NetExpat to build intercultural agility across its executive team, strengthening alignment and accelerating the merger’s success.
Background
Company A, a global leader in sustainable packaging, initiated a transformative merger with Company B to expand its U.S. footprint, including a major presence in Atlanta. Understanding that cultural agility would be a decisive factor in the merger’s success, Company A proactively invested in preparing its C‑Suite and Board for the realities of leading across U.S., Southern, and global cultural contexts.
To support this transition, Company A partnered with NetExpat to deliver targeted intercultural training designed to strengthen leadership alignment, accelerate integration, and equip executives to drive business results in a newly merged, multicultural environment.
Intercultural Challenges
The integration surfaced several culture‑related challenges that could have slowed momentum or impacted collaboration:
- Navigating U.S. and Southern Culture
Leaders needed to quickly understand the values, norms, and business expectations specific to Atlanta and the broader U.S. environment. - Integrating Distinct Corporate Cultures
Aligning leadership styles, decision‑making norms, and management expectations across two organizations was essential for a smooth transition. - Building Trust & Communication
A newly formed executive team required shared communication practices and trust‑building strategies to collaborate effectively. - Time & Task Management Differences
Varied approaches to deadlines, planning, and organization required new frameworks for accountability and workflow alignment.
Left unaddressed, these challenges could have slowed integration, weakened team cohesion, and limited the organization’s ability to capitalize on new U.S. market opportunities.
Tailored Solution
NetExpat designed a customized 3‑hour intercultural workshop for Company A’s C‑Suite and Board, with a strong focus on Atlanta’s Southern U.S. cultural context. The program included:
- Culture‑Specific Insights into U.S. and Southern values, norms, and beliefs
- Leadership & Management Styles tailored to U.S. expectations around hierarchy, relationships, and influence
- Communication Strategies for clarity, trust‑building, and cross‑cultural collaboration
- Time & Task Management Tools to support effective planning and execution
- Interactive Learning through presentations, case studies, videos, and group exercises
- Digital Resources including access to CultureSnap 360° and the Global Leaders Community for ongoing development
This solution equipped leaders with the cultural awareness and practical tools needed to navigate the merger confidently and effectively
Impact & Value
Company A’s executives emerged with a stronger understanding of U.S. and Southern cultural dynamics, improved communication practices, and a shared leadership approach across the newly merged organization. The training accelerated trust‑building, strengthened decision‑making, and positioned the leadership team to manage cross‑cultural teams and business opportunities with confidence.
By investing early in cultural agility, Company A set the foundation for a successful merger, stronger U.S. market integration, and sustainable global growth.
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