22: The Secret to Leading Diverse Tech Teams with Alena Ipanova

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Alena Ipanova is an expert in cultural intelligence and intercultural leadership.

In this episode, you're going to learn what cultural intelligence is and why it matters for CTOs, how to assess and improve self-awareness as a leader, ways to bridge cultural differences within global teams, strategies for adapting communication styles effectively, and the importance of continuous learning and feedback in fostering inclusivity and collaboration.



Alena is an Intercultural Leadership and Team Development Trainer and Coach. She helps leaders and teams develop Cultural Intelligence, build inclusive workplaces, and create high-performing teams.

With 15 years of experience and a background in psychology, coaching, and intercultural leadership, Alena combines research with best practices from her work across industries. Her goal is to support leaders and teams in developing a global mindset and an inclusive company culture.

Alena’s work is centred on her clients' real needs. She aims to provide solutions that continue to help them long after each project ends. Alena approaches diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by considering not only visible differences but also cognitive diversity, psychological safety, and practices that promote a sense of belonging and teamwork.

In her personal life, Alena is an adventurous traveller and curious learner, always interested in people and cultures. She lives with her family in a new country each year.

Timestamps:

[03:00] What cultural intelligence means

[05:10] Misconceptions about cultural differences

[07:15] Challenges of working in multicultural teams

[09:25] Why self-awareness is essential for leaders

[12:40] How feedback improves self-awareness

[15:30] Common pitfalls in cultural leadership

[17:45] Differences between personal and organizational norms

[20:20] Signs of poor cultural awareness in teams

[22:50] Simple exercises for self-assessment

[25:15] How the global disk assessment works

[27:30] Bridging communication gaps in diverse teams

[29:50] How team culture mapping improves dynamics

[32:05] Building relationships through informal check-ins

[34:15] Why curiosity matters in cultural intelligence

[36:20] Adapting communication styles to different contexts

[38:10] How to improve team meetings with better questions

[40:05] Practicing and unlearning old communication habits

[42:30] Importance of leaders modelling inclusive behaviour

[44:15] Encouraging curiosity in diverse teams

[45:45] How to leverage cultural diversity for better outcomes

If you would like to connect with Alena you can book a call with her and follow her on LinkedIn.

Resources Mentioned:

Cultural Intelligence | Website

Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and YouTube and check out Adam's CTO coaching company Synova Tech.