James Giscombe
Different people. Less friction. More connection.
I support companies, universities and organisations in communicating and working successfully with international teams, employees, clients and partners.
Intercultural Training · Workshops · Consulting · Coaching
What I Do
International and intercultural teams that want to work better together
Does your team bring together people from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds? I develop practical training and workshops that help teams recognise misunderstandings, understand different communication and working styles, and collaborate more effectively in everyday work.
Your organisation is becoming increasingly international
Do you work with international clients, partners or employees, or are you looking to enter new international markets? I prepare teams and leaders for the communication and cultural challenges involved – from different expectations and working styles to meetings, negotiations and collaboration across cultures.
International employees joining organisations in Germany
Do you employ people from other countries or support them as they join your organisation in Germany? I help international employees understand German communication and working practices, while helping existing teams adapt to different expectations, experiences and cultural perspectives.
How can I support you?
TextIntercultural Training · Workshops · Consulting · Coaching · Generations at Work · Collaboration Across Generations
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About Me
Over 20 years of experience with people, organisations and cultures – across business, academia, science and public service.
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Experience across cultures, organisations and disciplines
As the son of Jamaican immigrants, I grew up in the United Kingdom and later chose Germany as my home after ten years as an engineering officer in the British Army and an extended period of travelling. Since then, I have moved professionally and personally between different countries, languages, generations, social environments and professional cultures. These experiences have shaped my understanding of cultural difference just as strongly as my many years of professional work with people from different cultural and professional backgrounds.
Engineering · Business · Leadership · Culture
My professional experience spans universities and research institutions, companies and public-sector organisations. I have worked with employees, managers, academics and specialists in a wide range of professional and international contexts.
My professional background brings together engineering, business, leadership and culture. I studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering, completed an MBA and began my career as an officer in the British Army. For many years, I have worked in Germany at the intersection of communication, culture, leadership and professional development.
These different perspectives shape my work. I know technical and commercial organisations, academic institutions, public bodies and international working environments from my own professional experience.
Selected Experience
Bayer – Executive Board & International Business Communication
Work with members of the Executive Board on professional international communication, leadership communication and the intercultural demands of global collaboration.
Toyota Formula 1 – Engineering
Professional communication and collaboration with an international engineering team in a highly specialised technical environment.
AXA – Legal & Business
Consulting and training with the legal department on international professional communication and effective collaboration in a business context.
Forschungszentrum Jülich – Science & Research
Training international Master's students and doctoral researchers in academic presentation, discussion, written communication and intercultural collaboration, as well as working with departments such as Finance and Accounting.
WDR & RTL – Media & International Communication
Training with employees working around senior management, as well as specialists and managers, in professional international communication.
HSPV NRW – Police & Public Service
For more than ten years, I have taught intercultural competence to future police officers and public-sector employees. The extensive modules cover culture, perception, communication and professional practice in culturally diverse environments.
I have also worked with specialists and managers from engineering, software, finance, property management, industry and other international professional fields.
This allows me to look at communication not in isolation, but in the context of roles, working practices, cultural expectations and the specific challenges facing an organisation.
Tailored to the situation, not off the shelf
No one-size-fits-all solutions.
Your specific situation is the starting point.
I do not work with a ready-made programme that looks the same for every organisation. The starting point is the people involved, the specific situation and the challenges facing the organisation.
From there, I develop training, workshops and consulting tailored to the particular context and the changes you want to achieve. I combine research-based insights with practical experience from a wide range of professional and cultural environments.
How I Work
Real situations rather than abstract solutions.
My training and workshops are practical and interactive. Rather than spending hours talking at people through slides, I work with discussion, real situations, case studies, exercises and the participants' own experience.
Typical Formats
• Intercultural workshops for international teams
• Preparing for international collaboration and new markets
• Training for leaders of culturally diverse teams
• Onboarding and integration of international employees
• Communication and conflict in multicultural teams
• Preparing for international meetings and negotiations
• Workshops for organisations working with refugees or people from different cultural backgrounds
• Individually designed training for specific challenges
The aim: Participants should not simply leave having heard something about culture. They should leave able to see, understand or do something differently.
CONTACT
Let's talk about the specific challenge you're facing.
Whether it is international collaboration, intercultural communication or a specific challenge within your team or organisation, tell me what is happening. Together, we can work out what kind of support would be most useful.
I do not offer standard solutions. Training, workshops, consulting and coaching are developed around your specific situation and the people involved.
Get in touch, and let's discuss how we could work together.
Imprint (Impressum)Information pursuant to Section 5 DDGJames GiscombeWetzlarer Str. 2
51105 Cologne
GermanyContactTelephone: +49 176 61730574
Email: [email protected]
Privacy Policy1. ControllerThe controller responsible for the processing of personal data on this website is:James Giscombe
Wetzlarer Str. 2
51105 Cologne
GermanyTelephone: +49 176 61730574
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