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Why do so many global projects falter? Often, it isnt because executives misread market data or underestimate competitors; its because they misread each other. Crosscultural communication is less about translation and more about decoding invisible frameworksvalues, norms, and assumptionsthat shape how people work. Ignoring those frameworks turns diversity into a liability. Leaders who master cultural intelligence transform it into a strategic advantage. The hidden costs of miscommunication Consider a seemingly routine performance review. Erin Meyer recounts how a French manager, working for an American boss in London, left her evaluation buoyed by the comment, We look forward to seeing more. In U.S. workplaces this phrase often masks concern; the boss thought her work was subpar. Such cushioning of criticism is common in lowcontext cultures and can leave colleagues from direct cultures confused and distrustful. These misunderstandings scale up quickly. In Edward T. Halls framework, “lowcontext” cultures such as the U.S. or Germany value explicit communication and detailed documentation, whereas “highcontext” cultures (common in Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America) rely heavily on tone, body language, and shared history. People from highcontext cultures may leave things unsaid or assume that mentioning competing obligations signals that a deadline is flexible; lowcontext colleagues may expect precise commitments and clear escalation paths. When these styles collide, delays and mistrust proliferate. Some failures grab headlines. Dolce & Gabbanas 2018 advert of a Chinese woman clumsily eating Italian food with chopsticks was widely seen as mocking Chinese etiquette, prompting boycotts and celebrity disavowals. Swatch faced similar outrage in August 2025 when a campaign image showed a model making a slantedeye gesture; netizens questioned the companys cultural awareness and demanded a proper apology. Although Swatch withdrew the adverts and apologized, critics dismissed the statement as generic and insufficient, and the backlash temporarily shaved 4% off the parent companys market value. These examples show that crosscultural miscommunication is not a minor glitch but a strategic threat. To avoid it, leaders must cultivate what psychologists call cultural intelligencethe capability to function effectively across cultures. It rests on three pillars: awareness, empathy, and adaptability. Pillar 1: Cultural awareness Awareness begins with acknowledging that your own cultural lens is not universal. Halls high and lowcontext distinction provides a starting point. In highcontext cultures, the exact wording matters less than how, when, and where something is said; body language, silence, and relational history convey meaning. In lowcontext cultures, words are taken at face value, and comprehensive information is expected. Failing to recognize these differences can cost money and reputation. Dolce & Gabbanas misread of Chinese etiquette was, at heart, a failure of awareness; the company did not understand how deeply food, tradition, and national dignity intertwine in Chinese culture. To build awareness, leaders should: Map the cultural context. Use frameworks like Hofstede or Hall to anticipate differences in hierarchy, collectivism, and time orientation. Treat these models as guides, not stereotypes. Invest in local expertise. Involve local employees or consultants in product development and marketing; they can detect cues that outsiders miss. Swatchs image might have been stopped by a culturally attuned reviewer. Learn the rituals. Simple gesturesexchanging business cards with both hands in China or leaving a little food on the plate to show you were well fedsignal respect and prevent embarrassment. Pillar 2: Empathy Awareness tells you what is different; empathy tells you why. Empathy is the ability to see the world through anothers lens and appreciate their motivations. It moves leaders from This is how we do things to How can we do things in a way that respects everyone? Consider Netflixs global expansion. The streaming giant didnt simply subtitle its U.S. shows; it invested in commissioning local content, hiring regional teams and altering user interfaces to suit different viewing habits. This hyperlocal approach recognized that a story that resonates in Los Angeles may not speak to audiences in So Paulo or Mumbai. By empathising with local tastes and values, Netflix built a loyal global audience. Empathy also plays out in daytoday leadership. Leaders who take time to ask team members about their communication preferences, family obligations, or religious holidays demonstrate respect. That respect fosters psychological safety, which research shows is essential for collaboration and innovation. Pillar 3: Adaptability Awareness and empathy are useless without the ability to adjust. Adaptability is the capacity to shift your leadership style, communication methods, and decisionmaking processes to fit the cultural contextwithout sacrificing core principles. One multinational tech company learned this when its American managers rapidfire style clashed with a Chinese teams preference for deliberation and consensus. By scheduling structured meetings and allowing the Shanghai team to formulate a unified position, he turned a strained collaboration into a highfunctioning partnership. The pattern holds broadly: highcontext cultures often value consensus and indirect feedback, while lowcontext cultures value directness and speed. Practical adaptability includes: Tailoring feedback. Direct cultures use upgraders such as totally or absolutely to emphasize criticism; indirect cultures employ downgraders like maybe or a bit to soften the blow. Clarify which phrases signal urgency and which indicate a suggestion. When giving feedback to someone from a direct culture, be explicit; when receiving feedback from someone using downgrades, listen for hidden messages. Rebalancing meeting dynamics. In lowcontext cultures, silence often indicates problems; in highcontext cultures, silence may denote respect. Leaders should learn to be comfortable with pauses and check for consensus without forcing immediate responses. Adjusting decision processes. In cultures with high power distance, decisions flow from senior leaders; in egalitarian cultures, consensus may be expected. Clarify who has authority and when input is required. The AI era: why human skills matter more Artificial intelligence can translate languages and analyze data, but its algorithms reflect the cultural biases of their training sets. Leaders will need cultural intelligence to catch and correct outputs that misinterpret expressions or promote messages inappropriate for local markets. The human skills of empathy, ethical judgment, and adaptive collaboration become critical controls, ensuring technology serves diverse teams rather than offends them. From principle to practice Building cultural intelligence is not a tickbox exercise; it requires ongoing reflection and learning. Here are some practical steps: Create culture user manuals. Ask team members to share their preferred communication styles, working hours, and feedback preferences. Document these and refer to them as you plan meetings or assign tasks. Encourage mutual mentorship. Pair senior leaders with junior colleagues from different cultures. Reverse mentoring helps senior executives recognize their blind spots and fosters empathy across generations and backgrounds. Normalize constructive conflict. Misunderstandings will happen. Encourage teams to treat them as learning opportunities rather than personal failures. Debrief after projects to discuss what communication strategies worked and what didnt. The bottom line Cultural intelligence is not a fad. Leaders who embed awareness, empathy, and adaptability into their leadership philosophy are building more than diverse teams; they are cultivating resilience, innovation, and trust. In an era of geopolitical tension and rapid technological change, these human skills will determine whose ideas cross borders and whose brands endure.
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E-Commerce
Fall brings colder weather, sweaters, pumpkin-flavored treats, and new television shows to binge-watch. Historically, TV networks used the autumn season to launch their new programming because it coincided with big advertising agencies spending schedules after a slow summer of reruns. Today, thanks to cable TV and streaming, the rules have altered, but the fall still maintains its dominanceespecially since audiences have been so well trained. Although the 2025 fall television lineup is drama-heavy, there’s still a little something for everyone. Many well-loved universes, such as Stephen Kings It, are expanding yet again, and Netflix’s enduringly popular Stranger Things is concluding. From documentaries to comedies to familiar procedural dramas, let’s take a deeper look at some of this autumns television offerings. Comedies For those who want to laugh, streamers Peacock and Hulu have your back. The former is presenting The Paper, a mockumentary spin-off of The Office starring Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore. Oscar Nuez is also reprising his role as Oscar Martinez. Twenty years later, the same documentary crew that followed Dunder Mifflin employees around has turned its focus on the Toledo Truth Teller. This Midwest newspaper is trying to make a comeback in a struggling industry. All 10 episodes of the first season were dropped on Peacock on September 4. Hulus offering is Chad Powers, starring Glen Powell in the title role. The series was inspired by Eli Manning, who went undercover at Penn State’s football tryouts. Powell took the idea and ran with it, creating the character Russ Holliday, whose bad behavior compromised his college football career. He decides to use the alias Chad Powers to get back into the game. This sitcom will premiere on the streamer on Tuesday, September 30. Documentaries For those who want to learn, PBS has long been a source of education. This fall is no exception, although the future beyond that is uncertain. Kissinger, a two-part documentary series directed by Barak Goodman, premieres on October 27 and 28 as part of the American Experience roster. It centers on the complicated legacy of Henry Kissinger, former secretary of state and national security adviser under Presidents Nixon and Ford. The American Revolution, directed by Ken Burns, focuses on our country’s beginnings. This six-part series precedes the approaching 250th anniversary of the historic event. The series premieres on November 16. It is important to note that future PBS documentaries are in jeopardy because of the loss of federal funding. Some new drama out of something old Given the current volatile state of the industry, it is a safealbeit sometimes uninspiredcreative choice to use existing intellectual property to lure audiences in. Many networks and streamers have chosen to take this route in fall 2025. (Technically, The Paper falls into this category.) Procedural drama fans will love new versions of Law & Order and 9-1-1. Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent premiered on Wednesday, September 24, on the CW. 9-1-1: Nashville hits the ABC airwaves on October 9 and stars Chris ODonnell, Jessica Capshaw, and LeAnn Rimes. CBS has two spin-offs this fall. Sheriff Country follows a character first seen in Fire Country; shes now a newly appointed small-town sheriff, played by Morena Baccarin. Boston Blue continues Danny Reagans story from Blue Bloods, but with a new beginning in Boston. Both premiere on October 17. Horror fans, get ready for some jump scares. The same creative team behind the recent It movies is doing a prequel series on HBO. Bill Skarsgrd is reprising his role as Pennywise the Clown in It: Welcome to Derry. In time for the Halloween holiday, this series premieres on October 26. Another HBO offering lives in the same universe as Mare of Easttown. Task follows FBI agent Tom Brandis, played by Mark Ruffalo, as he tries to put an end to escalating, violent robberies of drug houses. New dramas If you’re craving something new, Netflix dropped the thriller Black Rabbit on September 18. It stars Jude Law as Jake Friedken and Jason Bateman as Vince Friedken. The two brothers once owned a nighttime hot spot together, but Vinces complicated life took him away. When Jake lets him back in, everything gets chaotic, to say the least. Apple TV+s Pluribus is perfect for science fiction fans and is set to premiere on November 7. It was created by Vince Gilligan, who is best known for Breaking Bad. Carol Sturka, a tortured writer played by Rhea Seehorn, must save the world from an epidemic of happiness. FXs The Lowdown is equal parts dark comedy, crime drama, and neo-noir. Created by Sterlin Harjo, best known for Reservation Dogs, this series is loosely based on real-life citizen journalist and historian Lee Roy Chapman, who shed light on hard truths about the Tulsa Race Riots. Ethan Hawke stars as journalist Lee Raybon, who puts uncovering the truth ahead of his messy personal life. The first two episodes dropped on Hulu on September 25, and the remaining six will be released weekly. What if you could stop violence before it happens? This was the premise of a 2019 Cosmopolitan article about an impressive secret investigator. It is also the inspiration for the Apple TV+ series The Savant. Details around this series have been limited, but viewers do know that Jessica Chastain will play the title character and investigator whenever the series premieres. In the wake of the recent assignation of Charlie Kirk, Apple has decided to delay this release indefinitely. The final chapter of Stranger Things For Stranger Things fans, the 2025 fall tlevision season is bittersweet. Audiences want to know how the beloved Netflix series ends, but it is always hard to say goodbye. The final season consists of eight episodes that will be released in three parts. The first four drop on November 26. The following three will double as Christmas presents. The finale will finish out the year strong on New Year’s Eve. The action in Season 5 begins in 1987, about a year and a half after the preceding season. Vecna has unleashed destruction on Hawkins, Indiana, by opening multiple gates into the Upside Down. Now it is up to the gang to make things right.
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E-Commerce
Want more housing market stories from Lance Lamberts ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. Zillow economists just published their updated 12-month forecast, projecting that U.S. home pricesas measured by the Zillow Home Value Indexwill rise +1.2% between August 2025 and August 2026. Heading into 2025, Zillows 12-month forecast for U.S. home prices was +2.6%. However, many housing markets across the country softened faster than expected, prompting Zillow to issue several downward revisions. By April 2025, Zillow had cut its 12-month national home price outlook to -1.7%. However, in recent months, Zillow has stopped issuing downward revisions. In August, Zillow revised its 12-month outlook to +0.4%, and it is now revising that outlook to +1.2%. Sellers took a step back from the housing market in August in response to slow demand from cash-strapped home shoppers. Buyers still in the market have plenty of opportunity, especially in inventory-rich environments. But competitive momentum that has been swinging fast in buyers favor in recent months is showing signs of stopping nationwide, Kara Ng, a senior economist at Zillow, wrote in a September report. While Zillows national home price forecast is no longer negativeit isnt exactly bullish either. High housing costs continue to sideline prospective buyers, making it easier for those still in the hunt. Zillows market heat index shows the market is balanced between buyers and sellers nationwide, with less competition among buyers than in any August since 2018, Ng wrote. Homes are lingering longer before finding a buyer as well. The median time on market for a sold home is 27 daysa full week longer than last year and one day longer than pre-pandemic norms. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}})}(); Among the 300 largest U.S. metro-area housing markets, Zillow expects the biggest home price increase between August 2025 and August 2026 to occur in these 15 metros: Atlantic City, NJ 4.7% Torrington, CT 4.7% Saginaw, MI 4.6% Pottsville, PA 4.4% Rockford, IL 4.3% Kingston, NY 4.3% Concord, NH 4.3% Knoxville, TN 4.2% Hartford, CT 4.1% New Haven, CT 4.0% Hilton Head Island, SC 4.0% Vineland, NJ 4.0% Fayetteville, AR 3.9% Norwich, CT 3.9% Youngstown, OH 3.7% Among the 300 largest U.S. metro-area housing markets, Zillow expects the biggest home price decline between August 2025 and August 2026 to occur in these 15 metros: Houma, LA -7.9% Lake Charles, LA -7.5% Lafayette, LA -5.3% New Orleans, LA -4.8% Beaumont, TX -4.5% Shreveport, LA -4.5% Alexandria, LA -4.5% Odessa, TX -3.3% Corpus Christi, TX -3.2% San Francisco, CA -3.0% Santa Rosa, CA -2.7% Monroe, LA -2.7% Chico, CA -2.6% Texarkana, TX -2.6% Austin, TX -2.4% U.S. home prices, as measured by the Zillow Home Value Index, are currently down +0.01% year over year. If Zillows latest 12-month outlook (+1.2%) comes to fruition, it would represent a tiny acceleration. Below is what the current year-over-year rate of home price growth looks like for single-family and condo home prices. The Sun Belt, in particular Southwest Florida, is currently the epicenter of housing market weakness right now. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}})}();
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E-Commerce
Donald Trump surprised many in August when he made the government the owner of 9.9% of the troubled U.S. chip maker Intel. The administration paid for the Intel equity using $8.9 billion of the Biden administration’s CHIPs and Science Act grant money that had already been earmarked for Intel. The new grant money comes on top of the $2.2 billion in CHIPS Act grants Intel already received, bringing the governments total investment to $11.1 billion. Intel’s finance chief David Zinsner said the governments investment is meant to incentivize Intel to keep majority control over its contract chip-fabrication business. As part of the deal, the government gets a five-year warrant to buy 5% more Intel shares if the companys ownership of its chip foundry operation falls below 51%. What would a newly elected Democratic administration do with the governments stake? Chances are good that it would keep it. Heres why. Interestingly, it was a pair of high-profile progressivesBernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warrenwho originally suggested the government take an ownership stake in chip companies that took CHIPS Act grants. They proposed an amendment to the CHIPs Act that would have required grant recipients to issue warrants or equity stakes to the Federal Government, as Sanders put it in floor remarks in July of 2022. The amendment, which never made it into the bill, would also have prevented CHIPS Act recipients from using the funds to buy back stock, offshore U.S. jobs, or to discourage unionization. Its opponents, like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, warned that the amendment would turn innovative manufacturers into state-owned enterprises and harm U.S. competitiveness. Sanders, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, came out in favor of the Trump administrations ownership share in Intel, saying that the U.S. taxpayers ought to get a reasonable return when tax dollars are sent to the aid of a private company. But the Trump administrations approval of the disbursement of CHIPs and Science Act grants was not conditioned on anything else that would guarantee that Intel put the money toward achieving goals that are in the countrys interest. U.S. lawmakers, especially small-government conservatives, have, historically, been hesitant to back private companies, out of fear of appearing as if the government is picking winners in the marketplace. But Intel, which represents Americas best chance to anchor advanced AI chip making on U.S. soil as the competition with China to lead AI heats up, was seen as a special case. When it comes to manufacturing the chips, Intel has fallen far behind Taiwan-based TSMC. TSMC, which makes almost all of the GPUs used for AI now, is based in Taiwan, just 80 miles from mainland China. For years, U.S. military analysts have feared the day when China invades the island. Letting the free market be free? Or not? Still, the governments investment has been met with criticism. The Cato Institutes Scott Lincicome writes in a Washington Post op-ed that the deal represents a dangerous turn in American industrial policy, adding that it abandons decades of market-oriented principles and risks politicizing Intels decision-making. With the U.S. government as its largest shareholder, Intel will face constant pressure to align corporate decisions with the goals of whatever political party is in power, he cautions. The next political party in power could be the Democratic Party, if it can articulate a populist platform that doesnt sound like establishment politics. Using that logic, the next Democratic administration could be led by someone from the progressive wing of the party. Actually, a left-leaning Democratic administration might decide to leave the governments Intel stake in place, but for very different reasons than the ones motivating Trump. The left has been somewhat more comfortable with interventionist market policies in the past (see: anti-trust interventions, single payer healthcare). A new Democratic administration in 2028 might not sell off the governments stake in Intel. But it might add some conditions to any new government investment in the company. It might also take a hard look at Intels progress toward fabricating TSMC-level chips in America, and adjust the terms of the investment accordingly.
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E-Commerce
As a small child in the 1980s, I tuned in weekly to see the hilarious antics of the Golden Girls. I loved seeing the friendship and support between the three 50-something housemates of Blanche (Rue McClanahan), Rose (Betty White), and Dorothy (Bea Arthur), while the affectionate bickering between Dorothy and her unfiltered 80-something mother Sophia (Estelle Getty) always struck me as mother-daughter relationship goals. While the show was ahead of its time in myriad ways, one important legacy it has given Generation X is a blueprint for adult communal living. Our generation understands what a Golden Girls retirement means, and we have all likely spent some happy hours daydreaming about our ideal cast of friends and family to share a wicker-and-pastel Miami home with. But co-living situations like those shared by the Golden Girls arent just the stuff of TV and daydreams. They can offer excellent benefits to adults both before and after retirement and are well worth exploring, no matter where you currently are in your career. Heres how embracing the Golden Girls lifestyle can offer you more stability and happiness. Housing costs In the world of The Golden Girls, the Miami house belongs to Blanche, and she initially advertises for two roommatesDorothy and Roseto help pay the mortgage. (Sophia comes to live with them after her retirement home burned down.) When the show debuted in September, 1985, the median home price in the United States was $84,700, and the median income for a single woman householder was $13,660. That median income for an individual was about 16% of the median home price. Considering these numbers, its understandable why Blanche, Dorothy, and Rose all needed each others help affording housing and other costs to live in Miami. As of the second quarter of 2025, the median home price in the U.S. is a staggering $512,800, while the median income for a single woman householder is $60,440or about 11.8% of the median home price. (The median income for a single man is significantly higher at $83,260). This sad reality of our current housing situation highlights one of the most obvious benefits of living like the Golden Girls. Pooling your resources can help you all better afford high housing costs and let your money go farther. Social support Whenever Dorothy gets frustrated with her mother, she jokingly threatens to send Sophia back to the Shady Pines retirement home. The audience knows that Dorothys threat has no teeth because Sophia was miserable at Shady Pines. The older woman was lonely there and did not have the social and emotional outlet among the other patients that she finds with her daughter and their friends in the Miami house. Theres a profound truth behind the jokes about Shady Pines. Human beings crave connection and companionship with each other, and we get pretty down when we dont have it. This is why loneliness and social isolation are serious problems for aging adults. More social interaction, recreation, and improved social supports have all been found to improve the mental health of lonely seniors. Health benefits The four Golden Girls experience various illnesses and health scares (including a truly groundbreaking episode where Rose must get tested for AIDS) throughout the series, and not every health problem can be fixed in a 22 minute episode. But the bond between these four friends is helpful when they are in poor health, since whoever is ill does not feel alone. Research has found that loneliness can exacerbate health problems, while a lack of social support can lead to self-medicating behavior or further self-isolation. Specifically, social isolation is linked to the following health problems: Anxiety Depression Heart disease Memory problems Cognitive decline Weakened immune function High blood pressure Dementia Death A living situation where you share space with people you like and want to spend time with can help protect your mental and physical health. Thats because you and your housemates can offer each other social and physical support when neededhelping you feel like part of a community. And if that includes the occasional midnight slice of cheesecake on the lanai, all the better. Thank you for being a friend Adopting a Golden Girls lifestyle has so much to recommend it, whether you wait to do so after you retire or gather your friends together right now. Sharing housing expenses will make your cost of living much cheaper and could also reduce other important expenses, such as food, transportation, and childcare. The social support offered by a Golden Girls style living situation can help improve both your mental and physical health, and be fun and rewarding, to boot. Now you just need to perfect your St. Olaf stories.
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E-Commerce
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