Have you ever moved to a new country, convinced you'd adapted perfectly — only to discover the cultural gap was hiding in plain sight? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, The Auto Ethnographer sits down with Dr. Jerome Dumetz, one of the world's most respected voices in intercultural management and cross-cultural communication.

A self-described "consulting professor," Jerome Dumetz has spent decades bridging the gap between academic theory and the real-world management challenges faced by international professionals. As Vice Rector for International Affairs at a leading Czech university, and having lectured at approximately 25 universities across Europe, Russia, North America, and Asia, he brings rare front-line insight into what it truly means to work, lead, and live across cultures.

🔑 IN THIS EPISODE (Part 1):

• What it means to be a "consulting professor" — blending academic rigor with hands-on corporate consulting
• Why cultural adaptation comes down to two factors: individual cultural competence and the cultural gap between your home and host country
• The dangerous "Illusion of Blending In" — why moving to a similar culture can produce greater culture shock than relocating somewhere radically different
• The "elephant in the room full of mice" — how senior expat executives are often shielded from authentic cultural friction by their position and status
• Why many cross-cultural trainers are still using models from the 1980s — and why that's a problem for today's global professionals
• False cognates and cross-cultural miscommunication: real-world examples from French, Spanish, German, and Russian contexts
• Dr. Dumetz's own expat journey: France → Netherlands → USA → Canada → Russia

📚 CONNECT WITH DR. JEROME DUMETZ:

Post a comment on Jerome’s LinkedIn post and receive a FREE copy of sample cases: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7442114253852921856/

🌐 Website: www.crossculturalstudies.org

📖 His book on Amazon US (also available in other Amazon country sites): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GPDJCKXJ

🌐 LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerome-dumetz/

🌐 Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jdumetz-consultingprofessor

🎙️ ABOUT THE AUTO ETHNOGRAPHER: The Auto Ethnographer explores the human stories of expats and global professionals navigating life and work across cultures. From boardrooms to back alleys, these conversations uncover universally applicable lessons that span borders, oceans, and cultures. Whether you're planning your first move abroad or you're a seasoned global citizen, there's something here for you.

Learn more about how to move overseas by taking the Your Ticket Abroad class by the Auto Ethnographer. More information can be found here: Course: "Your Ticket Abroad" — The Auto Ethnographer

🔔 Subscribe and don't miss Part 2 of this conversation with Dr. Jerome Dumetz — coming soon!