I help people communicate successfully
in their own language, a foreign language, and across cultures.
Events and News
New YouTube Channel
I started a YouTube channel in May 2025 to publish educational videos about
- intercultural communication and expat life
- business skills and job search across cultures
- and foreign language learning.
I hope you’ll enjoy my videos. If you do, please SUBSCRIBE to my channel:
Nomadic Diaries Podcast – Interview with me
Doreen Cumberford offers a wonderful podcast about expat life abroad providing insights, personal stories, and advice. I was interviewed by Doreen about
- adaptation to different cultures
- intercultural communication
- and how to communicate more effectively across cultures.
You can listen to Doreen’s conversation with me about living and working in different countries and getting adjusted to a new culture here:
https://www.nomadicdiariespodcast.com/adaptation-the-ultimate-superpower/
Join my FREE Expat/ Culture/ ESL Zoom Meetups from anywhere in the world
(almost every last Friday of the month)
(12:30 – 1:30 pm US Eastern time/ 6:30 – 7:30 Central European time)
As a language teacher, intercultural trainer, and communication skills coach by profession, I offer these free meetups once a month to share my knowledge and experience, and to offer my advice. I also look forward to hearing your stories and the advice you can give others.
I usually have a brief presentation on a specific topic each time (as mentioned below) in addition to our group discussions and your questions as an expat, international traveler, or international student studying abroad. Our topics generally revolve around:
• daily life situations living abroad
• differences in culture and communication
• getting adjusted at home, at school, and at work
• making new friends
• communicating successfully at work/ at university
• understanding how to work with other cultures more effectively
• understanding different cultural dimensions
• becoming more confident at communicating across cultures
Interested? Contact me directly for the Zoom registration link: https://renataurbantraining.com/contact/
Topics 2025:
- January 31st, 2025: New year, new job – everything you need to know about resumes, cover letters, and interviews in the US compared to other countries
- February 28th, 2025: Introduction to intercultural communication and how to build intercultural competence
- March 28th, 2025: Idioms and other common expressions in English – how to use them in business and in daily life. How do I say what in which situation? Let’s talk situational idiomatic language!
- April 25th, 2025: Culture Shock – expatriation and repatriation culture shock, what it is, how to prepare, and how to alleviate it
- May 30th, 2025: Presentation skills in the US compared to other countries
- June 27th: The expat partner’s life after the “honeymoon phase” of expatriation: what now? Meet other expat partners and join our discussion forum
- July 25th: Summer ESL Club – Join this safe environment to practice your English for small talk, meeting neighbors, making friends, visiting stores, health checkups, dealing with contractors, networking, and more
- August 29th: Interview preparation (focused on the US + comparison to other countries)
Global DISC Assessment & Coaching
Discover your own preferences and learn how to communicate effectively with others in business and in daily life
From $499
YEAR-END OFFER: GET $100 OFF IN NOV/ DEC 2024!!!
Contact me for details:
www.RenataUrbanTraining.com/contact/
WHAT IS GLOBAL DISC?
It is an ICF accredited, multi award-winning behavioral model explaining how personality type AND cultural background influence all three layers of identity: WHAT, HOW, and WHY: WHAT we do, HOW we behave, and WHY we act, feel, and think the way we do. The assessment is the basis for communication skills coaching that enables you to communicate effectively with others in business and in daily life. For individuals and groups.
WHAT IS Growth 2.0?
Measure, visualize, and optimize the three invisible forces that make or break a team: cognitive diversity, psychological safety, and motivational drive. A 100% anonymous assessment and team debriefing ensure psychological safety while providing invaluable awareness and strategies for growth. For groups of 5 and more.
WHO BENEFITS FROM A GLOBAL DISC ASSESSMENT?
Companies (executives, colleagues, international teams, individuals) and private individuals/ couples/ groups.
HOW CAN GLOBAL DISC AND THE GROWTH 2.0 PROGRAM HELP ME?
Self-awareness is always the first step in successful communication at home and abroad, in business or in your private life, for yourself or for teambuilding. This is particularly important for geographically dispersed teams and businesses working online. The lack of in-person contact makes trust and relationship building and communicating successfully even more important these days. Once you understand WHY you feel, behave, and react in a certain way, you can avoid conflicts with others, benefit from improved collaboration with others, and build successful teams. The intercultural aspect of Global DISC is particularly important for international teams, companies that have subsidiaries and/ or clients abroad, or individuals who work in an international environment.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST AND WHAT IS INCLUDED?
BASIC PACKAGE: The cost for one person is $499 (+$150 for every additional person). Larger teams and teambuilding events on request.
- Global DISC online assessment
- Individual Global DISC report
- Growth 2.0 online assessment (for teams only)
- Growth 2.0 team report(s) (for teams only)
- 2-hr self-study debrief video to better understand your report
- 1-hr individual or group coaching session to discuss details of the video and go over activities and action points
- 3-month online self-study training program ‘Quest’ to continue your journey
- 1-hr individual or group follow-up coaching session
Continued support and advice
Additional one-on-one and group coaching sessions available for a deeper dive, a situational approach, and team growth strategies ($150/ hr or $1,200 for 10-hr packages).
The Culture Chat (bi-weekly) hosted by the Interchange Institute
FREE platform for intercultural trainers and those working in an intercultural environment
Different topics every time.
Watch a video of a recent culture chat in which I participated:
https://interchangeinstitute.org/culture-chat
Learn more about the Interchange Institute:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-interchange-institute
Upcoming meetings in 2025:
Wed, May 28th: 10:00 am – 11:00am ET
Wed, June 11th: 10:00 am – 11:00am ET
Wed, June 25th: 10:00 am – 11:00am ET
Wed, July 9thth: 10:00 am – 11:00 am ET
Learn German Your Way
Self-study at your own pace and benefit from one-on-one online sessions with an experienced German teacher and native speaker of the language. Get the best of both worlds by choosing my Video Package System.
What is included?
• unlimited access to one or two videos for each unit
• PDFs of the slides shown in the video
• additional training materials as needed
• an end of unit review for self-assessment
• two one-on-one lessons on Zoom per unit to practice and ask questions
What is the cost?
• $199 per unit
How many units do I have to study?
• study as many units as you like (no minimum)
• start with the introductory unit to gain a basic understanding of the German language, study basic grammar and vocabulary (foundation)
• continue with units 1-12 to systematically build grammar, vocabulary, and speaking practice of the basic proficiency level A1
• add test preparation sessions after unit 12 to prepare for the A1 proficiency test (can be taken at any Goethe institute worldwide)
• add job-specific or interest-based one-on-one sessions at any time
• study fast and do all A1 units in one year or stretch your learning over several years – your choice
Any questions?
Contact me for a free Zoom consultation https://renataurbantraining.com/contact/
Join one of my German Conversation Groups
Do you already speak German well enough to participate in conversations (proficiency levels A2/ B1), but you are a little hesitant or insecure at times? Then join my A2/ B1 group on Fridays (11am – 12pm ET)!
Are you an advanced speaker of German but need more opportunity to talk and become more fluent by participating in a weekly conversation group? Then join my B2 group on Wednesdays (1:30 – 2:30pm ET)!
We usually meet on Zoom, but for those who live in South Florida (near Boca Raton), we also organize in-person meetings in winter.
Weekly activities include:
• guided conversations with me as a moderator (or translator when needed)
• new vocabulary as it comes up in conversations
• weekly follow-up email with a summary of the Zoom chat (including all new vocabulary, translations, links, and additional information)
• occasional review of grammar topics as they come up in conversation
• additional resources as needed
How much does it cost?
• $150 – 200 for a package of 10 sessions
Can I try it for free?
Yes, absolutely! I’ll be happy to welcome you as a guest for a few times. Contact me directly to get the Zoom link:
Watch the recording of this webinar
Doing Business with Another English-Speaking Country – Pitfalls and Solutions – Part 1: the US and the UK
Two Countries Divided by One Common Language
A saying often attributed to Anglo-Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950), which is still very applicable today. I am taking a closer look at this topic in my webinar series for the World Trade Center Palm Beach starting with an economic, linguistic, and cultural comparison of the US and the UK, why there are so many unsuccessful business ventures and failed expat assignments between those two countries, and how some major linguistic and cultural pitfalls can be avoided.
To learn more about this topic, you can READ MY ARTICLE HERE:
https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/doing-business-with-another-english-speaking-country-pitfalls-and-solutions
And to watch the recording of the webinar, CLICK HERE:
Meet EU – FIU Event – Working in a European non-profit Organization
Watch the recording of this FIU event on cultural differences, the application process, and successfully working across cultures
I had the pleasure and honor of being the moderator of this event guiding our audience through dialogue with our panelists: Annabelle Ballot Pottier (French American Chamber of Commerce Florida), Nevio Boccanera (Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast), Brandon Bohrn (Bertelsmann Stiftung Germany), and Aaron Rosen (World Affairs Council Miami).
You can watch the recording of this event here:
https://miamieuc.fiu.edu/youtube-1/2022/meet-eu-working-in-european-non-profit-organization/
Meet EU – FIU Event – How to apply for a Job in the EU
Watch the recording of this FIU event on cultural differences, resume writing, and interviews
I was invited to be a speaker on a panel of experts to talk about intercultural communication, pitfalls of cross-cultural commuinication with Germans, and tips and tricks for the application process in Germany including resume writing and interviewing.
I was joined by two more experts, Annabel Endo (Spain) and Stefano Vetralla (Italy), to share their insights as well as our moderator, Nelly Leon (USA), for a lively discussion. You can watch the recording of this event on the FIU website or directly on YouTube:
Recording of my Webinar
Doing Business in Germany and Communicating Successfully with Germans
Germany is an important trading partner for the US. Many companies headquartered in Germany have subsidiaries in the US and vice versa. After China and the United States, Germany is the world’s third-largest exporter and its highly developed social market economy makes it the largest consumer market in the European Union with a population of just over 83 million as of Jan. 1st, 2021. However, there are pitfalls of doing business with Germany ranging from EU restrictions, different environmental standards, and lengthy bureaucratic processes to linguistic challenges and cultural differences.
Learn more about Germany, German language and culture, and how to do business and communicate effectively with your German business partners and colleagues. Also learn how to build intercultural competence and thrive in a global business environment.
This webinar was organized by the GABC (German American Business Chamber) in Miami. Watch the recording on their YouTube channel:
Recording of my Webinar
Benefits of Diverse Teams and How to Manage Them Well
Diversity – one of the top 10 buzzwords today. Everyone wants it, but very few really understand what this means, how to deal with ‘diversity and inclusion’, and how to really benefit from having a diverse team or staff. The visual representation of diversity on the surface does not provide any advantages other than a ‘photo-op’ for an image campaign, which might even backfire. The true advantages of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) can only be achieved by what I call “living and breathing the lifestyle of DEI” and the attitude of “do it like you mean it”. This is a long journey that requires a lot of effort and commitment, but it is well worth it. According to two McKinsey reports, ‘Why Diversity Matters’ (2015) and ‘Delivering through Diversity’ (2018), diverse companies and teams that manage their diversity well consistently show increased profits, more creativity and innovation, better customer insight, more objectivity and less cognitive bias, higher level of employee satisfaction, a boost in recognition, value, and global image, and a higher success rate in employee retention and attracting new talent.
READ MY FIRST ARTICLE HERE:
https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/diversity-and-inclusion-what-is-it-and-why-do-i-want-it
While well-managed diverse teams are the highest performing teams, poorly-managed diverse teams show the worst performance. So, what can managers do to reap the benefits of their diverse teams and how can they build successful diverse teams from scratch?
READ MY SECOND ARTICLE HERE:
https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/benefits-of-diverse-teams-and-how-to-manage-them-well
If you want to learn more about this topic, watch the recording of my webinar in collaboration with the World Trade Center Palm Beach.
WATCH THE RECORDING HERE:
3-day Webinar – Watch the Recordings
Communicating successfully across cultures: 3 days – 3 trainers – 3 perspectives
by Renata Urban (the West), Sameeh Gadallah (the Middle East), and Kirtika van Hunen (the East)
This 3-day webinar series provided a unique insight into intercultural communication from three different perspectives. Country-specific training or cross-cultural communication training often focuses on one particular country (host country) from the perspective of one country (home country). This gives a very limited perspective, whereas intercultural competence training provides an enlarged comfort zone and a wider perspective for successfully doing business abroad and effectively interacting with others.
Watch PART 1 of the webinar series (Renata Urban – the West) here:
Watch PART 2 of the webinar series (Sameeh Gadallah – The Middle East) here:
Watch PART 3 of the webinar series (Kirtika van Hunen – The East) here:
Watch the interview
Intercultural Communication for Brazilian and Hispanic Entrepreneurs in the US
Watch the recording of my presentation for https://brazilianbeat.us and my interview with Suzanne Thorson, Mary Sol Gonzalez with https://www.heiflorida.org, and Aloysio Vasconcellos. Thank you for inviting me, Suzanne! What a pleasure to speak with you and the other panelists.
Recording of my Webinar
Doing Business in Germany and Communicating Successfully with Germans
by Renata Urban
German communication style, leadership style, preferred way of presenting, negotiating and problem-solving, their need for privacy, space, and consensus, their desire for formality and following rules, their love for knowledge and details, and their need to take things seriously can easily derail business negotiations when you come unprepared.
I covered many aspects of “Doing Business in Germany and Communicating Successfully with Germans” as well as developing intercultural competence to communicate more successfully across cultures.
Read my article on this topic here:
https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/doing-business-in-germany
Watch the recording here:
Recording of my Webinar
Master Cross-cultural Communication When Doing Business in the Middle East
by Renata Urban
Did you miss my webinar? The recording is now available online:
https://vimeo.com/546095310
Cross-cultural training for a particular country and general intercultural awareness and competence training to effectively communicate with others can help you avoid pitfalls and increase your success rate of doing business across borders and cultures.
This webinar focuses on intercultural communication when doing business in the Middle East. The purpose of this event in collaboration with the WTCPB was to explore culture, cultural perception, and intercultural communication in general as well as discuss examples and practical applications of concepts of intercultural communication for doing business and communicating successfully in the Middle East in a dialogue with my special guest, Rose Sager, the Trade Representative at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Listen to the Interview
What does a language teacher, intercultural coach, and communication skills trainer do?
I often get that question and was able to answer it on the Brian Rusk ESPN Radio Show ‘The Rusk Report’. Brian also spoke with Al Zucaro about our webinar series for the World Trade Center Palm Beach.
Click here to listen:
https://www.radio.com/espn1520/hosts/the-rusk-report-with-brian-rusk (scroll down to March 28th, 2021)
Recording of my Webinar
Cross-cultural Communication and Global DISC
When communicating with others, what is more important – culture or personality?
by Renata Urban
Did you miss my webinar? The recording is now available online:
Learn more about personality, culture, cross-cultural communication, intercultural competence, Global DISC, and how to communicate successfully with others. In collaboration with the World Trade Center Palm Beach, I am offering a webinar series on cross-cultural communication, intercultural competence, and international business.
To read the article (part 1), click here:
https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/culture-or-personality
To read the article (part 2), click here:
Recording of my Webinar
Intercultural Communication
I was invited by the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce to speak about what is culture and intercultural communication, how to build intercultural knowledge and competence for successful communication in international business and teams, and to provide stories, details, and examples about practical applications of intercultural communication.
Watch the recording here:
Articles on International Business and Cross-cultural Communication on the WTCPB website
As a partner of the World Trade Center Palm Beach (WTCPB) and a contributor, I am publishing articles on the WCTPB website on a regular basis starting January 2021. All articles are about international business, cross-cultural communication, and related topics. The articles will be accessible from my WTCPB profile page:
https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/renata
Read my articles here:
https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/protocol-vs-cultural-competence
https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/the-1001-tales-of-normal-in-international-business
https://www.wtcpalmbeach.com/post/culture-or-personality
What’s next for remote work: an analysis of 2,000 tasks, 800 jobs, and nine countries
Cultural Awareness – a must-have trait for C-suites executives and board members
Why the French love to complain
What I wish my Japanese colleagues knew about working as a foreigner in Japan
Speaking multiple languages at home – a speech and language therapist talks about bilingualism
https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/multiple-languages-slt/zj8fxbk
Book recommendation (Diversity & Inclusion)
Use your difference to make a difference by Tayo Rockson
The best description of the book are Tayo’s own words about his book. He says: “The goal of Use Your Difference to Make a Difference is to strengthen self-awareness, acknowledge biases, connect with others in a meaningful way, and celebrate the differences around us all. […] This book is a roadmap for navigating the path towards moral courage, compassion, and accountability. […] Culturally intelligent communicators realize that not everyone views the world through the same cultural lens, they do not perpetuate biases and stereotypes. […] This book provides you with the knowledge and the practical skills to transcend barriers, bridge cultures, and cultivate strong relationships with anyone, anywhere.”
Book recommendation (in German)
I think I spider (Ich glaube ich spinne) by Andreas Hock
This is a brilliant and quite entertaining book for everyone who speaks German or knows someone who does and would like to surprise them with a neat little gift. This well-researched and skillfully written read pokes fun at the unstoppable rise of the English language and its invasion of the German language. Readers can also enjoy funny comparisons of both languages including cognates and false friends, misunderstood translations, and failed attempts of advertising messages in English used in Germany. Enjoy reading!
Contact me for a free consultation
