Beyond Good Intentions: Leading with Cultural Intelligence | EP70

What does real leadership look like in a multicultural world?
Not just awareness. Not just intention.
Understanding. Respect. Action.

In this episode, Brigitte Skeene joins Christy Honeycutt for a grounded, honest conversation on what it really takes to lead across difference—without reducing people to checkboxes, labels, or assumptions.

This is not a surface-level conversation about inclusion.
It’s a deeper look at culture, belonging, identity, and the invisible dynamics shaping how people experience work every day.

Together, they unpack what leaders often miss:
Why emotional intelligence alone is no longer enough
Why culture is more than ethnicity
And why respect without understanding can still fall short

From Indigenous ways of knowing to the power of cultural intelligence, Brigitte brings a human-centered perspective that challenges organizations to stop confusing intention with impact.

We also get into the real conversations:
Belonging. Bias. Systems. Trust. Hiring.
And the truth?
If leadership is not changing people’s lived experience, it is not going far enough.

If you are leading people, building teams, or shaping culture in today’s environment—this is not theory.
This is the work.

• Emotional intelligence matters—but it’s not enough on its own

• Cultural intelligence shifts leaders from judgment to understanding

• Culture goes beyond ethnicity—it shapes how we think, act, and connect

• The Golden Rule is limited—practice the Platinum Rule instead

• Wanting to be respectful ≠ being respectful

• Belonging and authenticity can be in tension at work

• Indigenous ways of knowing offer lessons on balance, time, and community

• Inclusion becomes performative without real accountability

• Inclusive hiring starts with culture—not just job posts

• If people have to change to “fit,” they don’t truly belong

• Leadership means making space for overlooked voices

• Real change happens when awareness turns into action

  00:00 Introduction & Brigitte’s story
  03:05 Identity, belonging & personal journey
  10:30 Why EQ is no longer enough
  11:12 What culture really means beyond ethnicity
  14:35 The 4 dimensions of cultural intelligence (CQ)
  17:31 Golden Rule vs. Platinum Rule
  20:25 When intention becomes performative
  22:01 Deep listening & the talking stick
  23:49 Why inclusion is urgent for leaders
  26:49 Why “fit” is the wrong goal
  28:31 The uncomfortable truth leaders must face
  29:33 How to start practicing CQ
  31:17 Final thoughts on leadership & belonging

| Connect with Us |
Follow Brigitte Skeene:
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brigittes-skeene-recrutement/
Facebook - https://facebook.com/brigitte.skeene
Instagram - Brigitte Skeene (@olivalex) • Instagram profile
Website - https://talentiq.ca/

(Brigitte Skeene is a leader in cultural intelligence and inclusive leadership, helping organizations move beyond surface-level diversity efforts toward deeper understanding, respect, and meaningful change. Her work integrates human-centered leadership with practical strategies that transform how teams connect, collaborate, and perform.)

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