04/02/2026
My neighbours' baby just turned 100!
Wait, what? I was confused, too.
Then they explained...
In Chinese tradition, a baby’s 100th day is celebrated as a meaningful milestone — honouring life, resilience, and new beginnings. 🌱
This lovely tradition brings me back to the idea of a traveller’s mind. Similar to a beginner’s mind, but with cultural awareness — an openness to difference, a respect for context, and a willingness to learn without assumption.
As a leadership coach, I’ve worked with people from over 45 different nationalities — from Azebaijan to Agentina, from Cameroon to Canada, and many places in between. Across cultures, one truth stands out: leaders of multinational teams are most effective when they lead like travellers, not tourists.
For leaders working across borders and belief systems, a traveller’s mind isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s a leadership capability.
So, if you're a new leader of a multinational team, here are a few tips to consider in your first 100 days:
🌍 Listen before interpreting — behaviour always has cultural context
🌍 Ask curious questions instead of making quick assumptions
🌍 Remember that trust, authority, and respect look different across cultures
🌍 Create space for multiple voices, not just the loudest or most familiar
🌍 Lead with humility: your way is a way, not the way
Maybe leadership today is less about having the answers — and more about staying open enough to keep learning.
Let me know what you've learned as you've led across cultures. And if you need some help to figure it out, book in for a chat to discover how coaching can help: https://calendly.com/happinessexpress/30min
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💛I’m Sarah, leadership & career coach at Happiness Express.
👣I help leaders go from ‘I wish I was’ to ‘I am’ by helping them nurture an empowering mindset and adopt winning behaviours so they can truly shine.
www.happinessexpresscoaching.com