Seminar: "Building Better Teams in an Intercultural Environment"

• When: 12:30-14:00 on Thursday, August 25, 2016
• Where: Lab 3, Seminar Room C700
• Whom: All OIST community are welcome, although researchers are strongly encouraged to attend.
• Speaker: Ian Mathieson (Director of Operations for Boyle Street Community Services, Edmonton, Canada)
• No registration is required.

          In this session we will explore the dynamics of teams in the workplace.  Working styles, communication types and intercultural differences all contribute to challenges in building effective teams. When we consider the barriers to team effectiveness it is a wonder that anything gets done.  Nonetheless, there are examples of highly effective but diverse teams. This interactive session will consider the strategies for getting diverse intercultural teams working well together and sustaining a healthy work environment.

About the speaker:

          Ian Mathieson (B.A., M.A.) has been a facilitator of equity programming, intercultural competency education, conflict transformation, leadership development, human resources and organizational change for over ten years.  He has presented to thousands of adults and youth in diverse environments. He is well-versed in techniques that use intercultural communication, intercultural conflict transformation, adult education, popular education and community dialogue. Ian has provided expertise for numerous organizations including universities, corporations, law enforcement, educational boards, health care institutions and community NGOs. His academic background includes studies in anthropology, international peace and conflict, and equity education.  Ian currently works as the Director of Operations for Boyle Street Community Services, a large inner-city agency in Edmonton, Canada that assists people challenged by homelessness and poverty.