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Keynote Speeches |
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Iris I. Varner is a Professor Emeritus and Director of the International Business Institute at Illinois State University, USA. She earned the Staatsexamen from the University of Freiburg, Germany, an M.A., MBA and Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. She has given lectures and seminars around the globe. She was an ad hoc professor at the University of Lugano, Switzerland, the Dresden University of Technology, Germany, and Shanghai University. She served as President of the Association for Business Communication in 2000 to 2001, She received the Outstanding Membership Award and the Meada Gibbs Outstanding Teaching Award, and was named a Fellow of the Association for Business Communication. Varner authored over 100 articles. She is the author of Contemporary Business Report Writing, and co-author (with Linda Beamer) of Intercultural Communication in the Global Workplace. |
East is East and West is West And Yet The Twain CAN Meet: Paths to Effective Intercultural Business Communication Intercultural Business Communication is an ancient field. However, intercultural business communication as an academic discipline is rather new. This presentation will compare the Western and Eastern approach to communication and discuss how the two sides can meet in spite of cultural differences. As an academic discipline, intercultural business communication has its roots in the West. Its founders come out of the western tradition of problem solving which is based on Aristotelian Logic. Eastern thought approaches problems differently. Rather than isolating each aspect of the problems and searching for THE best solution, people are encouraged to look at the situation holistically. Eastern thought focuses on finding our essence; Aristotelian logic is more outer directed and focuses on the “best” solution. In international business these different approaches can create huge problems, and so far we have not done a very good job of reconciling the differences. Typically, both sides are encouraged to learn about each other and understand the reasoning for the other side’s world view. After they have learned about each other, they sit down and discuss their differences. But understanding the other side may not be sufficient. What, if they cannot agree? The presentation will explore several paths to overcome the hurdles of our cultural differences and suggest a new approach. |
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Garr Reynolds is an internationally acclaimed communications consultant and the author of the best-selling “Presentation Zen.” Garr's approach to communication takes the principles and lessons from the Zen arts and from the natural world in Japan to reveal simple concrete tips for communicating — and living — better. His fresh approach has inspired millions to communicate more clearly, creatively, and visually. A sought-after speaker and consultant worldwide, his clients include many in the Fortune 500. An award-winning designer, writer, and musician, he currently holds the position of Professor of Management and Design at Kansai Gaidai University. Garr is a former corporate trainer for Sumitomo Electric Industries in Osaka, and the former Manager for Worldwide User Group Relations at Apple, Inc. in Silicon Valley. A longtime student of the Zen arts and resident of Japan, he lives in the beautiful countryside of Nara with his wife, two children, and two Siamese cats. |
21st Century Presentation: The Importance of Storytelling Garr Reynolds's famous visual and engaging approach to presentations challenges the conventional wisdom of making presentations with multimedia in today’s world. His 21st-century approach encourages you to think differently and more creatively about the preparation, design, and delivery of your presentations. In his presentation Garr shares lessons and perspectives that draw upon practical advice from the fields of cognitive science, communication, business, and the traditional Zen arts. There is no excuse for being boring ever! |
Iris
Varner
Garr
Reynolds
