Over 100 McMaster colleagues join the University of Amsterdam’s Guido de Wilde for Cultural Intelligence workshops

On Wednesday, April 23 and Thursday, April 24, the Office of International Affairs (OIA) hosted a series of three hybrid workshops on Enhancing Your Cultural Intelligence: Navigating Cultural Differences for Intercultural Success. Facilitator Guido de Wilde, Manager, Student Experience and Engagement and U21 Student Mobility Officer, of the University of Amsterdam (UvA), led the three workshops: one tailored towards McMaster faculty, staff of the MacPherson Institute, and others interested in cultural intelligence in the classroom; one tailored towards members of McMaster’s Global Ambassador Program; and one tailored towards McMaster staff with an international portfolio. The sessions were designed to help participants better understand the components of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) – specifically Drive, Knowledge, Strategy, and Action – to strengthen communication and collaboration across our increasingly diverse communities.

With over 100 attendees across the two days, the workshops were well attended by members of McMaster. Colleagues from Faculties such as Engineering, Health Sciences, Business, and Social Sciences joined in person and online, alongside staff from offices including McMaster’s Student Success Centre, Registrar’s Office, International and Exchange Student Experience, the McMaster English Language Development Office, and Centre for Human Rights and Restorative Justice.  

“It was such a wonderful workshop – informative, lighthearted, and Guido was a brilliant presenter” said Candy Hui (Senior Associate Registrar, Student Recruitment), who attended Thursday’s session for international office staff. Her colleague, Gemma Spadafora (Assistant Registrar, Student Recruitment) felt similarly, stating: “I really enjoyed the learning experience and the interactive components. The group discussions were incredibly valuable as they provided diverse perspectives, fostered a collaborative environment, and helped reinforce the material making the learning process engaging and fun.” 

A follow-up survey further showed that over 90% of participants would recommend the session to a colleague, with the interactive exercises and discussions, real-world application examples, and deep dives into CQ components identified as the workshop’s most valuable aspects. Over 90% of survey participants reported feeling more confident applying CQ strategies in their professional roles after attending the workshop.  

This initiative marks another exciting collaboration within McMaster’s 26-year relationship with the University of Amsterdam. Dr. Bonny Ibhawoh, Vice-Provost International, and Paul Leegsma, OIA Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Special Projects, recently participated in UvA’s International Staff Week 2025. This trip also marked Guido de Wilde’s second visit to McMaster within the year, as the OIA welcomed Guido and Willeke Jenninga (Manager, Global Partnerships, Office of International Student Affairs, UvA) in May 2024 to celebrate McMaster and UvA’s 25-year partnership anniversary.  We look forward to future collaborations.