{"id":6482,"date":"2026-08-31T20:46:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T19:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/?p=6482"},"modified":"2026-08-31T21:34:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T20:34:44","slug":"dear-young-professionals-embed-cultural-intelligence-in-your-communication-to-open-doors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lucilleossai.com\/blog\/2026\/08\/31\/dear-young-professionals-embed-cultural-intelligence-in-your-communication-to-open-doors\/","title":{"rendered":"Dear Young Professionals: Embed Cultural Intelligence In Your Communication To Open Doors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The call came through my official number, so I was expecting an appropriate, professional enquiry. What transpired was an odd exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Please send us your CV’, the young professional continued after an abrupt greeting and a one-liner informing me that their company, Z, was interested in my communication training programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘And confirm your attendance for the virtual meeting on Monday at 9 a.m.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stifled some laughter as he spoke. When he paused, I responded in a measured tone:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘First of all, that\u2019s not the way to do it. You have no idea of my schedule. Second, communication is broad. Before we consider whether a meeting is a good use of our time, I\u2019d need to know three things…So please email me the information’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we agreed on the next step, the call ended. But I knew instinctively that I wouldn\u2019t receive the email with the information I requested. I was right. But more on that later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why a young professional\u2019s simple interaction with a billionaire went viral<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Recently, in an interactive forum, young trainees from a reputable Nigerian bank\u2019s graduate programme had the opportunity to address a renowned African billionaire, who was also the outgoing chairman of the financial institution. During the Q&A, a young lady stood up to ask a question, beginning by addressing the billionaire by his first name. The chairman corrected her, saying he should be addressed as Mr X or one of two other options, but not by his first name. The lady nodded and continued with ‘Mr X’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The moment went viral online, with many people weighing in on the incident. Unfortunately, the backlash against the young lady was intense, with many declaring that she should have adhered to the country\u2019s culture, where respect for elders was expected. Others offered different opinions. A balanced view in a national newspaper<\/a> was interesting because the writer questioned the double standards at play. The article suggested that the graduate trainees may have been told to address the billionaire by his first name, aligning with the bank\u2019s culture, and that the lady likely followed the directive. I hope the young lady will learn from the experience and move on to communicate effectively with different audiences, depending on the prevailing cultural contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The above incident leads to a broader observation I\u2019ve made over the years, interacting with young professionals in MBA cohorts and facilitating communication seminars for them at the Lagos Business School (ranked #1 in Africa for custom programmes<\/a> in the 2026 Financial Times Executive Education list):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They want communication insights that will set them up for success in their careers as they navigate the workplace and position themselves for mentorships, sponsorships, or acceleration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, as a young professional targeting a competitive role or already working in an organisation, know that cultural intelligence is your secret weapon to getting ahead \u2014 whether working locally, remotely for an international company, or in a different region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are two compelling reasons to embed cultural intelligence in your communication:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1) Realise that the audience determines the context, style, and delivery of your communication<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Knowing your audience<\/a> is the first rule of effective communication, but that\u2019s not enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever the required communication segment (nonverbal, verbal, written or leadership communication), your knowledge of the audience will help you drill your options down to the following essentials:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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