Welcome to TBC Culture Hub!
My name is Tiffany Byrd Cook and I will be your guide on this journey! First I would like to tell you all a little bit more about me, how this blog came to be, and what you can expect on this global adventure. I'll start at the beginning of my first cultural immersion, jumping through the decade to now.
My dream of dancing in a European ballet company and living abroad became a reality when I was awarded my first professional contract with Ballett Dortmund (Germany) at the age of 19.
While some might find the challenges of working with colleagues from over 30 nationalities daunting, I discovered that I thrive in diverse and collaborative environments. I enjoy building relationships by learning about a person's culture, finding ways to overcome language barriers, and seeking to understand distinct perspectives.
Photo by: Sven ThroughMyEye photography (Dortmund, Germany)
Brno: My door to international relations
I moved to Brno, Czechia, in 2015 to dance with the National Theater of Brno. In addition to working as a full-time ballerina, I completed my bachelor's degree in Management through Dallas Baptist University. Despite my full schedule, I craved international interaction that extended beyond my work and searched for opportunities to give back to my adopted city. Upon discovering my hometown of Dallas, Texas, was a sister city to Brno, I began brainstorming ideas for projects and exchanges to promote the relationship between the two cities. I visited the Dallas World Affairs Council and presented my ideas for nurturing the relationship between the two cities to the Executive VP and Dallas Chief of Protocol. Following our meeting, I was named Dallas Honorary Youth Ambassador to Brno, a voluntary role I took to heart.
In my role, I worked with the Brno Expat Center and Brno Municipality to develop and implement a program comprised of expat professionals working together to promote and build relationships between Brno and their home cities. With the BEC's help, I met with the Mayor of Brno to discuss my ideas for sister city cultural exchanges and ways of promoting Brno and its culture. Additionally, I volunteered with Masaryk University in the Faculty of Education's Office of Internationalization. I helped plan and execute seminars for the 2017 MU International Integration Symposium and coordinate internationalization symposiums sponsored in part by the U.S. Embassy. I also mentored three teachers in the Faculty of Education on presentation and English communication skills.
Photo By: Tiffany Byrd Cook (Zelny Trh, Brno, Czech Republic)
University of Oxford: Diplomacy at new heights and an introduction to cultural intelligence
Working and living abroad has helped me develop an international outlook far broader than my previous American views on life, business, and ethnicity. I strive to seek out shared beliefs that help build cross-cultural bridges. Most importantly, my experiences put me on a journey through which I discovered my passion for cultural diplomacy and protocol and chose to attend Oxford's Pre-Master's Foundations of Diplomacy Course, which I completed in March 2021. While this program was a phenomenal learning experience, I felt it was missing something and that the syllabus was teensy bit biased. Everything was taught from a British perspective, and I found that British diplomacy, and the diplomacy tactics of many global leaders for that matter, lacks the consideration incorporation of cultural intelligence (CQ).
I believe CQ and strong cross-cultural communication are essential tools for international organizations, governments, and global citizens in this era of globalization. So, I am on a mission to educate people, communities, and beyond and fill this void of cultural competence.
Photo By: Tiffany Byrd Cook (Radcliffe Camera, Oxford, UK)
TBC Culture Hub: humble beginnings
I intend to use this blog to look at the benefits of CQ, dive into the cultural values of countries worldwide, bring new perspectives to global affairs, depth of understanding of international relations, and much more. I hope you will walk away feeling more confident in your capability to navigate cultural differences and work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
Feel free to leave a comment, ask questions, etc. And, don't forget to hop on board by subscribing so you don't get left behind as we discover the world through CQ! Subscribe.
