How Do You Lead and Thrive in a Multicultural Workplace?

In this episode of Your Last Potato, host Abda Rothman explores what it really takes to succeed—and lead—with cultural sensitivity in today’s global workplaces. She’s joined by Craig Livingstone, a British professional who moved to Finland for love and ended up building a decades-long career navigating cultural integration, language learning, and leadership across borders. Craig shares heartfelt reflections, practical tools, and hilarious missteps from his immersive journey into Finnish society and beyond.

• Culture Is Not Nationality: Understand why culture is less about your passport and more about behavior, context, and shared expectations. • The Power of Language and Silence: Discover why silence is the most important sound in the Finnish language—and how learning even a few words can unlock belonging. • From Outsider to Insider: Hear Craig’s story of moving from the UK to Finland without a job, and how deep cultural immersion led to professional and personal growth. • Leadership in Diverse Teams: Learn how to lead inclusively when your team spans multiple countries, time zones, and cultures. • Communication Missteps and Insights: Why intent, implementation, and interpretation matter more than ever in multicultural settings. • Creating Aspirational Culture: How teams can co-create shared values while still respecting individual identity and communication styles. • Building Psychological Safety: Why vulnerability, active listening, and small acts of empathy are vital for collaboration. • Navigating Language Gaps: Tips for managers and team members to handle language diversity in meetings, social settings, and everyday communication.

Abda and Craig unpack a real-life team dilemma: how can managers foster inclusivity when local employees default to speaking a native language, excluding international team members? Craig offers practical tips—from addressing it head-on to creating intentional language norms—with humility, honesty, and humor.

• Language Learning Tools: Try Duolingo, BBC Languages, or language exchange apps to build confidence. • Cultural Competency Courses: Platforms like Udemy and LinkedIn Learning offer training in cross-cultural teamwork. • Three I’s Framework (Intent, Implementation, Interpretation): Use this mindset to reframe cross-cultural misunderstandings. • Behavioral Leadership Practices: How to embed respect, inclusion, and psychological safety into everyday team dynamics.

Craig’s story is a vibrant reminder that true leadership is about adaptation, not authority. Whether you're navigating a multicultural team or stepping into a new country and culture, this episode is full of real-world wisdom—and plenty of laughs—for building workplaces that thrive on diversity.

What does it really take to leave a stable career and bet on your dream?

In this episode of Your Last Potato, Abda Rothman speaks with Katarina Ausenius, a global citizen, executive search veteran, and now debut children's book author, about one of the most courageous moves in a professional’s life: leaving behind success and stability to pursue a deeply personal passion. From building a bold career across continents to finally writing the story that lived in her heart for over a decade, Katarina shares how she navigated reinvention with intention—and joy.

• The Emotional Truth Behind Career Change: Why fulfillment, not just title or paycheck, should guide your path. • How to Prepare for a Leap of Faith: Financial and emotional strategies Katarina used to create a safety net for her dream. • Recognizing When It’s Time to Move On: Signs that your career no longer aligns with your values or identity. • Building Confidence Through Experience: How diverse, international roles shaped Katarina’s resilience and self-trust. • Purpose Over Prestige: The difference between chasing status and creating impact. • Writing a New Chapter—Literally: Behind the scenes of publishing “Nina & Aisha äter fredagsgodis", a children’s book inspired by cross-cultural friendship and belonging. • Staying Grounded During Change: Insights on doubt, self-belief, and the power of knowing your “why.” • The Role of Passion in Long-Term Success: Why excitement and belief are non-negotiable in any pursuit.

Abda and Katarina discuss the emerging trend of micro-retirements among Gen Z and the powerful lesson in pausing before burnout. Katarina reflects on how she became the “pilot” of her own life after years of letting circumstances steer her—and how that mindset shift set her free.

• SWOT Analysis for Career Transitions: A tool to evaluate your risks, resources, and readiness. • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator: For understanding career-aligned personality traits. • LinkedIn Learning & Coursera: Upskilling platforms for career switchers. • Networking & Mentorship: The underestimated lifelines during reinvention. • Financial Buffering: Why saving early can unlock freedom later.

Katarina’s story is a reminder that life is too short to not do what lights you up. Whether you're contemplating a shift or actively in transition, this episode is your permission slip to trust yourself, start small, and dare to dream big.

👉 Her new book “Nina & Aisha äter fredagsgodis” is out now—celebrating cultural curiosity and childhood inclusion. Support her mission and buy it here.