What Do Iceland and Cyprus Have in Common?

I have long described myself as a global or international strategist and consultant (based on having written many multinational strategies) but 2024 is the first year that my work outside the UK has dwarfed my work in. I have been travelling all over the place writing global strategies for a number of big international corporates, delivering international keynotes, and working with individual country leaders to create and localise corporate strategies for their country, laws, culture and governance. I have loved every minute.

As I described in my last newsletter I am an avid and keen traveller and explorer. What has really struck me on my travels and work this year is how our history defines our belief systems and culture. This is as relevant to the history and culture of an organisation as it is a nation. I now make a point of reading the history of how a company developed and grew before I start working with them. I learn more about organisational culture, beliefs and what policies have developed and why from this than many hours of stakeholder interviews or reading culture / engagement surveys.?

An organisation’s history defines HOW we make change for their future.

A history of abundance?

Work took me to Iceland this year. A country I have wanted to visit for years. I stayed with friends for the weekend to explore and understand more about the island. Iceland has a noticeably egalitarian culture. We drove past the previous Prime Minister’s flat in an average block where she sits as a peer on the resident’s committee. Bjork (one of Iceland’s most successful exports) had a normal-looking house on a residential Reykjavik street. Taxes are high but services and schools are cheap and accessible for all.

Reading up on Iceland’s history, this is a country that has always had ample food supply (fish), clean water, and energy (geothermal). And space. I was unaware just how large it was. Hard living conditions, yes (weather is way too cold for me), but the resources that most countries and groups fight over are abundant and accessible for all levels of society. Indeed Iceland has never participated in a war (apart from the political ‘Cod Wars’ with the UK) I imagine because it has never needed to. This abundance and lack of fear and scarcity leads to a more equal society and culture. Impacting Icelandic workplaces and work culture too.

Another work trip this Spring took me to Cyprus to keynote an HR conference. At a wonderfully welcoming speaker’s dinner the night before, we were taken to a well known Taverna for a feast. And a feast it was. When we could eat no more the food on the table looked as though it had hardly been touched. I was mortified by the sheer waste. Having been brought up in post war Britain where rationing was a feature of my mother’s childhood I had it drummed into me to not waste food. Waste not want not.

The Cypriot speakers had a different view. They explained that even during the worst of World War 2 food was in abundant and ready supply. A predominantly farming population ensured that food was never scarce or hard to get. Feasts with excessive left-overs were a celebrated part of the culture. Beliefs and behaviours around food formed around abundance and having enough. Totally different to the UK.

Working internationally means working within and adapting to both the culture of the country and to that of the organisation. Both are impacted hugely by their individual and collective histories.??

Sign up to my email list here to read the full version of this newsletter, which goes into how fear and scarcity impacts my work with organisations and specifically in change, health and mental health.

Have a good week?

Best Wishes

Amy x

P.S.?‘Do Workplace Health Right’ Live 2025 Launching Next Week??

I’m putting the final touches on the 2025 ‘Do Workplace Health Right’ Live programme and will reveal all next week. I’m designing it as a deliberately global, multinational and collaborative course.

I’ve been blown away by the guest experts who have agreed to be part of this 3 month programme on everything you need to know about workplace health, mental health and wellbeing. I really believe this will be a unique, practical and comprehensive program for anyone in this space.

If you are thinking of signing up to a course or conference this Autumn hang fire. This might be the option for you.?