Talks by Kay
Work better together in Denmark 🇩🇰
Kay Xander Mellish delivers entertaining, practical presentations on working in Denmark, living in Denmark, and the cultural differences between Danes and Americans in business.
Cross-cultural workshop Denmark – for internationals AND Danes
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Danes & Non-Danes: Work better together
Working together across cultures involves a great deal of managing expectations.
What does this person from a different culture expect of me, and why?
Once these expectations are out in the open, we can work together better.
Internationals in Denmark have expectations based on:
- their own country’s work culture
- their educational structure
- their previous jobs
Internationals may expect a strong, commanding boss. They may believe it is necessary to work long hours or skip vacations in order to prove their worth to the company.
But Danes have their own expectations, based on Danish working culture.
Danes expect that their colleagues will put the team first – not their own careers. And they expect colleagues to speak up when they disagree with an idea – even when the person advancing that idea is their own boss.
Does your company or organization have Danes and internationals working together?
Kay can create a presentation or cross-cultural workshop that will help everyone discuss their expectations in an entertaining, honest, and useful environment.
“Kay delivered an inspirational and energizing session on working together across cultures. The feedback from our team was overwhelmingly positive, and the conversation continued far beyond the presentation itself. Kay certainly left a mark. We will now build on these insights in follow-up training on cross-cultural leadership for all our leaders.”
Tailored workshops for international teams
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Onboarding for Groups of Newcomers
Many Danish companies hire groups of newcomers all at once, particularly when there is a major but defined project to be completed, such as the construction of a factory.
These highly-trained specialists can feel lost in a Danish working environment.
- Bringing in Kay as part of the welcome process can help smooth the process of creating teamwork with their Danish colleagues.
- We can explain how Danes emphasize individual autonomy and downplay hierarchy – not every decision needs to be approved by the Danish big boss!
- When things go wrong, the Danish way is to figure out the cause and fix it, not figure out who can be blamed.
In addition, we can explain the social aspects of Danish work culture.
Danes tend to avoid small talk – at least, they like to work first and party later – but they also expect everyone to show up and enjoy the team lunches, which are often only 30 minutes long!
The Danish value of “trust” often means Danes trust newcomers to simply know the Danish way of doing things – which isn’t always the case.
Hiring Kay early in the process can help avoid misunderstandings later on.
“Kay is an incredibly engaging, knowledgeable and entertaining speaker. She involved the audience throughout the session and made the topic of cultural differences highly relevant to our own multicultural workplace. Many of her insights really resonated with us, and we are still referring to them today. Kay made a lasting impression and has my warmest recommendations.”
US work culture vs Danish work culture
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US-DK Business Culture Differences
How can Danes survive and thrive when working with the energetic, excitable Americans?
And how can Americans better understand Danish flat hierarchy, Janteloven, and humor?
Kay Xander Mellish – an American who has lived in Denmark for 25 years – delivers insights and strategies for how the two nationalities can work better together.
Based on her books “Working with Americans: Tips for Danes” and “Working with Danes: Tips for Americans“, Kay will help Danish and American teams, colleagues, and customers co-operate more smoothly.
Understand the Danish way of doing business
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Business delegations Denmark
Are you bringing a business group or trade organization to Denmark?
Kay can kick off the visit with an introduction to Danish business culture, designed around the theme of the delegation’s visit. Your attendees will start with a solid overview that will prepare them for site visits and meetings.
It’s a great way to begin a visit to Denmark.
Entertaining, educational overview for a visit to Denmark
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Visiting university groups
Start your study tour of Copenhagen off right with an orientation overview of Danish business culture, designed around the theme of the study trip.
Whether it’s sustainability, design, or the Danish way of working, your attendees will be prepared to ask questions and gain insights throughout their trip.
It’s a great way to begin a study tour of Denmark.
Entertaining presentation for visitors to Denmark
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An Introduction to Danish Hygge
What is hygge? And how does it help make Danes some of the happiest people in the world?
In this light, entertaining talk, American-born Denmark expert Kay Xander Mellish explores the meaning of hygge, its cultural roots, and how it shapes everyday life in Denmark.
A popular topic for international groups, corporate events and visitors curious about Danish culture.
Get Kay’s books
Send your audience home with a memorable souvenir – one of Kay’s books. Bulk pricing available. Kay can autograph the books if requested. Alternately, arrange for an eBook or audiobook as part of your pre-arrival package.
Copenhagen-based keynote speaker, author, and Danish culture expert
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Hire Kay to speak to your group
Kay can tailor a presentation to your group and your objectives.
Kay has spoken to more than 250 corporate, business, and tourist audiences and brings a combination of journalism, lived experience, research, humor, and storytelling to every presentation.
Kay has been explaining Denmark and Danish culture to international audiences since 2013. She is the author of How to Work in Denmark, Working with Americans/Working with Danes, and How to Live in Denmark, and the creator of the How to Live in Denmark podcast.
Let Kay energize your audience with an entertaining but educational keynote speech or workshop.
- Kay will travel outside Denmark and outside Europe for presentations.
- Kay uses 16:9 slides and a headset mike and brings her own adapters.
- Kay is open to a rehearsal call and arrives early for tech checks.
- Kay is available for virtual presentations.
- Kay’s presentations are in English, with Danish as an option.
- Recording or streaming requires an additional fee.
Ask about a talk by Kay Xander Mellish
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