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Seminars and Workshops: Testimonials
More than 12 years after sitting in her classroom, and after having worked in a French company for more than 20 years, I still find Polly Platt's wisdom and advice helpful and right on target! Polly's books and seminars are a most enjoyable "must" for anyone who has recently moved to France or who does business with the French. Even if you think you are already multicultural, Polly Platt can help you to understand France and the French way.LARRY WAISANEN, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Lafarge North America
Several years ago my wife and I had the pleasure of relocating from New York to Paris for JP Morgan & Co. Shortly after our arrival, we discovered that we were indeed fish out of water. We didn't have a clue how to operate in that town. It wasn't just about the spoken language, but all aspects of our daily lives were all of a sudden really foreign to us.
Then we were introduced to Polly Platt and her insightful sessions on becoming part of the environment, but in the French way. It wasn't just her vast knowledge and experience with the French that impressed us. Those sessions were packed with entertaining and useful ways to integrate into the Parisian lifestyle.
Many years later, now a financial consultant in Sydney, Australia, I can often relate to Polly's techniques for dealing with today's cultural challenges.
DAVID GUIA, formerly vice president, J.P. Morgan, currently a financial consultant in Sydney, Australia
Your seminar really helped my organization work better as a team by explaining the cultural differences. It was professional, very entertaining and really enlightening. It was a very useful tool and I would recommend it to be used by French companies having operations in the U.S.
MICHEL DARRIEUS, Directeur Général, Air Liquide, Houston, Texas
As
the founder in Europe of AITEC -- Accenture's first multinational Advanced
Information Technology Expertise Center -- it was necessary for me to
try and bring together culturally a team of 39 'just landed' Accenture
managers and consultants coming from 11 different countries, all of them
specialized in Information Technology, At my request, Culture Crossings'
founder Polly Platt organized for us at her facilities two series of four
interactive seminars for two groups of 20 participants each. Lectures
by consultants expert on different European and Latin American cultures
were supplemented with interactive "happening-type" role-play exercises
and educational material to review for the following meeting.
Polly Platt was specifically noticed for her ability to refer to actually
experienced anecdotes and cultural blunders, to underline with kindness
and humour the participants' spontaneous cultural misbehaviours; to explain
the historical genesis of fundamental cultural differences across countries;
and to point to some scientific basis for such analyses, including the
well-known research of Geert Hofstede and Edward T. Hall.
Subsequent to this seminar, Polly Platt's book French or Foe?
became thereafter a mandatory part of the "Informational and Instructions
Kit" given to every Accenture Consultant joining the AITEC Center (now
based in Sophia Antipolis, and hosting several hundred I.T. Specialists
on the French Riviera ). This book is also explicitly referred to during
the "New Joiners Seminar" that the new hires at Accenture take in the
St-Charles ( Illinois ) World-wide Training Center.
Bottom line, an extremely worthwhile experience, to be recommended without
hesitation.
JEAN-CLAUDE GUEZ, former AITEC Managing Partner
of Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting)
Polly Platt's presentation was outstanding. She cracked the equivalent of a cultural Rosetta Stone with her work. France is certainly a different society, almost the way Asian cultures are different. Polly Platt was an inspired choice to speak at our meeting.
MIKE FIES, director of sales, Asia, Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Dassault Falcon Jets
Despite having lived in France for 3 years, Culture Crossings taught me
the cultural nuances, so that I understood the basics for the first time.
RON LOCKLIN, strategic planning, Groupe Bull
Polly
Platt brings to her seminar a positive, entertaining, informal approach
with much humor, all of which fosters understanding. As an added bonus,
it is very enjoyable. I recommend it highly.
THOMAS S. WOODS, director, research, DuPont de
Nemours
The value of the Culture Crossings seminar was immeasurable in helping my wife and me attain the most rewarding and long-lasting benefits of both our work life and social life. We were able to take advantage of many situations that allowed us to fit better into the life style in France. At work, my ability to become part of the work culture was quickly advanced by the insights given by Polly's training. Her book, French or Foe?, proved extremely valuable in learning about French culture and work procedures.
Another advantage of these meetings was making lasting friendships with the other participants and being able to share experiences with them and discuss different situations and ways to result new issues.
THOMAS F. CUNNINGHAM, engineer, General Motors
Lively,
instructive and entertaining!
FRANÇOIS COLLIN, deputy director, Executive Development
Center of HEC School of Management
Polly's seminar for our student's from New England shortly after their arrival in France really helped them get a handle on the cultural differences they were going to have to face during their studies here. Polly gave them the information they needed to benefit to the fullest from their new cultural surroundings. The students thoroughly enjoyed the entertaining and lively session!!
CHRISTOPHER CRIPPS, Assistant Dean for International Development, Groupe ESC Grenoble
Polly's seminars are lively and great fun, but the best part is your comfort when she's finished. You leave her sessions armed with 'insider' information you wish you'd known before. If only there were a Polly Platt for every country!
NANCY GILBOY, Executive Director, International Visitors Council of Philadelphia
Polly's seminar was mind-expanding and enlightening, and very entertaining. I not only learned an incredible amount about French culture, but I laughed until it hurt. This was definitely not your typical, stodgy business meeting.
NEWELL WRIGHT, Associate Professor and Wampler Longacre Professor of Marketing, James Madison University
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