Unique Sources

Recognition is about standing on other people’s shoulders
Receiving this Reward of Recognition in January of this year immediately took me back to the foundation of SIETAR Europa in 1991 in Haarlem. SInce then I have been a member, active in different roles in SIETAR Nederland, and co- organising the 1997 SIETAR conference in Curaçao, (a combined tour de force from SIETAR International, SIETAR Europa, SIETAR Nederland, SIETAR Curaçao i.o.)

How did this come about? In 1983, during a CIP program exchange in Atlanta, Dr. Donna Goldstein had introduced me to SIETAR International. In 1991 in my work I encountered a complicated intercultural challenge at a women's organisation in Rotterdam, and asked Donna for her advice. I ended up with an invitation to the founding of SIETAR Europa from Janssen-Matthes, who was elected the first president of SIETAR Europa! I consider myself fortunate to have been attending that meeting with about 60 other people. A very important moment in my life and the development of Unique Sources.

More than 30 years later, I thank all these intercultural SIETAR Europa pioneers, (some in very fond memories ) who lifted me up:
Mieke Janssen-Matthes (the Netherlands), André Cresson (France), Leslie Guggiari (Italy), Susan Vonsild ( Denmark), Andreas J. Harbig (Germany), Oyvind Dahl (Norway), Philip O'Connor (UK), Wolf Bernhard Emminghaus (Germany), roberto ruffino (Italy), Liisa Salo-Lee (Finland), Frank Oomkes (the Netherlands), Krys Markowski, Bernd Kappel (Germany), Kathleen Dameron (France), Liliana Gagliardi, George Simons, Adrian Pilbeam (UK), Bernadette van Houten, Sarolta László, Robert Gibson, Nel Jessurun and and and and many many others who are now my international family.

Looking forward to seeing you in June at the SIETAR Europa congress in Lille, when I will present on Intercultural Encounters with the military!

Thank you Papa Balla Ndong and Christine Longé, hope to continue the learning with SIETAR Europa.

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YES! The second print of the book (dissertation) Third Culture Kids as Unique Sources: their intercultural competences and cultural identity at work is available NOW with a re-written chapter on Cultural Fusion Identity.

With (Adult) Third Culture Kids and (Adult) Cross Cultural Kids as the main focus group for the book, you will read more about what you can learn about cross cultural people by using two lenses:

‘What are you capable of [doing] and who are you [being]?’ (Ryff & Singer, 2013).

Philosophers argue that doing and being are intertwined, by means of phrases such as “We are what we repeatedly do” (Aristotle, rephrased by Durant, 1926, p. 87) or that both are connected, by a question such as “Does your identity define your actions?” (cf. Akerlof & Kranton, 2010).

When Adams, at the public defense in September 2021, asked Monika de Waal the question of how she could separate these two inseparable parts that make up a human being. At that time, she struggled to find the answer.

After much thought, she can now answer:
Take the lens of Doing to identify your intercultural competences (like intercultural sensitivity), and behavior (as in transformational leadership), especially at the workplace. And then take the lens of Being to explore your own cultural identity and your origins more deeply. The illustration shows how these two lenses together form the base of the studies described in the book.

We at Unique Sources are about people, looking closely at what they do, think, believe, where they come from, how life has shaped their cultural identities, and how this all shows in their DOING and BEING.

Interested to read and hear more? Please get in touch with Unique Sources.
You can order the book by sending a mail to Pimvipha Warffemius-Rhodes: [email protected]

Keeping Organizations alive

With interruptions caused by political and economic developments, multinational companies are struggling with keeping a profitable balance between the constant interdependencies around the globe. How to keep their organizations alive needs acknowledging that organizations should be seen as social living organisms. These organizations have lifecycle stages, recognized as phases of organizational development, as seen in Greiner’s Model of Organizational Growth here.

At Unique Sources we believe that organizations consciously need to reinvent themselves and transform regularly, to keep the spirit alive. Change can become uncomfortable, and when leaders have a different perspective on the impact of the change than their people, the organizations suffer from this friction.

With Unique Sources as an external consultant who facilitates this process provides you with the very much needed 3rd perspective.

Julie A Kennedy with her company Kennedy Connection has been running for some time now the series Fabulous after 50, having dialogues with women 50+ about important developments in their lives.

It was special to contribute to the series, and it underlines one of the principles that Unique Sources has: life long learning never stops.

Explore the podcast that Julie A Kennedy made, and other podcasts, learn from strong women.

Join us as we discuss self- development, passion, long-term determination, and the fulfilment it brings!

FABULOUS AFTER FIFTY! EPISODE 64 - MONIKA DE WAAL - PHD after FIFTY and Third Culture Kids - The Kennedy Connection

https://thekennedyconnection.com/2022/07/07/fabulous-after-fifty-episode-64-monika-de-waal-phd-after-fifty-and-third-culture-kids/?fbclid=IwAR3sRR8tzCqZKNq01QnWfABEQMaxWvJrvkSGSwVwJhs9AOh28RSdBZUB_qY

FABULOUS AFTER FIFTY! EPISODE 64 - MONIKA DE WAAL - PHD after FIFTY and Third Culture Kids - The Kennedy Connection FABULOUS AFTER FIFTY! EPISODE 64 – MONIKA DE WAAL – PHD after FIFTY and Third Culture Kids Jul 7, 2022 Podcast: Play in new window | Embed Doing a PHD after Fifty is our topic today! I met Monika de Waal, specialist in organizational development, change and strategic management, with a long-term...