19/05/2025
Cross-Cultural Communication & Team Work lecture with Prof. Dr. Hohl – Guest Session by Gabriela Leichtle
As part of our Cross-Cultural Communication & Team Work lecture led by Prof. Dr. Eberhard Hohl, we had the opportunity to welcome a guest speaker, Ms. Gabriela Leichtle, Human Resources Manager at Erwin A. Lang GmbH & Co. KG in Ravensburg.
Prof. Hohl began the session by providing an insightful overview of cross-cultural communication, focusing on Hofstede’s Onion Model, which explains cultural layers from symbols to values. Following this, students presented the Hofstede Onion Model for their respective countries, showcasing the diversity of cultural dimensions such as individualism vs collectivism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance.
Ms. Leichtle then shared her real-life intercultural experiences as an HR professional, highlighting how cultural norms vary—what may be acceptable in one culture could be inappropriate in another. She emphasized the importance of cultural sensitivity in global workplaces and shared practical examples of how she navigates these differences in her HR role.
The session concluded with a lively Q&A, where Ms. Leichtle interacted with students, asked questions about their presentations, and offered feedback based on her experience. The session was both insightful and interactive, giving students a practical perspective on the theories discussed in class.
