As part of our commitment to fostering international collaboration and professional growth, the Chamber of Commerce is hosting this event within our "Hello Brussels" series to provide valuable insights and strategies for thriving in a multicultural workplace.

In today's interconnected world, the international work environment is more prevalent than ever before. Belgium, and specifically Brussels, stands out as a hub for international business and expatriate professionals. As the de facto capital of the European Union, Brussels hosts 2,400 international associations, 300 diplomatic delegations, and 1,500 multinational companies, which attracts workers from all over the world. Brussels has become very cosmopolitan, with more than 70% of its residents being of foreign origin from over 180 different countries.

The ability to work in an international team or with international partners is one of the top critical competencies in Brussels. 

Understanding your work practices and cultural norms and how they compare with your counterparts is instrumental for building bridges and success, which is confirmed by the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs 2023 Report 2023.  It is essential for closing deals, effectively managing teams, or reporting correctly to your supervisors. Mastering most of the top key skills from an intercultural approach will help both employees and entrepreneurs succeed across cultures.

At the same time, the Forbes research states that diversity is a key driver of innovation and is a critical component of being successful on a global scale and that diverse and inclusive workforce is crucial for companies that want to attract and retain top talent.

How can we enable entrepreneurs and employees to work efficiently in an international environment and support company leaders in attracting and retaining the talent with important inter-cultural competences? Let’s discuss at our next “Hello Brussels” Series event on 12 September!

 This event aims to equip professionals with the skills and insights needed to navigate and excel in a multicultural and international work environment. Through expert presentations and a dynamic panel discussion, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities that come with working in or with diverse teams.

Purpose:

• To explore cultural differences and their impact on workplace dynamics.
• To provide practical strategies for effective communication and collaboration in an international context.
• To offer networking opportunities with professionals from various backgrounds.

Target Audience:

• Professionals working in or aspiring to join international companies
• HR managers and team leaders overseeing multicultural teams
• Entrepreneurs and business owners working internationally
• Expatriates adapting to a new work environments in Belgium

Why Attend:

• Gain Insights: Learn from experienced professionals who have successfully navigated international workplaces.
• Develop Skills: Acquire practical tips and strategies to improve your intercultural communication and collaboration skills.
• Stay Competitive: Understand the global trends and challenges in the international work environment to stay ahead in your career.

AGENDA

10:00-10:10  Welcome and Introduction

10:10-10:30  Keynote: Working in a Globalised World. Denis Pennel, World Employment Conferederation


10:30-10:40 Leadership, Culture, and Teams. Debra Stone, Prism Coaching


10:40-10.50  Culture in the International business, the underestimated dimension. Mounif Kilani, BAB Consult


10:50-11:30 Panel Discussion: Navigating International Work Challenges (30 minutes)

          Real-life challenges, successful strategies, and personal anecdotes from the panellists: Denis Pennel;  Debra Stone, Mounif Kilani, Hugh van Praet
Hugh van Praet


11:30-11:35  Closing Remarks (5 minutes)

Language

The event is held in English

Participation

Free of charge; registration is mandatory

Speakers

Denis Pennel 
Managing Director, World Employment Confederation

Denis Pennel was appointed in 2005 as CEO of the World Employment Confederation, the global professional association representing the employment & recruitment industry. In his role, he is in charge of promoting the interests of the staffing sector before international institutions, such as the European Union (EU), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the World Bank or the OECD. He is also a member of several international think tanks and seats at the board of some research institutes.

Denis Pennel was appointed in 2005 as CEO of the World Employment Confederation, the global professional association representing the employment & recruitment industry. In his role, he is in charge of promoting the interests of the staffing sector before international institutions, such as the European Union (EU), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the World Bank or the OECD. He is also a member of several international think tanks and seats at the board of some research institutes.

Debra Stone
Founder and Managing Partner, Prism Coaching

Debra Stone holds a master’s in business management from Boston University. After more than a decade in the service sector industry, working for publicly traded companies (Verizon), she pursued a career in executive leadership for international organizations in the Europe and MEA region. Debra held senior leadership roles in the commercial launch of large-scale mobile telecom companies (France Telecom, Orange, BellSouth) across multiple countries, grew businesses into customer-focused enterprises, and helped scale multi-international startups. 

With 30 years of experience in global leadership and living across three continents, Debra offers broad perspective and creativity to her coaching. Her coaching and leadership clients come from highly diverse cultures and work in a variety of industries and countries.

Debra is also an adjunct professor at Boston University and Brussels School of Governance (BSoG). Drawing from her many professional lives, she continues to lecture and teach international business and leadership courses to students from across the globe and regularly holds workshops with medium and large companies in transition along with scientists, engineers and early-stage start-up CEO’s. She also works with governments looking to build human capital amongst their teams or communities they serve.

​Mounif Kilani

Foreign Trade Consultant, Business Developer

Mounif Kilani is the Founder of BAB Consult Belgium, a consultancy and business development office specializing in fostering business relations between Belgium and Arab countries.  Expert in international commercial relations with more than 30 years’ experience as Economic & Commercial Counsellor at the Embassy of Belgium in GCC countries and in the United Kingdom, and Head or research at Arab-Belgium-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Brussels. Board member of several associations active in diversity and intercultural fields.

Mounif served in different positions focusing on international business, i.e. teacher, translator/interpreter, Passengers Sales Supervisor at Saudia Arabian Airlines in Brussels, and Executive Manager at Coprabel (Wavre). In this capacity, he is a keynote speaker and debate moderator for several events dedicated to foreign trade and intercultural relations.

Mounif Kilani holds a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from UCLouvain, Belgium.

​Hugh van Praet

Sales Consultant New Markets

Hugh van Praet brings over 25 years of sales executive experience in the high-tech industry. In 2017, he relocated to Canada to take on a role with a French SaaS company, where he was tasked with opening one of their North American back-offices and assisting them with their go-to-market strategies and positioning their offerings towards prospects and partners. After three years, he returned to Belgium to be closer to his family. Currently, as an external consultant for SMEs, he spearheads organisational transformations, including new market entry, growth enhancements, and internal processes and communication improvements.

Hugh has worked with European, North American, and Asian companies, both as a customer and an employee. He has reported to leaders from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, the US, and the UK.