Lygia Cabanas

Global expansion is complex. Between investors, operations, timelines, and performance pressure, leaders rarely have space to think about language beyond one assumption: “We already have a common working language. That should be enough.” Operationally, that may be true. Strategically, it often isn’t. For global leaders, managers, and decision-makers, learning some of the local language — not fluency, not mastery — can become a strategic advantage that directly affects trust, integration,...

When you build a life across countries, cultures, or languages, one of the most common challenges is surprisingly simple… yet deeply personal: “How do I sound like myself in another language?” You may have the skills, the experience, and the personality… but when you switch to another language, something shifts: Your confidence changes. Your tone becomes flatter or more formal. Your humor disappears. Your ideas feel harder to express. Your leadership presence becomes diluted. And suddenly,...