"The reason why we spend time in small talk is not because we want to waste time — it's because that's where trust is being created." — Sylvia Rhode-Liebenau

What happens when a delegation of very upset Russian officials shows up in your office? If you're Sylvia Rhode-Liebenau, you don't get defensive — you get human. With over 25 years of experience coaching senior executives and leading cross-cultural teams across Russia, Ukraine, the Balkans, Northern Africa, and beyond, Sylvia brings a rare blend of embodied leadership wisdom and hard-won diplomatic experience to this week's episode.

Karl and Sylvia dig into why Western business culture's obsession with efficiency is quietly destroying trust — and what leaders can do about it. If you're building client relationships across borders (or just across the conference room), thi ...