How L&D leaders can build culturally fluent communicators
On-demand
Masterclass: Global team alignment in the age of AI
Tuesday 1st July 2025
Live webinar, now on-demand
Video chapters
[00:00] Welcome and meet the panel
[09:00] Dr. Christopher McCormick on AI and global team alignment
[22:19] Laurie Pankow on AI for learning and communication
[33:00] Paulo Espindula on AI efficiencies and innovation
[39:55] Audience perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of AI
[57:42] Recommendations from the panel
Key takeaways
1. Keep humans in the loop. AI can accelerate communication, but it lacks context and cultural awareness. Human oversight is essential to ensure outputs are accurate, appropriate, and aligned with team dynamics.
2. AI can amplify ‘headquarter blind spots’, unless cultural fluency is built in. Many AI tools are trained on dominant languages and cultural norms, often reflecting U.S.-centric perspectives. Without cultural awareness and diverse input, these tools can unintentionally reinforce biases and misalign global teams.
3. Critical thinking is more important than ever. Automation frees up time but can also erode core skills if left unchecked. L&D leaders must prioritize developing judgment, adaptability, and interpersonal communication.
4. Bridge the AI mindset gap. Employees and leaders often have different expectations about how AI should be used. Pair technical training with mentoring and dialogue to build AI literacy and support responsible adoption.
Our speakers
This webinar, featuring AI and communication experts as well as HR leaders from the world’s top organizations, will explore how companies can make best use of AI to facilitate communication, and why it matters to both employee performance and wellbeing.
Dr Christopher McCormick
Chief Academic Officer, EF Corporate Learning
Dr Christopher McCormick is an international education specialist with over 30 years of experience in developing global competence. He helps professionals build trust, cultural sensitivity, and skills for intercultural communication.
Christopher has designed and delivered training solutions with a global dimension for clients across a range of sectors.
As a lifelong explorer and the spouse of a diplomat, Christopher shares his passion for discovery as a facilitator and coach to encourage curiosity.
Christopher grew up in Texas, then later studied and worked in New Orleans, Paris, Monterrey, Austin, Boston, Shanghai, London, Zug, Lucerne, Colombo, Phnom Penh, Beijing, and Bangkok. He obtained a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin, and he has served over 25 years in executive roles for EF Education First and as an adjunct faculty member of Hult Ashridge Executive Education. He is currently Chief Academic Officer of EF Corporate Learning, focusing on innovation in learning design and technology for large scale language instruction. He also holds a Certificate and Diploma in Coaching from the University of Cambridge, where he taught on the coaching qualifications.
Christopher is based in Bangkok and London.
Laurie Pankow
Chief Learning Officer, Signature HealthCARE
Laurie has expertise in learning strategy, operational discipline, impact optimization, and organizational transformation. She has worked across industries (healthcare, manufacturing, and chemicals) to unlock employee value and advance innovation-led growth, and she has also led multiple merger & acquisition learning integration projects.
Laurie is an advisor to the Harvard Business Review and serves on the Board of the Operational Excellence Institute. She has previously partnered with Harvard Business Publishing in an advisory capacity and served as a Director on the University of Pennsylvania's CLO Board.
Laurie holds a Doctorate and a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.
Paulo Espindula
Chief Learning Officer, EY Latin America
Paulo is a passionate communicator with high level of creative energy and ability to lead teams in constant changing environments.
Throughout his career he has worked in several different roles that have required him to re-invent himself, learning new skills that were key to enhance personal growth and professional advancement.
