Organization

Vision – Mission – Values, About us, Our why

Vision – Mission – Values

Our vision:

Create a World of Intercultural Understanding and Acceptance and Enjoy Interacting with Diversified People

Our mission:

We as Connect 2 Improve use our extensive experiences in international business and our passion for developing business and people, to help cross-cultural professionals integrate smoothly in their new business environment and in the Dutch work culture.

We Enrich Professionals with Intercultural Competences by Providing Holistic and  Constructive Intercultural Workshops where ‘food is the guest of honour’.

Our values:

  • Integrity

    We build relationships on the foundation of honesty, transparency, and keeping our promises.

  • Authenticity

    We believe people deserve to be accepted exactly as they are. So we present our most authentic self to our clients, and we help people integrate with each other based on who they truly are, not by copying others.

  • Creativity

    We always strive to find new, diverse ways, to help people connect more, by interactive participation in enjoyable activities.

  • Humor

    We take fun seriously. We believe that laughter helps people connect more, and we ensure that every experience with us brings a smile to a person’s face.

  • Mutuality

    Connection is a 2-way street. We listen to and respect the opinions, needs, ideas and diversity of every person we interact with.

  • Emotional Connection

    We ensure a deep internalization of cultural acceptance by providing a safe environment to openly connect to each other, and we only build partnerships with professionals who emphasize the same.

About us

Many years of experiences in international work environments  in management and consultancy  makes Connect 2 Improve (since 2010) a valuable partner for your business challenges with impact for people.

Successful cooperation with diversified people made us strongly believe in the strength of cultural diversity. We empower employees with intercultural competences.

Connect 2 Improve operates with professionals from abroad, each of whom has their own experiences, background and insights.  By this collaboration we ensure  highest quality of our workshops and training & coaching activities.

TASTY THOUGHTS

This special concept is a ‘tasty’ combination of coaching & cooking. We combine our strengths as a coach and as a cook to give the participant of  our unique concept ‘Tasty Thoughts’ the opportunity to learn from and to share with other professionals in an enjoyable, informal setting. Daily challenges in business are suprisingly reflected by creativity with food.

We are striving for many happy people in their (new) business environment.

Your Tasty Thoughts Coach: Germa Franzen

She is a professional with over 15 years of experience in the international business environment. As a professional coach, she guides individuals in their personal and professional growth and development. Additionally, Germa provides with passion training and coaching for employees who interact with different cultures to maximize employees’ potential by enhancing and leveraging intercultural competencies. Germa strives for business improvements, connecting international employees effectively to the Dutch Business Culture.

Your Tasty Thoughts Cook: Reggy de Haas

He is a professional chef experienced in leading an international team and with a passion for food and people. Furthermore he mentors children at school by teaching them how to cook and learning them to cooperate and boosting their self-confidence. Reggy loves to share is extended knowledge in food (history) connecting this to cultural backgrounds.

Our why

How to manage intercultural differences in an unknown and not comfortable situation? Many people are facing challenges while interacting with people from different cultures.

We see training and coaching to develop intercultural competences as:

  • An important part of your employees introduction program
  • Key to built on the benefits of your diversified people
  • The solution to increase the productivity and effectiveness of your international team

As Connect 2 Improve we are very happy to guide professionals from abroad in understanding the Dutch way of acting and behaving in business. However, learning about cultural facts is not enough. People need to feel understood and accepted in the workplace to be able to deliver the best results.

We know from experience how it feels to struggle with uncomfortable situations in a work environment where people act and behave in a different manner, not according your own values and norms.

We guide people in intercultural awareness, coach them in effective communication and train them to manage uncomfortable situations in a surprising creative, informal and yet professional manner.

Connect 2 Improve serves companies who:

  • Accepts everyone equally and care about their employees
  • Enjoy cultural differences and invest in employee growth and happiness
  • Understands the need and the benefit of smoothly intergration in business because culture clashes are ‘not done’

We feel blessed we help people in their personal growth and hapiness… We are happy to support companies by adding value to their profits and social responsibilities.