Mr. Chris Smit Managing Partner , Culture Matters, Belgium

Chris Smit makes companies and organizations more aware of cultural diversity. In business, the im­pact of cultural differences are still under-estimated. We talk a lot about globalization. The world seems to be getting smaller, and yet we all bear the mark of the culture in which we grew up. This often leads to misunderstandings that are detrimental to your business. More attention to cultural diversity should be a top priority for companies and organizations. Since 1993 he has advised thousands of people from more than 100 different nationalities. His work has taken him to more than 45 countries. He is a passionate and enthusiastic speaker with extensive experience in coaching and managing staff at all levels. Chris was born in Amsterdam. He has lived in three different countries (US, Netherlands, and Belgium, where he still lives). As a marketing and sales consultant for the Dutch airline KLM, he travelled the world. Meanwhile, he earned a Master’s degree in psychology at the University of Amsterdam. In 2007, he founded the company Culture Matters. Chris helps companies working in an international context to become aware and deal with cultural differences.