Cultural differences aren't just about countries. They show up in boardrooms, project teams, and even your neighbor’s backyard BBQ. On this episode, Dean McMann and Anthony Paluska sit down with Paulo Naddeo, VP of Global Professional Services at Stonebranch, to unpack what it really takes to work across cultures—and why it's probably harder than you think. 

Paulo brings a unique lens to the conversation. Born and raised in Brazil, he built his own software company before making the jump to a global role in the US. Along the way, he discovered that language barriers are only the tip of the iceberg. Whether you're working across countries, industries, or departments, cultural misunderstandings sneak in—and often blow up projects. 

In this episode, Paulo shares real-world lessons from his decades of global consulting, including how to stop assuming you’re being clear, why pre-meeting prep matters more than you think, and how small misunderstandings (like spicy cheese) can escalate fast. He also breaks down why building trust takes time, what consultants often miss when working with technical teams, and how to avoid the classic trap of thinking culture clashes only happen overseas. 

If you’ve ever struggled to communicate across teams, countries, or just different professional mindsets, this episode will make you think twice—and laugh along the way.