Rich Kurtzman, an expert in personal and professional development in new countries and cultures and director of Barcelona SAE, shared his views on the challenges and opportunities of living and growing in a foreign country at the opening of the International Week In a session introduced by the vice-rector for International Relations, Eduardo Mirpuri, Mr Kurtzman dynamically addressed the complexities of interacting with new cultures and how to use the experience for personal and professional growth.
Living abroad is a challenging process. Kurtzman described how moving abroad involves a number of personal and cultural challenges. “Not everything is rosy,” he pointed out, noting that this type of experience requires adaptation, which is not always easy. However, he asserted that one of the best ways to cope with this process is through creating genuine connections with the local community, and the most effective way to do this is through language and being open to new situations.
Kurtzman also introduced the concept of growth mindset, as opposed to fixed mindset. Adopting a growth mindset means seeing difficulties as learning opportunities. As he himself expresses, the word “yet” has power: “I don’t speak German… yet,” implying that with perseverance, any skill is attainable.
Kurtzman ended the session by pointing out that by navigating and overcoming these cultural challenges, students acquire cultural superpowers, sometimes also known as soft skills. These skills include empathy, resilience, perseverance or risk-taking willingness; all highly valued in a global environment.
Finally, he left the audience with a thought: “Withhold judgement, create connections and change the world.” For Kurtzman, cultural change is something constant and an opportunity for growth; it is an invitation to embrace the process of change and seek transformative experiences in every interaction. The session ended with a question-and-answer session and the signing of Kurtzman's book: Like a Fish in Water. How to Grow Abroad When You Go Abroad
