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Business Host Spotlight: The Corporate Case for Cultural Connections
Business Host Spotlight: The Corporate Case for Cultural Connections

Business Host Spotlight: The Corporate Case for Cultural Connections

May 12, 2025

4 -min read

We recently heard from three supervisors who are hosting InterExchange Interns/Trainees in the business fields. Their experiences reaffirmed what we’ve always known – that hosting international participants allows U.S. businesses to expand their network, boost their creativity, and learn new techniques, among a variety of other benefits! Discover how J-1 programs have transformed these organizations in their own words.

Positive Communication Changes

When businesses bring in international participants, the communication vibe shifts in amazing ways. Teams naturally level up their language game, creating more collaborative spaces where everyone feels heard. Staff develop genuine curiosity and patience when navigating cultural differences, while team meetings become more focused and effective.

The real transformation happens when employees start understanding different communication styles and nonverbal cues—skills that continue to enhance relationships long after the exchange ends. This cultural fluency doesn’t just strengthen global connections; it completely transforms how everyone communicates throughout the entire company.

A Houston-based company in the scaffolding industry is currently hosting Shiena from the Philippines for a 12-month training program in accounting. According to her supervisor, Stefan, the program has brought multiple benefits to their business, including positive changes in the way his team communicates. 

“This cultural exchange has helped our team become more adaptable and open-minded, with employees becoming more willing to collaborate, share ideas, and offer support to colleagues from diverse walks of life. Overall, it has made our workplace more dynamic and enriching, and we’ve seen positive changes in how employees communicate and work together. The experience has not only enhanced our company culture but has also strengthened our team’s ability to embrace and appreciate diversity.”

Trainee playing a game with colleagues during the company holiday party. 
Trainee playing a game with colleagues during the company holiday party. 

New Business Perspectives

When your business hosts international participants, you get fresh eyes on everything you do. It’s like having built-in innovation consultants who naturally ask “why do you do it this way?” These questions often reveal blind spots you never knew existed – especially in how your products might land in different cultures.

Participants bring problem-solving approaches from completely different educational and cultural backgrounds, giving you organic insights into international markets without expensive research. They often challenge your basic assumptions about how business “should” work, sparking creative thinking that energizes your entire team.

A California start-up in sleep technology had such a positive experience hosting Remi from France that they’re eager to host again! Supervisor Emilio appreciated the new perspectives that helped his team to grow during the 12-month internship in business management. 

“We are highly interested in hosting international interns in the future. The positive outcomes of this experience have demonstrated that international interns bring diverse perspectives and ideas that are grounded in technical/business experience. Those sorts of interactions can only bring growth to any organization, but particularly smaller startups like [ours] – whether it’s communicating to suppliers or spurring company outings. Bringing Remi on was one of the best decisions we’ve made as a team. Given these benefits, we are eager to continue engaging with international talent as a valuable component of our team development strategy.”

These interactions broaden perspectives outside the workplace as well. Emilio enjoyed seeing the intern embrace U.S. culture through a new hobby – kitesurfing! 

“Remi originally arrived at the internship with a passion for rugby, but surprisingly left as an avid kitesurfer – one who to my understanding is fully integrated and well-liked within the kitesurfing community in the Bay Area. This unexpected change in hobbies was especially honed and welcomed by some coworkers who are also enthusiastic about the sport. By the end of the summer, it was clear that kitesurfing provided Remi with exceptional opportunities to immerse themselves in American culture. Beyond the water, they made valuable connections, attended events, and engaged in networking within the tight-knit kitesurfing community.”

Group of guys kitesurfing on the beach.
Co-workers share U.S. culture with a French intern through kitesurfing.

Expanding International Networks

When businesses host international participants, they cultivate powerful global networks that extend far beyond the program. These connections often evolve into valuable business contacts that can significantly impact career trajectories, creating natural pathways for future collaborations, market insights, and expansion opportunities. 

It’s pretty amazing how it works – your international participants head back home, but they take those professional relationships with them. What started as a simple cultural exchange grows into this living, breathing global network you can tap into whenever you need market insights, partnership opportunities, or even recruitment leads.

The best part? You’re creating a competitive advantage that simply can’t be replicated through emails or video calls. There’s something special about these in-person connections that creates lasting business bonds spanning continents.

A logistics company in Houston recently hosted Natalia from Brazil for 18 months of training in international business. Her supervisor, Mario, said that hosting international participants not only allowed U.S.-based staff to increase their skills in intercultural communication, but it also helped them better understand how the industry operates internationally. 

“The greatest benefit we have experienced in hosting an international intern/trainee is the fresh perspective and new ideas. When we host international interns/trainees, it gives us more insight into our industry at a global level. We get to expose staff to cross-cultural communication and expand their professional network internationally. Our organization is benefiting greatly from the different perspectives and professional skills of international interns/trainees.”

The experiences outlined above merely scratch the surface of what international exchange can offer your business — or your resume — in our interconnected economy. By embracing new perspectives and building global connections, you’re investing in a future that’s more collaborative, innovative, and globally minded. Learn more about the Intern and Trainee programs at Career Training USA today, or go ahead and apply now! 

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Abigail is currently the Communications Manager working in the Career Training USA department at InterExchange. Abigail has been with InterExchange for almost 6 years and lives in Portland, Maine.

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