David Parrish is an international business speaker, author and adviser who has worked in more than 60 countries and travelled to more than 100 countries worldwide.
His perspective on international business comes not only from advising businesses and organisations internationally, but from decades of travelling, working and learning across different cultures.
David brings curiosity, humour and practical experience to the opportunities — and occasional misunderstandings — that arise when doing business internationally.
International Business is about People
International business is about much more than exports, contracts and entering new markets.
It is also about people, cultures, expectations and different ways of doing things.
Questions David explores include:
David draws on his own experiences — including some of his own mistakes — to illustrate how apparently small cultural differences can create misunderstandings, amusement or occasionally serious business problems.
“David gave an excellent insight into the merits and challenges of working internationally, which was both instructive and inspirational. We would highly recommend David as a motivational speaker and experienced Creative Entrepreneur.”
— Nicola Pinder and Simon Preston. Creatives Loop Ltd, UK/Germany.
Business Etiquette Across Cultures
There is no single international rulebook for how business should be done.
What seems professional, polite or perfectly normal in one country may be interpreted very differently somewhere else.
Having worked across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, David has accumulated stories and insights about business etiquette and cultural differences from around the world.
Rather than offering simplistic lists of cultural dos and don’ts, he encourages audiences to become better observers: to ask questions, remain curious and recognise their own cultural assumptions.
The objective isn’t to become an instant expert on every culture.
It is to become better at doing business with people who may see the world differently from you.
A Traveller as Well as a Business Adviser
David’s international work has taken him into business environments and cultures as varied as Saudi Arabia, China, the United States, Colombia, Kazakhstan and South Africa.
Beyond his professional work, David has continued travelling simply because he is curious about the world, other cultures and different ways of life.
For him, international work has always involved more than flying into a country, delivering a presentation and flying home again.
He is genuinely interested in other countries, cultures and ways of life — and in what we can learn when we encounter people whose assumptions and experiences differ from our own.
That traveller’s curiosity informs his approach to international business.
It also gives David plenty of stories.
Some are insightful. Some are surprising. And some concern things he discovered only after getting them wrong himself.
Speaking for International Audiences
David’s international speaking engagements have included conferences, business events and programmes organised by governments, creative industries organisations, business support agencies and international organisations.
He has spoken at events across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, including presentations for the United Nations in Geneva and the European Commission in Brussels.
His experience of speaking to international and multilingual audiences has also taught him the importance of communicating ideas clearly across linguistic and cultural boundaries.
“David has a knack for storytelling that makes his extensive international experience as an expert in creative entrepreneurship both accessible and engaging.”
— Catherine Churchill. E3 Youth Development Hub, South Africa.
International Business Talks Tailored to Your Event
David does not offer a single standard international business speech.
A keynote or presentation can be tailored around the objectives of the event and the interests of the audience, combining themes such as:
international business • business etiquette • cultural differences • international entrepreneurship • communication across cultures • entering international markets • international business relationships • creativity and business
The result can be thought-provoking, practical and entertaining — drawing on real experiences rather than abstract theories about international business.
Invite David to Speak at Your Event
If you are organising a conference or event with an international business dimension, David is happy to discuss your audience, objectives and programme.
Contact David to discuss your event
Or find out more about David Parrish as an international keynote speaker, including videos, testimonials and examples of international speaking engagements.