What We Do
Building a Connected Culture
When business, education, and community organizations partner, they can develop an interconnected culture and find creative ways to lead thoughfully, solve problems, and improve their communities.
Our Leadership Programs
Successful interactions do not just happen; instead, they are developed and learned through intention, experience, and over time—centering human relations. Our flagship Virtual Intercultural Leadership Academy (VILA) program is designed to strengthen leadership skills and the capacity to communicate, adapt, and work effectively across perspectives. VILA offers comprehensive learning activities through engaging experiences and opportunities that enable participants to lead wisely and with intent.
We help leaders strengthen intercultural capacity and work effectively with the people they engage every day.
Leading, engaging, and working together for the greater good.
Our Programs
Leadership Development
Intercultural Capacity in Leadership | 7-Week Cohort and Masterclasses
The Virtual Intercultural Leadership Academy (VILA) is a seven-week immersive program designed to connect across cultures and strengthen leadership capacity through the lens of human connection and intercultural growth. This intensive experience blends theory and practice, guiding participants through weekly modules that deepen self-awareness, enhance interpersonal effectiveness, and equip them to lead more intentionally in real-world settings.
Whether you are leading teams, supporting community efforts, or driving change within your organization, VILA offers the tools and mindset to lead with purpose in today’s interconnected world.
Foundations of Intercultural Leadership
Discover how our experiences and backgrounds shape how we lead and connect with others. Build awareness of the perspectives that influence your leadership.
Intercultural Capacity in Leadership
Learn key components of intercultural capacity and how they enhance your leadership effectiveness. Understand how to develop the mindset and skill set to engage across varied perspectives.
Achieving Leadership Styles
Explore frameworks and learn how to choose your achieving style, lead collaboratively, build coalitions, and leverage team members’ strengths.
Communicating Across Cultures
Improve your ability to communicate clearly and respectfully, especially when interacting with individuals who may think or act differently from you.
Conflict Resolution in Professional Settings
Examine how cultural values impact conflict styles and practice strategies for navigating disagreement while maintaining relationships.
Creating Collaborative and Engaged Environments
Explore ways to make others feel valued, heard, and engaged in group settings. Discover small changes that make a big difference in how people experience your leadership.
Strategic Leadership and Culture Change
Explore how intercultural leaders can intentionally influence systems and drive sustainable cultural change within their organizations or communities.
Intercultural Leadership Retreat (ILR) | In-Person Experience
The Intercultural Leadership Retreat in-person options are available in one-day or three-day formats and focus on the self, team, or organization. The Intercultural Leadership Retreat is a full-day, immersive experience designed to equip leaders with the awareness, knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to lead effectively across perspectives.
Grounded in human systems and frameworks—the retreat offers a carefully sequenced series of facilitated experiences. Through real-world examples, interactive sessions, and reflective dialogue, participants will deepen their self-awareness, strengthen cross-professional communication, and explore actionable strategies to grow leadership capacity at the personal, team, and organizational levels. Optional add-ons include the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®), offering leaders individualized feedback and guided development plans to support long-term growth in intercultural capacity. A group profile is also available, but requires all participants to complete the individual IDI®.
One-day or three-day retreat experiences are available.
- Personal Leadership Development: Ideal for individual contributors, emerging leaders, or cross-functional teams
- Team Leadership Development: Ideal for intact teams, departments, or groups seeking cohesion and collaboration
- Organizational Development – Strategic Leadership for Culture and Change: Ideal for leaders shaping team culture, driving organizational change, or aligning strategy to build people-centered capacity, and high-performing environments
Coaching and Development
Strengthen your leadership and intercultural capacity through an integrated approach that combines assessment, self-awareness, dialogue, and practical strategies for growth.
- Personal Leadership Coaching – Engage in one-on-one Personal Leadership Coaching to deepen leadership effectiveness. Coaching supports leaders in moving beyond cultural constraints, leveraging their full intelligence, and applying practical strategies for growth. Each session builds clarity and confidence, helping leaders apply new skills with impact in their daily roles and relationships.
- Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®) – Apply the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®) to expand leadership capacity. This research-based tool helps leaders assess their ability to shift perspectives and adapt practices across differences and commonalities. Through a 60–90 minute individual debrief, with an optional group session, leaders gain actionable insights, practical strategies, and a clear path to strengthen their intercultural capacity in daily leadership and decision-making
Workforce and Emerging Leaders
Workforce Readiness Academy
Strong personal and people skills are the foundation for successful careers. Identifying and building these skills can be challenging. The Workforce Readiness Academy prepares young people to succeed in school, work, and life by developing the human skills employers value alongside technical preparation.
The six-week Workforce Readiness Academy helps students ages 16–24 prepare for jobs, careers, and leadership opportunities.
Through hands-on activities and real-world scenarios, participants strengthen essential skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, professional behavior, and leadership. They also explore how values, shared purpose, active engagement, and situational awareness contribute to stronger teams and positive results.
The program focuses on two core areas:
Developing Self-Motivation
Explore what motivates you, strengthen confidence, take thoughtful risks, and align your values with your actions.
Inspiring Personal Leadership
Build collaboration, create shared purpose, navigate conflict constructively, and make responsible decisions that contribute to stronger teams, organizations, and communities.
NextGen Glocal Leaders · YES!
Leading Locally. Connecting Globally
NextGen Glocal Leaders is a unique, virtual program for teens ages 14–17 designed to cultivate global skills, intercultural understanding, and leadership confidence. Participants engage in a safe, minors-only learning community where they connect with peers worldwide, explore diverse perspectives, and develop practical tools to make a positive impact in their local and global communities.
Conversational Leadership
World Café · Story Circles · Facilitated Dialogue
Participate in Intercultural Story Circles and World Café Experiences to practice conversational leadership through meaningful dialogue on issues shaping organizations and communities. These experiences strengthen listening, perspective-taking, and trust, while fostering spaces for reflection and connection. Each session generates shared insights that leaders can carry forward into daily leadership practice and community engagement.
Community and Global Connections
Thought Leadership Conference · Community Collaboratives · International/Global Learning
Rooted Locally. Connected Globally.
Based in the South Bend–Elkhart region, ICRI works with leaders, organizations, and communities locally, nationally, and internationally. We connect local experience with broader perspectives to strengthen leadership, learning, and collaborative action.
In 2023, a consistent 65% of attendees came from the South Bend-Elkhart region, even throughout the recent COVID-19 pandemic. This enduring participation highlights the critical role our services play within the community and nation.
Sustained local engagement directly aligns with our core mission: fostering a vibrant network that connects business leaders, educational institutions, and community thought leaders. By prioritizing glocal communities, we actively cultivate a collaborative ecosystem that benefits all stakeholders and invests in local and broad-based leadership.
Conference
Thought Leadership Conference: Features a diverse speaker lineup, intentional networking opportunities, and ongoing support resources.
Community
Virtual Thought Leadership Community: Offers access to subject matter experts, development and organizational resources.
Academy
Intercultural Capacity in Leadership: Offers a seven-week immersive program designed to strengthen people-centered leadership.
Symposium
Youth Empowerment Symposium (YES!): Builds career readiness and soft skills to help students grow as leaders in their schools and communities.
Generating Change for Greater Impact
Interactive Virtual Sessions
Engage with instructors and peers in live, facilitated sessions.
In-depth Discussions
Explore key concepts and share real-world experiences.
Practical Activities
Apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios and develop actionable strategies.
Our Mission Is to Build the Foundation of a Better Future
Future