Welkom bij de Levende Bibliotheek Experience

Grazia is deeply committed to promoting diversity and fostering inclusion. A free-lance intercultural and expatriation trainer and University instructor, Grazia works with international students and teachers, businessmen, expatriates  and newcomers. She is the author and co-author of several intercultural educational games and tools for fostering intercultural communication and inclusion. She has also hosted with her family several asylum seekers and migrants. This has given her an understanding of the traumas and obstacles that newcomers undergo when arriving in the host country, and insights into what can empower them and help them find their place in the host country’s society, and, above all, has enriched her and her family with precious human exchanges.

Edwin Hoffman, an expert in intercultural communication, challenges approaches that reduce people to their ethnic or national identities, promoting genuine individual encounters beyond cultural stereotypes. Through his TOPOI model, he recognizes the unique, multiple identities and complex loyalties in intercultural interactions, aiming to resolve misunderstandings arising from cultural differences. Hoffman's work fosters respectful, effective communication, underscoring that it's individuals, with their universal needs, emotions, and abilities, who truly engage with each other, not abstract cultures.

Nel Jessurun specializes in intercultural system therapy, gender issues, genograms, transgenerational patterns, body language, and the impact of migration. She has authored several papers and two textbooks with the aim of enhancing psychotherapists' skills in holistic therapy. Her book "Embracing Differences" underscores the need for therapists to embrace diversity and provides a comprehensive framework for transcultural and systemic work, including practical tools and exercises for mental health professionals.

With a rich background from six different cultures and global IT roles, Clair excels as an intercultural competence and personal leadership trainer, enhancing international team dynamics. An award-winning storyteller, she also facilitates platforms for inspirational speakers through her firm, PEP Talk Productions, roles at SIETAR Netherlands, and chairing Toastmaster International conferences. Her journey across Iraqi, Iranian, Israeli, English, Dutch, and American cultures fuels her dedication to nurturing respectful, collaborative work atmospheres.

Ana del Barrio Saiz, founder of a prominent Dutch NGO since 1996, pioneers in fortifying diversity and social inclusion in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), dedicating her efforts to professional development, participatory family practices, and fostering democratic values within educational settings. Through her leadership, the organization orchestrates comprehensive training, action-research, and global collaborations, engaging with educational professionals and esteemed international networks.

With extensive experience in education and travel, I now lead BLEND TALENT, focusing on talent and language coaching in multicultural contexts, driven by my life motto, "Let life be a journey, instead of a guided tour!" I thrive in international environments, leveraging my multilingual skills and passion for cultural exchange, and aim to empower others through my diverse experiences as a committed, adaptable, and quick-learning mentor.

As a registered Industrial and Organisational Psychologist, I specialize in Cultural Intelligence, focusing on the cross-cultural adjustment of expatriate women. With a passion for development, I leverage my experience to train future managers in navigating diverse environments. My expertise encompasses facilitation, career counseling, and diversity management.