A rich and thought-provoking kōrero with Vance Walker — a returning guest and a true thought leader in integrating Māori culture with health and safety practices.
In this episode, we explored how cultural intelligence can evolve from an academic concept into a powerful, data-driven tool for real-world change, particularly through the Me Mataara project. Vance's work is pushing boundaries, not just in terms of reducing injuries for Māori workers, but also in redefining what it means to take culture seriously in our profession.
Here are a few key takeaways from the conversation:
Cultural intelligence is ready for the real world.
Me Mataara is showing us how to move beyond theory by connecting cultural values contained in Kia Tupato and Te Whare Tapa Whā with measurable workplace safety outcomes.
Data is the new lever for cultural change.
One of the big gaps Vance identified is the lack of hard business data to support cultural initiatives. Me Mataara aims to fill that gap, offering evidence businesses can use to build solid cases for cultural integration.
Worker-centric change starts with leadership.
Engaging both workers and leaders — through workshops, storytelling, and tech — is at the heart of the project’s success. And that includes using platforms and voices that resonate with younger and more diverse audiences.
We need to challenge assumptions.
Whether it’s our view of cultural intelligence as "soft" or our limited understanding of cultural dynamics across gender and ethnicity, Vance reminded us that looking at things differently is the first step toward doing things differently.
If this episode sparked any ideas or questions for you, let’s keep the conversation going. You can connect with me on LinkedIn — I’d love to hear your thoughts. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, please follow or subscribe, and share it with someone who might find value in this kaupapa.
