IMPOSSIBLE MARKETS

Business conference

for cross-cultural differences

2 June 2017 Sofia

Overview

Impossible Markets is a business conference dedicated to

understanding cross-cultural differences across nations,

industries and organizations. The event is a platform for

sharing knowledge and experience with professionals and

managers from the leading organizations worldwide. Each

year we focus on a specific hot topic that relates to the

current happenings and actual economical situation.

3 YEARS3 CONFERENCES

PARTICIPANTS FROM MORETHAN 10 INDUSTRIES

SPEAKERS FROM MORE THAN 20COUNTRIES

WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE MARKETS?

IMPOSSIBLE MARKETS 2017: OVERCOMING CROSS-INDUSTRIAL CHALLENGES. START-UP VS CORPORATE CULTURE

Following three successful editions from 2014 on, this year Impossible Markets will be held on 2 June, 2017,

Sofia. In line with global business world challenges together will search for the answer of the question Is it

possible to integrate and learn from both Start-up and Conservative Corporate organizational culture.

C-LEVEL MANAGERS

SENIOR MANAGERS

HR & TEAM LEADS

W H O I S I M P O S S I B L E M A R K E T S F O R ?

What is Impossible Markets' VALUE  for its participants? 

"I think the key part of the conference for me was theopportunity to hear from and talk to people with a wide rangeof knowledge and experience of working in different countries.

Also the chance to facilitate a workshop to a cross-culturalaudience."

Simon Chater, Managing Partner, Joda Group, UK 

“An extraordinary seminar that turns into a boutique workshopfor sharing ideas. Thanks to the various speakers from differentcultures and areas the event achieves cultural diversication that

helps the participants to expand their horizons." Marwan Al-Bitar, Marketing Manager, Zepter Bulgaria (2015)

WHY CROSS- CULTURAL DIFFERENCIES MATTER?

a. Communication challenges – managers must learn to

keep the lines of communication open.  

b. Frequent communication-it is essential to success.

c. Need appropriate technological support (video

teleconferencing, interactive groupware, etc.)

d. Technology challenges – all team members must have

the same or similar technologies at their locations.

e. Policies and norms for use must be provided.

f. Diversity Challenges – different cultures have

different perceptions on time and task importance.

g. Providing the appropriate technologies -for each

culture is key.

What challenges do managers meet in a cross- cultural environment?

Companies have their own particular needs and they present a unique and

rapidly changing scene to run their business. To achieve success

multicultural organizations should think and act outside the traditional

framework. This implies using new knowledge in the application of the best

practical experience, as well as the experience of other organizations which

are involved with the same or similar services. Most companies and

organizations define and use one preferred leadership model and set of

competencies – which is, typically, strongly influenced by western

management theory and practice. However, while western leadership

knowledge and practices have been effective in many parts of the world in

the past, this approach has limitations in today’s global business

environment. In line with this, there is a need for a new vision of leadership

as one “based on eastern, western and tribal wisdom “.

A C A D . P R O F . D R M I R J A N A R A D O V IĆ M A R K O V IĆ I N S T I T U T E O F

E C O N O M I C S C I E N C E S   A N D F A C U L T Y O F B U S I N E S S

  E C O N O M I C S A N D E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P , B E L G R A D E , S E R B I A

S P E A K E R O F I M 2 0 1 6

CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION !?

- What are you doing? Oops. I was caught! There was no good way to explain to James,

a septuagenarian Brit, why I reached over the fence and tied some twisted white and red

wool threads on his blooming plum tree. I couldn’t even explain why I needed a plum

tree. James was a former banker obsessed with golf, micro-investments and horse

racing. He owned a neat cottage with two shiny Lexus parked at the front. It was just a

no go. My mind was racing. It wouldn’t do to reply: “It’s just a pagan custom from my

homeland, you won’t understand”. James already lived in constant stress, having to

share a street with me and my Polish neighbors - I didn’t want to completely traumatize

him. Every time he saw me, he greeted me and flipped my nationality – all through

February I was Brazilian (and from Nicaragua on weekends). The way this was going, he

would decide I was practicing voodoo and we’d end up in a right pickle. The silence

dragged on, so eventually I babbled: - Well, it's just that I haven’t seen any storks around

Oxford. I hope you don’t mind? The most resplendent talent of purebred Englishmen is

their ability to deal with existential absurdities by employing impeccable manners and

refusing to make any further enquiries. James's face broke into a benign smile: -

Certainly not. Please, don’t let me disturb you. With that, he turned his back on me and

began picking daffodils with surgical precision.

the Martenitsa phenomenon......a short firsthand story about

cultural differences 

Maria Spirova is the only Bulgarian journalist who won the 2014 Reporting

Europe International Journalism Prize.

She currently lives in Oxford and works in

London, but is often seen in Bulgaria as well.

She was one of the IM2015 speakers.

ADRIO  INNOVATING FUTURE

PROGRESS, SUCCESS, EFFECTIVENESS

At Adrio we value innovation as a way of thinking, flexibility and willingness to work hard in a friendly atmosphere.

We believe that development through shared vision and integrated values makes every goal possible. Our team is specialized in organizational development, leadership and team management.

Our mission is to partner companies in achieving their goals through increasing their teams’ effectiveness. We accomplish our mission through the constant development of our own team. We believe that correctness, professionalism and individual approach are the key to our success

Organizational consultingChange managementProfessional couching

Workshops & TrainingsEvents managementEmployer branding & Recruitment Process Improvement

Impossible Markets is delivered with the support of:

www.conference.adrio.eu