Company presentation In this document, you will learn more about Culturas: who we are, what we do and where we are going. www.culturas.no Facebook: Culturas AS +47 45 09 11 82
2 Table of Contents I. Culturas: Past, Present and Future... 3 1. History... 3 1.1. Company Achievements... 4 2. Present... 5 2.1. Main clients... 5 2.2. Vision... 5 2.3. Mission... 5 II. Supplemental information... 6
3 I. Culturas: Past, Present and Future 1. History With an ever more globalized business environment, cross-cultural understanding and adaptation to written and unwritten local rules have become fundamental for the success of an international company. While training diplomats preparing for transfer to or arriving in a foreign country, Larissa Costa Slottet, Founder and CEO of Culturas, realized just how important this would be. Lack of cultural preparation can lead not only to frustrating misunderstandings, but also to failure in establishing the important network of local contacts. Being prepared for the new culture will facilitate communication and ease the assimilation into the new environment. Based on the success of the training she led with the diplomats of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD), Larissa Costa Slottet, with previous background from private business noticed that similar training would be advantageous for transnational corporations also. After discussing this idea with the Founder and CEO of Mind2Mind, Jon Robert Dohmen, she was convinced. This is the background for starting Culturas. Following the establishment of Culturas in September 2012, the company was invited to present itself and its services at the celebration of BNCC s (Brazilian- Norwegian Chamber of Commerce) 10-year anniversary. Shortly after following a public bid for Language and Cultural Trainers at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD). Culturas was among the successful candidates. The relationship between BNCC and Culturas grew and in April 2013, Culturas was hired as a consultant for administrative and relationship-related matters. Having seen the importance of social media in cross-cultural communication early on and with a focus on Facebook and Linked-In, Culturas Facebook Company Page reached the milestone of 3000 likes on January 12 th 2015. Through this page Culturas will promote cultural aspects of Brazil and Norway, thus strengthening the relationship and understanding between both societies. See: https://www.facebook.com/culturasas
4 1.1. Company achievements 2012 16/10: Registration of Culturas AS as Shareholding Company in Oslo. 17/10: Launch of the company website: www.culturas.no 24/10: First official presentation to an audience of more than 50 business people at the Shippingklubb in Oslo. 11/11: Signature of a 4-year contract with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD) 2013 01/02: Opening of offer to private students 20/03: Signature of an undetermined duration contract with BNCC (Brazilian-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce) 25/06: 2000 likes on the company Facebook page
5 2. Present 2.1. Clients/ references Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs BNCC Brazilian Norwegian Chamber of Commerce Embassy of Brazil in Olso Monster NIBR Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research NorLARNet Norwegian Latin America Research Network NHO - Næringslivets Hovedorganisasjon Oslo Shipowners Association (Oslo Rederiforening) and Shipping & Offshore Network Teekay Corporation 2.2 Vision Culturas aims to expand cross-cultural understanding to improve the competitiveness of international companies. 3.3 Mission The organization, Culturas, will improve cultural understanding through training, in order to ease the communication and social relations between people, mainly from the Norwegian and Portuguese speaking communities.
6 III. Supplemental information Recommendations From Aud Marit Wiig, Ekspedisjonssjef/ Ambassadør av Norge i Brasil Jeg tiltrer som norsk ambassadør i Brasil høsten 2012, og i den forbindelse har Larissa Costa Slottet vært timelærer i portugisisk for meg gjennom hele våren 2012. Larissa har utarbeidet et eget undervisningsopplegg, basert på mitt begynnernivå og mine behov, der hun også har tatt hensyn til min arbeidssituasjon. Hun er språklig meget dyktig og effektiv, og undervisningen oppleves som meget relevant. Som pedagog er hun meget oppmuntrende og samarbeidsorientert. From Helle Klem, the Norwegian General Consul at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Larissa is a very good teacher, with great skills, language as well as cultural knowledge and as good pedagogic skills. She is a person that it is easy to relate to and a pleasure to work with. I will give you the best recommendations. Our courses have made difference in my personal and professional life in Rio de Janeiro. From Camilla Rie Hoe, Rådgiver Næringslivsseksjonen UD, Ambassadesekretar i Mosambik Jeg har våren 2012 hatt gleden av å ha Larissa som lærer i portugisisk. Vi har hatt ukentlige timer med èn til èn opplæring. Timene med Larissa har vært svært nyttige og konkret rettet inn mot min fremtidige stilling som ambassadesekretær ved ambassaden i Mosambik. Larissa har gode pedagogiske evner og har laget et personlig opplegg for meg som ikke kun har gitt meg grunnleggende kunnskap i grammatikk og ordforråd, men også trening i bruk av fagtermer og konversasjon rettet mot min arbeidshverdag. Jeg kan på det varmeste anbefale henne som en dyktig og profesjonell språklærer. Harald Martinsen President of the Brazilian- Norwegian Chamber of Commerce It has been a pleasure to get Culturas into BNCC as a consultant. Larissa has brought solid competence and network as well as a new and fresh way to approach different areas of our business. The working relationship is really good and it s improving as we got to know each other even better.