The Cultural Advantage: Building Global Teams That Complement, Rather Than Compete

Republished from Forbes Business Council

Global teams do not perform well because everyone works the same way; they perform well because each culture brings something the others cannot. When clarity, ambition and connection operate together inside the same organization, the result is a level of performance that is difficult to replicate in a single-country environment.

After years of leading teams across Australia, the United States and the Philippines, it has become clear to me that these three cultures form a rare combination that can be balanced and incredibly effective—and serve as an example to other leaders who are building global teams. These regions do not compete; they complement, and that complement creates the real advantage.

Australia: Direct, Pragmatic And Low Ego

In my experience, Australians often take an approach to work that is defined by clarity, grounded thinking and a strong preference for equality. According to Hofstede Insights, Australia is a low power distance country, which means teams operate with minimal hierarchy and leaders are expected to be approachable rather than authoritative. This can create space for open conversations, fast feedback and honest discussions that avoid unnecessary formality.

Australian’s communication style tends to be straightforward and unfiltered, often supported by a sense of humor that helps diffuse pressure during complex projects. There is a natural tendency to keep things simple, reduce noise and focus on the practical steps needed to move forward. I’ve found that Australians bring an ease to collaboration that makes cross-cultural work feel more natural, because the emphasis is on getting the job done without layers of politics or ceremony. They set a stable foundation for global teams, providing the clarity and steadiness that allow everyone else to operate with confidence.

United States: High Tempo, Ambitious And Built For Innovation

The United States contributes a completely different kind of strength. American work culture is often driven by ambition, pace and a belief that progress happens through rapid movement. Harvard Business School research (paywall) has shown that innovative American workplaces thrive because they encourage experimentation, accept failure as a normal part of progress and maintain openly collaborative environments.

From what I’ve seen, this mindset leads to a working rhythm that is fast, confident and focused on what is possible rather than what might go wrong. American teams naturally think in bigger horizons, looking for scale, improvement and growth even in stable environments. They tend to be comfortable raising the bar, challenging norms and pushing projects forward at a speed that transforms steady plans into significant moves. In multicultural teams, the United States often becomes the driving force that propels the organization into new levels of performance, providing the ambition and momentum that inspire everyone around them.

Philippines: Purpose-Driven, Relationship-Centered Connectors

The Philippines brings the human depth that can hold global teams together. In the 1970s, Virgilio Enriquez, the “Father of Filipino Psychology,” popularized the concept of kapwa, a Filipino value that signifies a shared identity and the idea of “the self in the other.” This lends itself to a high level of collectivism, which means people are naturally inclined to care for one another, support their teams and value strong relationships. This cultural foundation becomes a remarkable advantage in remote environments, where connection is easy to lose.

I’ve seen how Filipino professionals build trust quickly because they lead with warmth and sincerity. Leaders I’ve worked with remember birthdays, milestones, anniversaries and even the small details people often overlook. They check in on colleagues, celebrate wins together and provide encouragement in a way that feels genuine and consistent. Their ability to maintain emotional closeness across screens and time zones is one of the strongest cultural capabilities a global team can have. They bring purpose, pride and loyalty into their work, and they often act as the cohesive center that keeps the wider organization aligned and connected.

As I see it, Filipino teams do not just support the culture; they strengthen it. They make remote work feel personal, they make collaboration feel natural and they ensure the entire team stays united even when miles apart.

Why Different Cultures Can Thrive When Working Together

Each of these cultures shines in different ways, but the real strength appears when they operate as one. Australians can provide clarity, simplicity and grounded decision making that keeps the organization balanced. Teams in the United States can inject ambition, speed and a forward-leaning mindset that pushes the business into new territory. The employees in the Philippines can supply connection, loyalty and a sense of purpose that brings the entire group together.

This combination produces global teams that can communicate clearly, think boldly and support one another deeply. It allows organizations to grow with speed while maintaining stability, and to perform at a high level while staying human and connected. It is the blend of rational clarity, courageous ambition and genuine care that turns a standard operation into a truly global one.

As we look to the future of global work, I believe it will not be defined by cultural sameness, but rather cultural alignment. Together, different countries can create something far more powerful than any one culture could achieve alone. This is the cultural advantage, and it is the foundation of the strongest global teams operating today.