Description: Bernadette Wightman can now smile. On the street that is. Now serving as president of Cisco Canada, Wightman comes to her post after previously serving as a Cisco executive in Russia where she discovered it is not considered socially acceptable to smile at strangers. It’s an important reminder of the need to be sensitive to the various cultural differences you might encounter in an international business career.

Source: Globeandmail.com

Date: November 17, 2015

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/avoid-being-lumped-in-with-the-rich-men-and-idiots/article27287376/

Discussion Points:

1) Does an international career interest you? Why or why not?

2) Why have accountants traditionally had broad opportunities to work internationally?

3) Despite the move towards IFRS, it has been said that accounting standards are applied differently in various countries. Why do you think this might be?