International Business Webinar Series: Does Cultural Resilience Matter in Overcoming Major Disruptions? The Italian Experience with the Global Health Pandemic

The global pandemic continues to test national economies, business enterprises, and individuals. Responses to this health emergency have varied, some nations weathering the storm better than others, while others completely failing the test.

What does research suggest in terms of effective responses of nations, business leaders, and individuals to major disruptions or crises? What have previous experiences with mega disruptions taught us? What coping strategies, traits or values have proven to be helpful?

Turning to the current pandemic, the panelists will focus on the specific case of Italy (with occasional comparison to others), and identify the response of the public sector, business leaders, and the society as a whole to the health emergency. Specifically, they will explore how cultural resilience has played a role so far, and what strategies, traits, or values have proven to be helpful. In addition, they address the question: ‘What have the Italians learned from this experience, and what they have re-discovered about themselves?’

Key takeaways:
• What has been the role of cultural resilience in shaping individual-level responses to major crises? What values, behaviors, and traits seem to be exhibited by individuals.
• Can cultural resilience help explain business community responses? What have been the resources and strategies deployed by companies?
• How can the public sector leverage cultural resilience while responding to national crises? Do’s and don’ts from the Italian experince.