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ICYMI: Michigan Business Beat | Fathy Shetiah, 7C Lingo, Part 2; Boosting Workplace CQ Drive & Knowledge

December 11, 2025

Michigan Business Beat

Chris Holman welcomes back Fathy Shetiah, Founder, President & CEO, 7C Lingo, Lansing, MI, to the MBN studio at the Capital Region International Airport, Lansing, MI. This is interview 2 of 3 leading into an upcoming MBN Miniseries that will be hosted by Fathy.

Watch Fathy and Chris discuss CQ Drive and CQ Knowledge, why motivation matters first, and how deeper cultural understanding improves workplace collaboration in the YouTube video shared below:

Chris had several more questions for Fathy to lead into these topics over a series of interviews for which this is the second.

Welcome back Fathy, remind our audience about CQ?

CQ Drive is about motivation. What are the biggest factors that influence whether someone is truly motivated to engage across cultures in a workplace setting?

Many people rely on stereotypes or “fun facts” about cultures. How does CQ Knowledge go deeper, and why is it essential for effective collaboration?

What are the risks for teams or leaders who skip CQ Drive and CQ Knowledge and jump straight to action or strategy?

For professionals who feel uncertain or hesitant, what practical steps can help increase their motivation to improve cultural intelligence?

CQ Knowledge includes understanding values, norms, and systems. What types of knowledge matter most for leaders working in diverse Michigan communities or global markets?

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Fathy is looking to start a conversation about Cultural Intelligence (besides what is it) would be:

-How is CQ different from just being culturally “aware” or “sensitive”?

-What are some common misunderstandings people have about what culture is?

-What happens when CQ is missing in a conversation or workplace setting?

-Can you share a real-life example where high or low CQ made a noticeable difference?

-What’s a common myth or misconception about who needs Cultural Intelligence?

-How does CQ show up in places we don’t always think about—like in schools, healthcare, or customer service?

-Can you think of a moment where you personally had to adjust your behavior or thinking because of cultural differences?
-What’s one simple way someone listening today could start building their Cultural Intelligence?
-If we could all grow in our CQ, what kind of changes do you think we’d see in our communities or workplaces?

You can pick and choose or throw your own questions in there! There are some in this list that are similar or could be combined.

These ones are specifically tailored to the CQ Knowledge and Drive section:

– Is CQ something people are born with—or can anyone develop it?

– How can someone deepen their understanding of another culture without falling into tokenism or assumptions?

-Why is it important to understand your own cultural lens—not just someone else’s?

-How does CQ Knowledge help in places like healthcare, education, or public service?

-What are some tools or ways people can expand their cultural knowledge without traveling?

– Why do some people lean into differences with curiosity while others avoid or resist them?

– What does it look like when someone has high CQ Drive but low CQ Knowledge? Or the other way around?

– How can organizations or teams help people stay motivated to learn about culture—not just check the box?

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