School of WorkLife Book Club Online Class The Homegoing Practice: How to Develop Cultural Intelligence and Lead Across Difference Class
School of WorkLife Book Club Online Class
The Homegoing Practice: How to Develop Cultural Intelligence and Lead Across Difference Class
What Homegoing Teaches Us About Perspective-Taking, Inherited Frameworks, and Cross-Cultural Understanding
How do we become more intelligent about the cultural frameworks, inherited assumptions, and different perspectives shaping how people work, communicate, and collaborate?
Not in major conflicts alone — but in everyday conversations, assumptions, and misunderstandings.
This live online class from School of WorkLife explores how fiction can deepen cultural intelligence, perspective-taking, and leadership through literature, story, reflection, structured thinking, and practical application.
Inspired by Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, this class is part of the School of WorkLife Book Club series — story-led live classes that explore professional learning through literature, reflective practice, and real WorkLife situations.
At the centre of the class is Andy’s story — a global software development manager whose understanding of leadership, communication, and cross-cultural collaboration changes after reading a novel about inheritance, identity, perspective, and the unseen frameworks people carry through the world.
As Andy begins recognising how differently people interpret situations through inherited assumptions, histories, experiences, and cultural frameworks, he gradually realises that many workplace misunderstandings are not communication failures alone.
Through his experience, we explore how cultural intelligence develops through curiosity, perspective-taking, humility, deeper interpretation, and learning to navigate difference more thoughtfully.
The class introduces the HOMEGOING framework — inspired by Homegoing — a practical reflective structure designed to help you think more clearly about perspective-taking, inherited assumptions, cross-cultural understanding, and leading intelligently across difference.
This is a structured, story-led learning experience that combines:
The Reading Room — where stories open things up
The Writer’s Table — where ideas become personal
The Workshop — where thinking becomes something you can use
The Rehearsal Space — where you begin to put that into practice
What to Expect
A live online 45-minute class
Exploration of how fiction can deepen cultural intelligence and perspective-taking
Small group learning (maximum 6 participants)
Guided reflection and notebook exercises
A practical framework you can continue using in your own WorkLife
A class PDF to return to afterwards
You will not be asked to share anything personal.
There will be opportunities for group reflection throughout the class.
Who This Class Is For
This class is designed for professionals navigating the realities of modern working life — including cross-cultural collaboration, leadership, communication, international teams, stakeholder management, organisational complexity, and perspective-taking.
It may be particularly valuable for people leading diverse teams, working across cultures, managing global collaboration, or trying to navigate difference more thoughtfully and effectively in professional life.
Preparation
Prior to the class, you’ll receive a short reflective question. This is the only preparation needed, along with bringing a notebook to the class.
You don't need to have read the book to engage with the lesson — though you may find yourself wanting to after the class.
Ticket Options
Signature — £35
Includes:
Live online class
Class PDF
Signature Plus — £45
Includes:
Live online class
Class PDF
How Reading Fiction Deepens Professional Judgement and Ethical Leadership Story Lesson
Signature Pro — £90
Includes:
Live online class
Class PDF
How Reading Fiction Deepens Professional Judgement and Ethical Leadership Story Lesson
The Power of Fiction: Developing Character Traits Through Reading WorkLife Compass Guided Programme
Booking Information
Tickets are non-refundable.
Thank you for respecting the time, preparation, and care that go into each class.
If you’re unable to attend, you’re welcome to gift your place to someone else — simply send me their name and email address so I can forward the class information and resources.
About School of WorkLife
School of WorkLife creates story-based learning resources designed to help people think more clearly about the challenges, conversations, and decisions that shape a working life.
The work combines storytelling, reflection, structured frameworks, and practical application to support self-direction, self-leadership, and meaningful professional development.