Özlem Cekic

Özlem Cekic provides practical ideas and advice for public and private workplaces to bridge cultural differences, promote understanding among employees, and reap the benefits of a culturally diverse workforce.

Audience takeaways:

• Understand the importance of a common understanding between employees from diverse cultural backgrounds to create a harmonious and productive workplace environment.
• Learn strategies to break down cultural barriers and foster responsibility among employees, contributing to a stronger sense of unity and collaboration.
• Explore methods for conflict resolution and effective communication within a multicultural workforce, enhancing productivity and employee satisfaction.
• Discover how to leverage the benefits of diversity in the workplace, including increased innovation, creativity, and a broader perspective on problem-solving.
• Gain insights into Özlem's experiences and recommendations for creating an inclusive workplace that supports individuals from diverse backgrounds and allows them to thrive and contribute to society.

Özlem Cekic shares her experiences and insights on fostering common understanding and building bridges across cultures, emphasizing the importance of democratic dialogue and open discussions to find common ground.

Audience takeaways:

• Learn practical strategies for creating a democratic debate and constructive dialogue between individuals with opposing beliefs.
• Understand the power of listening, understanding, and engaging in discussions to find solutions that work for everyone.
• Explore ways to build bridges instead of perpetuating divisions, enabling cultural integration and fostering a sense of unity within communities.
• Gain insights into Özlem's personal encounters with individuals from different backgrounds, challenging the notion of avoiding tough conversations and encouraging empathy.
• Discover the benefits of cultural diversity in schools and workplaces, and learn how to create an inclusive environment that values and harnesses the strengths of diverse employees.

The world is experiencing a wave of refugees - and the number of immigrants is increasing. Never before has there been such a strong need for common understanding between communties within a country. We need to create understanding despite differences.

Özlem’s motto is that despite our differences, we have more that brings us together than pushes us apart. In her experience, conflicts arise due to the absence of a democratic debate between people. Talking things through is how Özlem believes we will find common ground between different cultures.

Staying true to her motto Özlem Cekic has visited a variety of people – both ones with common values and those she had completely opposite beliefs from. She calls it a ”discussion cafe” where the goal isn’t to convince the opposition of your point, but to listen, understand and get a discussion going. In the end you can create solutions that work for everyone and create a common understanding.

Lets build bridges instead of digging graves. Özlem tells the story of how she met with right-wing extremists, immigrants who refuse to integrate, islamist extremists and conservative christian priests. The thing all they have in common is that most people don’t want to talk to them, and most people choose to ignore their arguments because they are tough to listen to.

Speaker Özlem Cekic provides ideas for how schools, as well as public and private workplaces can build bridges between cultures and help individuals rise in society.

Possible angles:

1) How can you give boys with a minority background a positive future?

2) Headscarf – freedom or oppression?

3) How can we get immigrants to vote?