Discover Denmark’s
unwritten rules
Create a live event
With Kay Xander Mellish
In-person or virtual presentation
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Individual coaching
Bringing a specialist to Denmark from elsewhere in the world is a big step – and an expensive step. It’s crucial that both the new arrival and their family feel comfortable in their new home.
Kay offers a “new in Denmark” presentation that can be delivered virtually – and possibly before your new team member ever leaves home – to explain the basics of day-to-day life in Denmark.
What is MobilePay? Should I buy a car right away? What are the supermarkets like? Do I need winter clothing, and if so, what? How can I make Danish friends?
These are some of the questions Kay has been asked during her sessions with newly arrived professionals in Denmark. Book Kay to help your new arrival adjust and thrive.
In-person or virtual presentation
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Groups of newcomers
Many Danish companies hire groups of newcomers all at once, particularly when there is a major but defined project to be completed, such as the construction of a factory. Far from home and speaking mostly with each other, these highly-trained specialists can feel lost in a Danish working environment.
Bringing in Kay as part of the welcome process can help smooth the process of creating teamwork with their Danish colleagues. We can explain how Danes emphasize individual autonomy and downplay hierarchy – not every decision needs to be approved by the Danish big boss! – and how when things go wrong, the Danish way is to figure out the cause and fix it, not figure out who can be blamed.
In addition, we can explain the social aspects of Danish work culture. Danes tend to avoid small talk – at least, they like to work first and party later – but they also expect everyone to show up and enjoy the team lunches, as well as the occasional team social event, where alcohol will be flowing!
Hiring Kay early in the process can help avoid cultural misunderstandings later on.
In-person or virtual presentation
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Danish work culture – for internationals AND Danes
Working together across cultures involves a great deal of managing expectations. What does this person from a different culture expect of me, and why? Once these expectations are out in the open, we can work together better.
Internationals in Denmark have expectations based on their own country’s work culture, their educational structure, and their previous jobs. They may expect a strong, commanding boss; they may believe it is necessary to work long hours or skip vacations in order to prove their worth to the company.
But Danes have their own expectations. For example, they expect their team members to speak up when they disagree with a statement – even when the person making it is their boss. But this is uncommon in most working cultures – “I would never disgree with my boss just like I would never disagree with my parents,” one Phd healthcare specialist from southern Europe told Kay.
If your company or organization involves Danes and internationals working together, Kay can create a presentation or workshop that will help everyone discuss their expectations in an enjoyable, entertaining, but honest and useful environment.
In-person or virtual presentation
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US-DK Cultural Differences
How can Danes survive and thrive when working with the energetic, excitable Americans? And how can Americans better understand Danish flat hierarchy, Janteloven, and humor?
In this presentation, Kay Xander Mellish – an American who has lived in Denmark for more than a decade – delivers insights and strategies for how teams from the two nationalities can work better together.
Based on her books “Working with Americans: Tips for Danes” and “Working with Danes: Tips for Americans” Kay will help Danish and American teams, colleagues, and customers co-operate more smoothly.
In-person or virtual presentation
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Tailored presentations
Kay can tailor a presentation to your group and your objectives. A former journalist, she can interview selected people in your organization to find out where the pain points are, then address them in a speech or workshop – then disappear! so your team can discuss solutions in private, if you prefer.
An eager traveller, Kay has spoken throughout Europe on topics as diverse as Danish work culture for IT specialists (Poland) to Danish companies’ flexibility for parents (Portugal) to Danish design from a corporate perspective (Hong Kong). She also travels throughout Denmark to deliver live presentations.
In addition, she is happy to run a virtual presentation for your team located anywhere in the world.
In-person presentation
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The How to Live in Denmark Game Show
Looking for a fun event for your company or organization?
Kay’s very first presentation, originally launched in 2014, has been a hit from Aalborg to Esbjerg to Copenhagen.
We use the format of TV game shows – which are popular around the world – to put participants at their ease and get them interacting with each other. “How To Live in Denmark Jeopardy” is one of our most popular games, along with “Who Wants to Pay Topskat?” (our version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”) and the mind-reading game, “What Would the Danes Say?”
The game is in English and can be tailored to last from 30 minutes to 90 minutes. We can also personalize the show for your group by making one of the question categories about your team, location, or company.
It’s a great way for internationals and Danes to relax and have fun together.
Contact Kay
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