Case Study

Global Consulting in Action

Transforming Cultural Differences into Leadership Strengths

Brady Corporation | Asia-Pacific Leadership Development

The Challenge

Brady Corporation's rapid growth and geographic expansion required a high-performing executive team representing 10 cultures. Differences in communication, decision-making, and expectations of authority challenged collaboration and the team's ability tolead effectively across borders.

Kelly's Approach

Dr. Kelly Ottman designed and facilitated an immersive leadership experience in Vietnam, using real-world challenges to help executives navigate cultural differences, challenge traditional hierarchies, resolve conflict, and develop a shared leadership philosophy grounded in servant leadership. The impact extended beyond the experience, helping transform the group into a more collaborative, high-performing global team.

The Results: Leadership Development with Lasting Impact

Higher-performing global team

Brady's regional executive reported improved team effectiveness and a common leadership approach that bridged cultural differences.

Greater leadership ownership

Executives independently applied what they learned, introducing leadership initiatives across their own operations without direction from their regional leader.

Cross-cultural integration

Following a major acquisition involving American, Chinese, Swedish, and Korean cultures, the team integrated through common values and leadership understandings.

Lasting global impact

Leaders initiated projects beyond the original engagement, including four schools in China, ongoing community service in the Philippines, and partnerships in the United States.

The Lasting Value

What began as a five-day leadership experience became a catalyst for organizational change across countries and cultures.

Kelly's distinctive strength as a global consultant is her ability to turn cultural complexity into collaboration, develop leaders who influence others, and create meaningful results that extend beyond the consulting engagement.

Beyond the Case Study: A Five-Year Leadership Partnership

Kelly partnered with Brady Corporation's Asia-Pacific executive leadership team for more than five years, providing customized leadership development, experiential team-building, and individual executive coaching.

Her work extended beyond Vietnam to include an immersive team development experience in Maui, Hawaii. Using the journey from sunrise atop Mount Haleakalā to collaborative outdoor challenges, Kelly guided executives through the stages of team development, culminating in the creation of a shared team mission, values, and operating norms.

Complemented by one-on-one coaching with key executives, this long-term partnership reflects Kelly's ability to integrate experiential learning, cross-cultural expertise, and personalized coaching to strengthen leadership and team effectiveness across global operations.