As many as two-thirds (66%) of businesses are planning to sell to new countries in the next two years. This explosive growth means that executives are increasingly required to lead teams, negotiate deals, and drive strategies across diverse cultural and linguistic landscapes.
As a result, language proficiency has emerged as a critical differentiator for impactful leadership—it promotes stronger relationships and drives better communication, negotiation, and overall business strategy. Read on to learn about some first-hand experiences.
The Strategic Advantage of Language Proficiency
Language proficiency allows leaders to:
Build Trust and Rapport
55% of CEOs recognize that a lack of trust is a threat to their organization’s growth. Executives who speak the language of their teams and clients can build deeper connections, leading to stronger relationships and more cohesive work environments.
Enhance Cultural Sensitivity
Language skills bolster cultural competence—which enables leaders to find common ground with employees, clients, and business partners. This sensitivity can help prevent misunderstandings and support leaders as they navigate delicate situations.
Improve Decision-Making
McKinsey research shows that the average executive spends 40% of their time making decisions—and feels that most of that time is poorly used. Access to information in multiple languages allows leaders to make more informed decisions based on context like local market conditions, regulations, and customer preferences.
Negotiate More Effectively
Language skills can be a significant asset in negotiations, where the ability to understand the subtleties of language can lead to better outcomes. Leaders can then understand nuances with less risk of falling into the trap of biases or shortcuts.
Case Studies: Bilingual Leaders Driving Global Success
To illustrate this, let’s look at some renowned business leaders who have harnessed their language skills to propel their companies forward on the global stage.
1. Carlos Ghosn: Mastering Multilingual Leadership
Native Language: Portuguese
Additional Languages: French, English, Arabic, Japanese
Role: Former CEO of Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance
Ghosn has credited his own culturally diverse background and multilingualism as helping him integrate and thrive in international business. His fluency in Japanese was instrumental when taking over Nissan. Communicating with employees in their native language allowed him to gain trust and implement drastic changes, such as closing plants and reducing the workforce.
These skills helped him establish a strong alliance with Renault, leading him to become CEO of both Nissan and Renault—the first CEO of two Fortune global 500 companies simultaneously.
2. Sheryl Sandberg: Navigating International Expansion
Native Language: English
Additional Language: French
Role: COO of Meta (formerly Facebook)
During Sandberg’s tenure, Meta’s (Facebook’s) revenue grew from $272 million to $118 billion. It wasn’t only her experience in Google’s online advertising sales division that helped her drive impact—her proficiency in French played a pivotal role when expanding into French-speaking markets. Sandberg’s language abilities smoothed negotiations and facilitated compliance.
For instance, Sandberg played a leading role in negotiations with EU Commissioners. Her language skills helped ensure that the company’s operations in Europe aligned with local laws and cultural expectations. This enabled her to build strong relationships with key stakeholders, contributing to Meta’s successful international growth.
3. Indra Nooyi: Leveraging Language in a Globalized World
Native Language: Tamil
Additional Languages: English, Hindi
Role: Former CEO of PepsiCo
Former PepsiCo CEO and one of the world’s most powerful women according to Fortune, Indra Nooyi has highlighted that, “you cannot overinvest in communication skills”.
Nooyi’s ability to communicate in Tamil and Hindi allowed her to directly engage with local teams and government officials, ensuring that PepsiCo’s products and marketing strategies were culturally appropriate to Indian consumers. This was evident in the launch of Kurkure, a snack designed specifically for the Indian palate, which bolstered consumer loyalty.
Additionally, her language skills helped her navigate complex regulatory environments and build strong relationships with Indian leaders, which was instrumental in PepsiCo’s growth and investment in India. Nooyi was also an advocate of ongoing learning—when she stepped down after 24 years with PepsiCo, she encouraged employees to “be lifelong students”.
4. Mark Zuckerberg: Making the Effort Goes a Long Way
Native Language: English
Additional Language: Mandarin (basic proficiency)
Role: CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook)
Mark Zuckerberg’s effort to learn Mandarin, though at a basic proficiency level, was a strategic move to engage with China, a critical market for global technology companies like Facebook. His decision to conduct a public Q&A session in Mandarin at Tsinghua University in Beijing helped build rapport with Chinese stakeholders and demonstrate respect for their culture. It came after the business faced major roadblocks in China, including its banning.
The act of speaking Mandarin, despite his limited fluency, garnered Zuckerberg positive media attention and helped strengthen Meta’s ties with Chinese academia and business leaders, showcasing the importance of even basic language skills in international diplomacy.
Alongside the business benefits, Zuckerberg’s Mandarin abilities helped him build stronger connections among his family, as his wife, Priscilla Chan, has relatives who speak Mandarin. He even used the language to tell her grandmother about their decision to get married.
The Implications for L&D Leaders
As businesses continue to expand globally, the demand for leaders who can navigate different languages and cultures will only grow. By investing in language training, companies can equip their teams with the skills to drive success in international markets.
Learnlight’s language learning programs are uniquely positioned to meet this need, offering customized training that blends language learning with cultural awareness and leadership development. This holistic approach ensures that learning directly contributes to business outcomes, preparing leaders to excel on the global stage.
Language Training for Leadership Teams
Equip your leaders with the language skills they need to thrive in international business—book a demo of Learnlight today.
And if you’re interested in a premium English language training solution, explore Learnlight’s latest offering in association with Oxford University Press, Aspire.
