#9 – Corina Goetz – Bridging Cultures: How to Lead Across Divides

Corina Goetz knows what it means to live between worlds. Born in East Germany and shaped by the fall of the Berlin Wall, her story is one of resilience, reinvention, and fearless transformation. Today, she’s an intercultural strategist and trusted advisor to global leaders navigating the complexities of doing business across the West and the Middle East.

From boardrooms in London to business deals in Riyadh, Corina helps leaders go beyond translation, teaching them how to build real trust, understand the unspoken, and thrive in unfamiliar terrain. As founder of her consultancy, she’s become a bridge for those daring enough to lead across cultures.

In this episode, we talk about:

(04:07) Growing up with limited travel in the Eastern Bloc

(09:47) Living under surveillance and missing family history

(13:02) How generational change creates new divides

(14:00) The lasting East–West cultural split

(18:29) Family, identity, and Middle Eastern stereotypes

(21:15) Bridging worlds: first impressions of Saudi Arabia

(25:54) A travel experience that challenged everything

(27:05) The side of Saudi Arabia no one talks about

(30:20) What most people misunderstand about culture

(33:53) Empowerment through learning and change

(36:43) Meeting Princess Reema: Saudi Arabia’s top US envoy

(42:54) A modern guide to Middle East business etiquette

Corina’s journey is an inspiring testament to the value of breaking down barriers, whether personal, cultural, or professional. Her passion for connection, inclusion, and courageous curiosity offers powerful lessons for any leader ready to step beyond their comfort zone.

About the host

Sarah Perugia is an expert women-in-leadership coach and whole-person leadership transformation specialist, dedicated to empowering female leaders to thrive. With 20 years of experience, she partners with organisations across the globe to develop and retain top female talent, strengthen the female leadership pipeline, and promote gender equality in senior roles. Drawing on her background in acting, neuro-linguistic programming, and Positive Psychology, Sarah empowers leaders to advance their careers, build confidence, enhance performance, and ultimately flourish and thrive. Her offering includes one-on-one executive leadership coaching, group workshops, and bespoke programmes.

If you’d like to learn more about Sarah and her work with women in leadership, you can find out more here: https://www.sarahperugia.com/women-in-leadership/

In this show, we cover

Cultural Bias, Leading Internationally, Middle Eastern Business, Curiosity, Overcoming Stereotypes, Relationship-Building

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and more!

Contact and Connect

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-perugia-leadership-coaching/

Connect with Corina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinagoetz/