I help professionals and individuals to successfully interact with people from different cultural backgrounds and feel confident in any multinational environment.

International expert in cross-cultural communication

About Me

Hello, my name is Mona Khalil.

My international background and upbringing, academic education and decades of professional experience in a multinational environment form the foundation of my expertise. I ensure my clients develop cross-cultural communication skills — a key competence for effective and respectful interaction with people from different countries.

The interdisciplinary method that I have elaborated provides a deep understanding of the mentality and psychology of people from different cultures, easy adaptation of one’s behavior to intercultural context and the ability to work, communicate and live comfortably in any international environment.

My Expertise

Research, analysis, and interpretation of differences in value systems, cognitive patterns, psychological frameworks, and behavioural models across world cultures. Examination of how national cultures shape business practices, political processes, professional interaction as well as social and personal life. Development of professional and individual cross-cultural competence.

My Geography

Cairo — Dubai — Moscow.
I work at the intersection of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, the Gulf region, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Moscow

Cairo

Dubai

Education

Harvard University course “Religious Literacy: Traditions and Scriptures”

Harvard University course “Christianity Through Its Scriptures”

Harvard University course “Islam Through Its Scriptures”

Professional Memberships

Additional Education

MA in Philology (Roman-Germanic Philology), Lomonosov Moscow State University. Diploma thesis: “The Category of ‘Otherness’ in Contemporary English Postmodernism: The Works of Angela Carter”.

PhD (Philosophy of Culture), MGIMO University. Dissertation topic: "Socio-Cultural Aspects of Moslem-Christian Interaction (case-study of mass communication and systems of education in Russia and Egypt)"

Professional Activity

Speaker at international conferences and forums (Lausanne Business School, Verona Eurasian Economic Forum, etc.)

Country advisor on Russia, Egypt, and the Arab world, cooperating with analytical centres, diplomatic institutions, and international companies.

Founder of the international project “Cross-Cultural Competence”.

Author of university courses in philosophical, cultural and applied anthropology, philosophy of culture, ancient Greek philosophy.

Author of educational and corporate programmes, courses, seminars, lectures, consulting, and mentoring in cross-cultural communication and cross-cultural psychology for business professionals, policymakers, diplomats, organizations and private clients.

Over 20 years of experience in international relations, global business, journalism, academic and professional education, strategic cross-cultural and country consulting.

Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs

SIETAR Europa — Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research

International Association of Cultural Studies

International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology

Research Interests

Philosophical anthropology

Philosophy of culture

International relations

Behavioural economics

Religious studies

Social psychology

Cultural anthropology

Ethnology

Value orientation studies

Economic anthropology

Cross-cultural psychology

Social anthropology

Cross-cultural studies

expert in cross-cultural communication

Mona Khalil

My programmes are based on a scientific approach, empathy and international reasoning. They are designed for intellectuals who want to think beyond local frameworks and act with confidence in today’s world of extensive cultural diversity

Services

Private consulting and mentoring in cross-cultural relations

For Individual Clients

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Expert guidance for navigating country-specific contexts

Country Advisory

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Presentation of programmes in cross-cultural competence. Professional solutions for international business, politics and social life

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Presentation

A closed, highly personalized consulting format for complex strategic challenges in international contexts

VIP / Premium Consulting

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Cross-cultural competence programmes for organizations and communities engaged in international interaction

For Organizations

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Cross-cultural proficiency for international negotiations and business communication

For Business

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Clients & Partners

Feedback

Dr. Mona Khalil is an outstanding cross-cultural scholar and consultant. She blends an in-depth understanding of what cultures are, what are their origins, and how to deal with them, together with her own flavorful background. She has been instrumental in helping me deal with the Egyptian reality when I ran my own company in Cairo, as she seemed to always have a satisfactory answer to any question.

Pavlos Tarasanski, M.Sc. (Econ. & BA)

Lecturer, Degree Programme in International Business HZ University of Applied Sciences (Vlissingen, the Netherlands)

Dr. Mona Khalil’s cross-cultural communication programmes combine rigorous academic expertise with practical strategic insight that is essential for modern diplomacy and international affairs. Her training enables politicians and professionals engaged in foreign relations to understand cultural drivers of decision-making, negotiation behaviour, and communication styles, thereby strengthening the quality and effectiveness of international interaction. The consultancy and training delivered through these programmes have a direct practical impact by reducing miscommunication in negotiations, preventing culturally driven conflicts, and enabling decision-makers to reach concrete diplomatic and strategic objectives more efficiently and with greater predictability.

Doha Assy, Member of Parliament (Cairo, Egypt)

Cross-cultural training by Mona Khalil delivered to our Egyptian and Danish teams helped both to understand that cultural norms are relative. She illustrated with examples what may feel uncomfortable or wrong from one cultural perspective can be perfectly acceptable in another. Her deep knowledge of cultural and religious differences and belief systems was grasping attention of all those present. Her engaging storytelling about history and cultural evolution offered powerful insights into how seemingly culturally close countries are still yet very different. Her contribution made a shift in the mindset of the team and improved communication, reduced friction, and strengthened collaboration across teams in both countries.

Dr. Omar Shafik, Partner, Digital Transformation Consultant at SevenSprings Technology AG (Zurich, Switzerland)

Dr. Mona Khalil is an outstanding cross-cultural scholar and consultant. She blends an in-depth understanding of what cultures are, what are their origins, and how to deal with them, together with her own flavorful background. She has been instrumental in helping me deal with the Egyptian reality when I ran my own company in Cairo, as she seemed to always have a satisfactory answer to any question.

Pavlos Tarasanski, M.Sc. (Econ. & BA)

Lecturer, Degree Programme in International Business HZ University of Applied Sciences (Vlissingen, the Netherlands)

Dr. Mona Khalil’s cross-cultural communication programmes combine rigorous academic expertise with practical strategic insight that is essential for modern diplomacy and international affairs. Her training enables politicians and professionals engaged in foreign relations to understand cultural drivers of decision-making, negotiation behaviour, and communication styles, thereby strengthening the quality and effectiveness of international interaction. The consultancy and training delivered through these programmes have a direct practical impact by reducing miscommunication in negotiations, preventing culturally driven conflicts, and enabling decision-makers to reach concrete diplomatic and strategic objectives more efficiently and with greater predictability.

Doha Assy, Member of Parliament (Cairo, Egypt)

Cross-cultural training by Mona Khalil delivered to our Egyptian and Danish teams helped both to understand that cultural norms are relative. She illustrated with examples what may feel uncomfortable or wrong from one cultural perspective can be perfectly acceptable in another. Her deep knowledge of cultural and religious differences and belief systems was grasping attention of all those present. Her engaging storytelling about history and cultural evolution offered powerful insights into how seemingly culturally close countries are still yet very different. Her contribution made a shift in the mindset of the team and improved communication, reduced friction, and strengthened collaboration across teams in both countries.

Dr. Omar Shafik, Partner, Digital Transformation Consultant at SevenSprings Technology AG (Zurich, Switzerland)

Contacts

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