Hi there, it's Michelle. Today, I’m coming to you with a slightly different tone.

Most of what I write here is in a professional voice, speaking from the perspective of my company, WeCultivate. But so much of what I do is deeply tied to my personal experiences, and maybe it’s time to start sharing more of these pieces as well.

I’ve mentioned before—on social media and soon on the podcast—that my intercultural upbringing shaped my approach to language and communication. But it wasn’t something I fully understood until recently, and it certainly wasn’t a smooth realization. To be frank, my personal history is complex, and there are parts I will never share publicly. But the lessons that tie into the work I do? Those, I will absolutely bring into the conversation.

That’s the key word: conversation.

We live in a world where online spaces feel more constricted than ever—where people are quick to project their own realities onto others, forgetting that different experiences don’t invalidate their own. The internet has created incredible opportunities, but if we don’t find ways to balance it with real, lived experiences, we risk losing sight of what’s authentically well, ours.

WeCultivate isn’t just about providing personalized training to professionals navigating language and communication challenges. It’s also about breaking down the barriers that keep people divided—barriers that exist not just in language education but in the way we approach dialogue as a whole.

WeCultivate is about shifting the conversation.

For too long, the industry has relied on outdated assumptions about language learners:
❌ That your fluency level defines your ability to engage with complex ideas.
❌ That perfection is necessary for effective communication.
❌ That every non-native's goal is to reach the ultimate goal of "native" speaker.

These assumptions aren’t just inaccurate—they actively hold people back by reinforcing artificial gatekeeping. And in a world that is more interconnected than ever, these barriers need to come down.

Because globalization has changed the game.

The idea that we can retreat behind cultural or nationalistic walls and ignore the realities of an interconnected world? That time has passed. Whether it’s navigating international career opportunities, adapting to new environments, or simply learning to communicate across differences, the need for flexibility, adaptability, and awareness has never been greater.

We are not just divided by geography or language.
We are shaped by generations before and after digital transformation, by our personal histories, by the systems we navigate daily.

And if we want to move forward, we need to start listening—not through the lens of past conditioning, but with a willingness to truly understand.

As WeCultivate continues to grow, I’m still shaping the direction of this space. If something here resonates with you, or if you hear something on the podcast next month that sparks a thought, I encourage you to reach out to me directly.

Respectful conversation is always welcome. Trolling, spam, or any form of bad-faith engagement will be blocked and, if necessary, reported.

Until next time,
Michelle