Cultural Intelligence and the Emotional Experience of Belonging: Exploring Inclusion of International Talent in Finnish Workplaces
Azevedo, Anna (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025112529709
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025112529709
Tiivistelmä
Employee inclusion and belonging have become vital topics for organizations with increasingly international workforces. This thesis investigated how highly educated international employees in Finnish workplaces experience and interpret the roles of cultural intelligence and inclusive leadership in fostering emotional inclusion. The study aimed to identify effective practices and challenges related to workplace integration, with the goal of developing actionable recommendations for organizational development.
The theoretical framework included models of cultural intelligence, sense of belonging, and inclusive leadership. A qualitative research design was employed, using semi-structured interviews to gather in-depth insights from international employees across diverse Finnish organizations. Thematic analysis was conducted, resulting in a set of key themes reflecting employee experiences.
The findings highlighted the need for culturally intelligent leadership, strong peer support, practical onboarding, daily recognition, and accessible language training as central to genuine workplace inclusion. Recommendations include embedding inclusive practices into everyday organizational routines and leadership, ensuring continuous integration support, and fostering climates where individual uniqueness and psychological safety are valued.
Although the suggestions are tailored to the Finnish context, they offer a transferable framework for enhancing inclusion in internationally diverse workplaces.
The theoretical framework included models of cultural intelligence, sense of belonging, and inclusive leadership. A qualitative research design was employed, using semi-structured interviews to gather in-depth insights from international employees across diverse Finnish organizations. Thematic analysis was conducted, resulting in a set of key themes reflecting employee experiences.
The findings highlighted the need for culturally intelligent leadership, strong peer support, practical onboarding, daily recognition, and accessible language training as central to genuine workplace inclusion. Recommendations include embedding inclusive practices into everyday organizational routines and leadership, ensuring continuous integration support, and fostering climates where individual uniqueness and psychological safety are valued.
Although the suggestions are tailored to the Finnish context, they offer a transferable framework for enhancing inclusion in internationally diverse workplaces.