Deirdre Mendez

Dr. Deirdre Mendez is a member of the faculty of the Department of Management. She teaches intercultural management and teambuilding to undergraduates, MBA students, and executives. Dr. Mendez is also Associate Director for Cultural Education of the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) at The University of Texas at Austin. In this role, she oversees the development and implementation of programs designed to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. business through the internationalization of business education. She holds a PhD in linguistics, and worked as a consultant to U.S. corporations developing international strategies for 20 years before coming to UT-Austin. Since returning to academia, she has been a leader in work at McCombs to develop resources that strengthen students’ and executives’ adaptability to the international context.

Dr. Mendez has developed an academic framework and training system to facilitate intercultural adaptability and problem solving. The Cultural Analysis Toolkit is currently used at The University of Texas and other universities to teach international management and leadership courses, help students and businesspeople adapt to new cultural environments during study abroad, international internships, and service learning programs, and facilitate integration of culturally diverse teams of executives.

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) The University of Texas at Austin (1981 — 1986)
• Bachelor's degree Tulane University (1977 — 1981)

Companies

• Director Center for Global Business at McCombs (2019)
• Associate Director for Cultural Programs, Center for Global Business McCombs School of Business (2014 — 2019)
• Keynote Speaker Culture-Based Leadership (2005 — 2019)
• Guest Lecturer University of Cologne (2015 — 2016)
• Director Ctr. for Int'l Business Education and Research, University of Texas at Austin (2012 — 2014)
• Assistant Director Center for International Business Education and Research, UT-Austin (2005 — 2012)
• President FBMC Consulting (1987 — 2005)
• Adjunct Professor Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology (1998 — 2004)

Skills

• Intercultural Communication
• Start-ups
• Teaching

Other

International Business, Program Management, Leadership, Strategy, Management, Research