Aperian Global co-founders Ted Dale and Ernest Gundling, Ph.D. share a U.S. passport nationality, but it was their love for Japan that brought them together to create a company.

Ted Dale was born in Kyoto, as the son of missionary parents. He experienced life in Japan as a foreigner until college age. He struggled with his identity, having grown up between two worlds, appreciating aspects of both, but not knowing quite where to belong.

Ernie Gundling originally set out to Japan as a student of the Japanese language, and he lived there for a time as a Buddhist monk. His deep interest in the culture continued to shape his plans, and he later returned to conduct field research in a Japanese company through a Fulbright Dissertation Research Fellowship.

Through their experiences, both were eager to focus on “helping people understand and interact more effectively with people from different backgrounds.”

Japan’s booming economy in the late 1980s created the perfect foundation to do just that. There was a clear lack of knowledge about Japanese culture in the U.S., and Ted and Ernie knew they could help bridge that gap.

In 1990 they founded “Intercultural Training Resources Incorporated,” which provided seminars on “How to work with the Japanese” in Silicon Valley. They then expanded the company’s work to encompass a wider range of countries and business topics as well as consulting and training.

As the Internet became more available to mainstream users and businesses, Ted and Ernie were approached by clients to create an online tool that could help organizations navigate successfully in various cultural contexts. The idea for GlobeSmart was born! Released in 1999, it had a cultural profile allowing users to compare themselves to the average profiles of people from other countries as well as colleagues they could invite. Today, the tool covers business practices in nearly 100 countries and has had well over a million users.

In 2005 the company merged with Eaton Consulting Group, launching a truly global business platform with offices and representatives all over the world. The combined organization was re-named Aperian Global.

The name comes from the Latin word aperire, meaning to provide access or to open.

Aperian Global became the new brand identity for the vision and mission that Ted, Ernie and all employees of the combined organization continue to share today. The founders’ vision of making an impact has not changed.

• Foster inclusive work environments
• Grow in new global markets
• Accelerate the development of global leaders
• Prepare expatriates to succeed
• Integrate mergers and acquisitions
• Implement global change initiatives

• Alienated customers and business prospects
• Failed global assignments
• Misunderstanding and miscommunication due to cultural differences
• Delays in the integration of mergers or acquisitions that result in poor return on investment
• Loss of high potential talent who sense a lack of inclusion and clear career paths

Global inclusion is not possible without cultural perspective.

Our team of experts across the world tailor learning experiences to resonate within specific cultures, while remaining true to globally consistent concepts. We partner with organizations in more than 60 countries and deliver learning experiences in 15+ languages to help global teams work better together.

You can trust us.

Our solutions are backed by research, approved by local experts, and have supported more than 3 million learners. We keep diverse cognitive and cultural learning styles front of mind, along with the latest adult learning theory best practices.

Learning is a journey, not an event.

We’ve designed our scalable, live, and self-paced learning experiences to be actionable and solidify concepts over time. The goal? Real-life behavior change that grows inclusive communities.

Our roots run deep.

When our founders met in 1990, our work was launched out of their shared experiences struggling with identity and belonging while living in different countries. What started as cultural awareness trainings on VHS tapes, 30 years later has become an international team of bridge builders dedicated to global inclusion learning journeys. Through it all, our mission has remained the same: to bridge boundaries through deeper understanding of ourselves and others.

Each year, we award a one-year GlobeSmart license to non-profit and educational institutions closely aligned with our mission to create a sustainable global future. Organizations are selected based on need, the manner in which the tool will be utilized, and the overall impact on the global community.

Recent recipients include:

• Child Family Health International 
• RAD-AID International 
• Bankers Without Borders 
• Up With People

We have held training sessions to help refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Chechnya and Somalia integrate into Danish workplaces. Danish employers also receive cultural competency training.

Air travel is undoubtedly our single biggest environmental impact as an organization. To mitigate our carbon footprint we have implemented a carbon offset initiative.

When one of our staff members purchases a flight, Aperian Global donates to forest growth and protection funds to offset our carbon dioxide emission from that fligh

A large part of our for-profit and non-profit work supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

What goals does our work help support?

• Achieve gender equality and empower women
• Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
• Reduce inequality within and among countries
• Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion is not only something on which we advise our clients, but is part of our DNA as an organization. We take a broad view of diversity and truly believe that our differences are our strengths. Each person has something unique and valuable to offer to the world. By uniting in our similarities, and leveraging our differences, we can create a more sustainable future.