Building bridges to
turn difference into power.
Building bridges to turn difference into power.
“Neither side was wrong. They just needed a bridge.”
Chika Miyamori | CQ Lab, Founder & Representative Director
About CQ Lab
CQ Lab is a specialized consultancy dedicated to transforming individuals, teams, and organizations through the dual lenses of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and organizational culture.
In today’s landscape of rapid globalization and radical diversity, collaborating across different values and cultures has become our daily reality. Yet, many organizations still struggle with:
→ Strategic misalignment in decision-making
→ Friction and misunderstandings
→ The complexity of building cross-cultural trust
These challenges directly dictate organizational performance.
At CQ Lab, we decode the underlying structures of ‘culture’ to provide practical, evidence-based solutions. Our goal moves beyond mere understanding—we drive the behavioral shifts that lead to measurable organizational success.
Cultural Intelligence defined
What is CQ? Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is the capability to function and collaborate effectively across diverse cultural contexts—and it is essential.
Following onto IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and EQ (Emotional Intelligence), CQ has emerged as the critical skill set for the global era. True cross-cultural competence requires more than just knowledge—it demands a blend of motivation, cognition, and behavior.
We focus on the four core pillars of CQ:
Drive (Motivational CQ)
One’s motivation and confidence to engage with cultural diversity
Knowledge (Cognitive CQ)
Understanding the context-specific differences and similarities between cultures
Strategy (Metacognitive CQ)
The ability to sense and plan for even the most complex cultural interactions
Action (Behavioral CQ)
The flexibility to adapt behavior to reach desirable results
CQ Lab integrates these four elements into a practical framework ready for immediate application in the field.
Our Foundational Theory
Our methodology is anchored in world-leading academic research, including Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory.
While culture is invisible, it manifests in distinct patterns that define nations and organizations. We analyze critical drivers such as:
→ Power Distance: Perceptions of hierarchy and authority
→ Individualism vs. Collectivism: The relationship between the self and the group
→ Uncertainty Avoidance: How teams navigate risk and ambiguity
→ Achievement vs. Support: Core values surrounding competition and success
These dimensions directly shape how your people decide, communicate, and lead. Rather than delivering dry theory, CQ Lab translates these complex frameworks into actionable insights tailored to your specific business reality.
Our Approach
We believe Cultural Intelligence is not just something you learn. That’s why we go beyond knowledge, beyond training alone, utilizing CQ to achieve measurable results.
Our approach is defined by four key strengths:
→ The Intersection of Theory and Practice
Combining academic rigor with deep implementation experience to provide support that actually works in the field.
→ A Holistic Continuum
Bridging individual behavioral change, team dynamics, and overarching organizational transformation with a singular, consistent vision.
→ Design for Lasting Change
Moving beyond one-off workshops to focus on sustainable habit-shifting and measurable business outcomes.
→ Real-World Wisdom
Leveraging years of experience in multinational and multicultural environments to provide approaches rooted in reality, not just textbooks.
CQ Lab treats Cultural Intelligence as a core business competency, not a mere academic exercise, to perform in a truly global world.
LEADERSHIP PROFILE
Chika Miyamori
宮森 千嘉子
Inter-Cultural Facilitator, Leadership Coach & CQ Consultant—bridging gaps between cultural differences.
CAREER
Began her career in the Public Relations at Suntory.
Later joined Hewlett-Packard Japan, eventually transferring to HP United Kingdom, where she led cross-border web marketing projects spanning 13 European and 5 Asian countries.
Further honed her expertise at GE (General Electric) Japan as the Public Relations & Government Affairs Leader, driving complex projects within multinational teams.
Through firsthand experience with the friction and failures within diverse environments, she developed a profound understanding of both the challenges and the untapped potential of intercultural teams.
TURNING POINT
Having encountered the Hofstede Model in 2013, it has provided the scientific framework for global experience in the years to date.
Having the opportunity to study directly under Dr. Geert Hofstede, the ‘father of cultural and management research’, she deepened her mastery of the intricate relationship between culture and organizational performance.
PRESENT DAY
Based in Spain for four years and the United States for seven, Miyamori has collaborated with clients and partners from over 50 countries.
Since returning to Japan in 2022, she has focused on organizational culture transformation, leadership development, and team coaching. In addition to her role as Representative Director of CQ Lab, she serves as a lecturer in Intercultural Leadership and Organizational Behavior at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) and Toyo University, dedicated to advancing Cultural Intelligence (CQ) throughout Japan.
EDUCATION
→ BA French Literature, Aoyama Gakuin University
→ MBA, Ashridge Business School, UK
CORE CERTIFICATIONS
→ Hofstede CWQ Master Certification
→ Certified CQ/UB Facilitator (Cultural Intelligence Center)
→ IDI® Qualified Administrator
→ IRC Certified Practitioner
→ Certified Organization and Relationship Systems Coach (CRR Global)
→ Gallup Certified Strengths Coach
→ The Leadership Circle Certified Practitioner
PUBLICATIONS
→ “Intercultural Adaptability as a Business Strategy” (Co-author, 5th Edition)
→ “Strong Organizations Enjoy Difference: Shaping Culture Through CQ”