Dr. Louisa T. C. van Dijk
Dr. Louisa T. C. van Dijk
Programme Leader, MSc Global Sustainable Business Management (GSBM),
Senior Lecturer in International Marketing and Sales,
Personal Development and Mentor – class IB1B1,
Amsterdam School of International Business (AMSIB),
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands
Invited Speech: Blurring Borders, Building Trust: Rethinking Authenticity in a Globalized, AI-Driven World
Biography:
Dr. Louisa T. C. Van Dijk is a global educator and business leader with over 20 years of experience in business education, marketing, and international management. Born in Hong Kong and educated in the UK, she has over 30 years of international experience across South Korea, the UK, and the Netherlands. She holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Northumbria University, UK, with a research focus on multiculturalism, global communications, and multilingual marketing strategy, utilizing the six languages in which she is fluent. As Programme Leader for the master’s degree in Global Sustainable Business Management and Senior Lecturer at the Amsterdam School of International Business (AMSIB), part of the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, where she drives academic innovation and student development.
Abstract:
As generative AI becomes ever more embedded in the fabric of everyday life, the boundary between what is real and what is imagined grows increasingly blurry. Some studies suggest that people are yearning for sincere and authentic exchanges now more than ever. But what exactly does it mean to be authentic? And how should authenticity be understood in a world that’s constantly in flux?
Viewed through the lens of Third Culture Kids (TCKs), a compelling answer begins to emerge. TCKs are defined as individuals who spent part of their formative years living in countries, for a minimum of one year, that are not their parents’ nations of origin—places in which they are, by definition, “guests”. These children of global mobility often straddle cultures, embodying a state of being simultaneously belonging everywhere and nowhere.
Their lived experience across diverse societies equips them with nuanced cultural fluency and a deep reservoir of experiential insight. This firsthand exposure fosters an instinctive understanding of what feels real and what rings hollow—making their communication feel grounded, informed, and genuinely resonant. In essence, they carry a mosaic of truths from across geographies and traditions.
Moreover, many TCKs grow up multilingual and mentally agile, with a broadened worldview that cultivates both empathy and adaptability. These qualities make them particularly adept at forging connections across cultural and social divides. For organizations and individuals seeking to build trust-based, lasting stakeholder relationships (SDG 17), the communicative strengths of TCKs provide a crucial advantage—namely, the ability to navigate complexity and cultivate rapport with authenticity at its core.