Leading With Openness: Connecting Teams From Europe and Across the World

Within CDM Smith, cultural threads are woven across continents through shared ideas, open collaboration, and the people who bring our mission to life every day. As the communications lead in Europe, I see first-hand how essential openness is—being willing to listen, exchange perspectives and learn from colleagues across the globe is what makes our work as a truly international company and deliver exceptional service to our clients possible. Those threads of connectivity take shape in the fabric of my daily work.  

My role spans website management, regional social media strategy, marketing materials, our new video podcast, fairs and exhibitions and support for our sales teams. I partner closely with our colleagues in Bangalore to publish our regionwide magazine and host an audio podcast featuring corporate news and introductions to teams. I refine leadership communications and explore new ways to grow our digital and video capabilities. Every project brings me closer to our people, their perspectives and the shared culture we’re building. 

My path here has been shaped by curiosity, kindness and a deep desire to help our local and global community stay connected and informed. Whether I’m collaborating with teammates in Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Latin America, Australia or India, I welcome ideas from everywhere and build a team where individual strengths shine and creativity stay at the heart of everything we do.

What I value most is the trust I’ve been given to try new things, even when those ideas can get outside-the-box. That same trust fuels the same spirit I give to my own team. I work to understand what motivates them, encourage their strengths and create a space where creativity and confidence can shine. Employer branding and collaboration aren’t just responsibilities—they reflect how I want to lead: with openness, empathy and enthusiasm for new ideas from anywhere in the company. 

Working across borders has just strengthened my belief that being open—open to cultures, open to opinions, open to possibilities—is how we do our best work. I want colleagues, from Germany to Bangalore, to feel supported, included and empowered to shape their goals. When we combine our different ideas and perspectives with meaningful work, we create something bigger than any one team or region. I’m proud to spark encouragement as a communicator and connector, and to see that spark travel across teams, regions and cultures throughout the company. 

One day, I want everyone here in Germany (and possibly the world) to know CDM Smith — that they recognize the name immediately as a place where people thrive, innovate and work across continents to shape what’s next as one unified global team.

Tamara Wagner is the Director of Marketing and Communications Europe in our Offenbach, Germany office.