EP 380 - This week we're trying a cultural experiment - to start an occasional series called Business Without Baggage that helps people understand the nuances of doing business across different cultures.

To kick us off, we invited accomplished French corporate Lawyer and expert on cultural intelligence Olivier Lopez onto the show. We asked him to explain the nuances of doing business with the French and also got some expert hints about how different cultures operate around the world.

We chatted about how you can trace many of France’s cultural instincts and attitudes back to a revolutionary spirit, the application of logic and an abiding need to feel Liberté, Egalité et Fraternité in all of their dealings as well as finding a balance in life.

We also put these attitudes in a wider cultural context - amazingly a lot of it is to do with food, but not in the way you think. But we do have some fine wine and lovely cheese along the way.

We’d love to do more in this occasional series, so if you want to talk about what it’s like to do business with your fellow country folk (even if you’re only from Yorkshire) get in touch. You’ve got a lot to live up to on the food front mind.