Deirdre B. Mendez, PhD is an intercultural consultant, speaker and author who helps U.S. companies and their international partners identify and resolve culturally based problems. After two decades as a consultant, Mendez joined the Center for Global Business at the University of Texas at Austin, where she is now Associate Director for Cultural Programs. Throughout her career, she has helped businesspeople and companies manage cultural variation to minimize risk and enhance the performance of international projects. Her book The Culture Solution facilitates self-guided problem-solving for international executives.