More than a marriage of convenience: The convergence of management and Indigenous educational practice

In today’s globalised world, there is an increasing imperative to operate in multiple and culturally diverse contexts. Incorporating an inter-cultural approach into management education programs would appear to be necessary, enabling graduates to work anywhere in the world. In this context, what lessons can be learned from other cultures that can enhance how managers operate in international forums? In this paper we seek to answer that question by reviewing the lessons learned from teaching Indigenous peoples in Australia, and whether or not they can be applied to management education. Using a conversational narrative, we reflect on the utility of understanding and incorporating different cultural domains and knowledge systems into management education. We conclude with suggestions for the inclusion of cultural standards for management curricula.