ABOUT
Christopher O’Shaughnessy is a passionate and versatile speaker, comedian, and author who uses a unique blend of story-telling, humor, and provocative insight to engage a wide array of people on topics associated with globalization and cross-cultural understanding. Chris is enlisted by organizations large and small ranging from international schools and educational institutions to government agencies and businesses across the globe. He has worked in, lived in, or traveled to more than 100 countries and brings first hand experience of an ever-globalizing world to his audiences.
Topics
Chris speaks on a range of topics for students, adults, and teachers, including:
CROSS CULTURAL KIDS (CCKS)
AND THIRD CULTURE KIDS (TCKS)
BUILDING RESILIENCE
TRANSITION & CHANGE MANAGEMENT
GLOBALIZATION
IDENTITY & CULTURE
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND ANTI-BULLYING
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & DYNAMICS
CULTIVATING AND HARNESSING EMPATHY IN SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND ORGANIZATIONS
CHRIS’S BOOK
[ ARRIVALS, DEPARTURES AND THE ADVENTURES IN-BETWEEN ]
Chris’s book, Arrivals, Departures and the Adventures In-Between, has received high praise from students, teachers, and other experts in the international community as a resource that is both enjoyable to read and able to instill truths, insights and skills essential to navigating life successfully in an ever globalizing world. It has also been used in teaching cross-cultural skills and instilling global awareness in a variety of disciplines at the college level and for businesses.
“Once, down a dark alleyway, a struggling TCK bumped into a mysterious Zen master, a grinning comedian, and an author of thrillers. That alleyway and those personas reside at O’Shaughnessy's center. Get ready to grab your seat to steady your heart and to avoid falling over with laughter.”
Douglas W. Ota
Author of Safe Passage: What Mobility Does to People & What International Schools Should Do About It
“I wish this book had been written when I was younger.”
Ruth E. Van Reken
Co-author of Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds
“O’Shaughnessy's does a marvelous job of covering the characteristics of the Third Culture Kid with riveting examples taken from his own life. Thanks for this valuable addition to the TCK literature and most importantly, the teen TCK.”
Lois J. Bushong
Author of Belonging Everywhere & Nowhere: Insights into Counseling the Globally Mobile
“O’Shaughnessy skillfully approaches cross-cultural upbringings and transitions with insight, compassion and humorous tales of identity, connection, community, belonging and resilience.”
Linda A. Janssen
Author of The Emotionally Resilient Expat: Engage, Adapt and Thrive Across Cultures
“Every TCK who is a junior or senior in high school should read this book before going off to college or living on their own.”
Delana H. Stewart
Education Consultant
Website: The Education Cafe
Book Preview
Chapter 1: Being Foreign Where Foreigners Don't Belong
Book Preview
Chapter 3: Don't Run... Use Your Words
Book Preview
Chapter 6: Good Grief, Look at My British Teeth
EVENTS
Where on Earth is Chris?
4 September, 2024
British Int’l School of Phuket
Phuket, Thailand
4 September
British Int’l School of Phuket
Phuket, Thailand
6 September, 2024
Tanglin Trust Int’l School
Singapore
14 September, 2024
Foreign Service Youth Foundation
Washington DC, USA
14 September, 2024
Foreign Service Youth Foundation
Washington DC, USA
1 October, 2024
ACS Egham Int’l School
London, UK
2 October, 2024
Int’l School of London
London, UK
2 October, 2024
Int’l School of London
London, UK
3 October, 2024
Canadian Armed Forces
Online Event
29 October, 2024
ACS Int’l School
Abu Dhabi, UAE
29 October, 2024
ACS Int’l School
Abu Dhabi, UAE
9-10 October, 2024
SPAN Symposium
Online Event
1 November, 2024
KnowledgeWorkx Summit
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
1 November, 2024
KnowledgeWorkx Summit
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
4-7 November, 2024
Rosslyn Int’l School
Nairobi, Kenya
6 November, 2024
Int’l School Counselor Association
Online Event
6 November, 2024
Int’l School Counselor Association
Online Event
19 November, 2024
Pathways TCK Training
Online Event
30 January, 2025
Alma College, Michigan
Online Event
30 January, 2025
Alma College, Michigan
Online Event
31 January, 2025
Bookboon
Online Event
19 February, 2025
Collège du Léman
Geneva, Switzerland
19 February, 2025
Collège du Léman
Geneva, Switzerland
20 February, 2025
YouthCompass
Geneva, Switzerland
23 February, 2025
Serenissima
Aviano, Italy
23 February, 2025
Serenissima
Aviano, Italy
13 March, 2025
Foreign Service Youth Foundation
Online Event
18 March, 2025
Pathways, TCK Training
Online Event
18 March, 2025
Pathways, TCK Training
Online Event
31 March - 4 April, 2025
Kyiv Christian Academy
Kyiv, Ukraine
11 April, 2025
Int’l Christian School of Budapest
Budapest, Hungary
11 April, 2025
Int’l Christian School of Budapest
Budapest, Hungary
16-17 April, 2025
American Overseas School of Rome
Rome, Italy
24 April, 2025
TCK Training – Military
Online Event
24 April, 2025
TCK Training – Military
Online Event
REACTIONS
What people have to say about Chris...
“Chris O’Shaughnessy spoke to our students and parents this fall and I would highly recommend him for all audiences... He was very well informed on all aspects of the subject of ‘third culture kids,’ was a superb speaker, humorous at the right times and in appropriate ways, and always able to get the key points across. Chris also did a very nice job of tailoring his presentations for younger students (Middle School), older students (High School) and parents. The information he presented was very relevant to each audience. I received rave reviews from all groups he presented to – students, faculty, and parents.”
Gary Melton
Mont Kiara International School - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
“Chris has been active in the St. John’s International School community for many years. We invite him in to speak to both students and parents on a regular basis and he connects brilliantly with both audiences. He really identifies with the TCK phenomenon as it has been his own experience, but he is also incredibly educated on the topic and so is able to address it from inside and out. His willingness and ability to share his own stories and experiences with his audience in an humorous and honest way ropes them in and opens them up to understand more about themselves and our international community. The way our students flock to him with excitement as he walks through the halls is the strongest testament I can give. I can’t wait till the next opportunity to invite him back.”
Daniel Johnston
Dean of Students at St. John’s International School - Waterloo, Belgium
Articles, Publications, and Media Mentions
EXPATRIATE SPECIALIST
PSYCHOLOGY TODAY
DUTCH NEWS
EXPATCLIC
CLIENTS
OTHER PROJECTS
A comedic (and hopefully thought-provoking) journey to unpack relevant issues from the world of expats, global nomads, and an increasingly connected society with Chris O'Shaughnessy and Jerry Jones (www.thecultureblend.com).
Click the image above to be taken to the Podcast.
Musings, observations, and insights gathered from interactions with students, parents, and schools around the world – served up every other week for your reading or viewing (there are videos!) pleasure.
Click the image above to be taken to the Chris-O-Blog.
