New entrants to the world of business often find themselves confounded by unexpected cultural differences in the commercial world.

As borders in trade continue to topple down and the digital landscape continues to expand, connecting countries and businesses far and wide, more and more people from myriad cultural backgrounds are finding ways to do business with one another. But not without the odd hiccup of business etiquette or social faux pas along the way.

When these people of vastly different cultural contexts come together and a transaction, or an exchange of knowledge, or some sort of contractual agreement takes place, cultural differences then tend to rise to the surface. Sometimes, they clash.