Richard D. Lewis is a renowned British linguist, cross-cultural communication consultant, and author. He is best known for creating the Lewis Model of Cross-Cultural Communication, which classifies cultures into three major categories based on behavior and communication patterns:

1. Linear-active cultures – task-oriented, highly organized, and prefer doing one thing at a time (e.g., Germany, Switzerland).

2. Multi-active cultures – people-oriented, emotional, and often multitask (e.g., Italy, Latin America).

3. Reactive cultures – attentive, respectful listeners who prefer to react carefully rather than initiate action (e.g., Japan, China).

Lewis developed this model after visiting 135 countries, working in over 20, and analyzing data from more than 50,000 executives and 150,000 online surveys across 68 nationalities.

He is the author of the influential book “When Cultures Collide” (1996), which has sold over one million copies and is considered a cornerstone in the field of intercultural communication.

Lewis also founded Richard Lewis Communications, a global consultancy offering training in cross-cultural competence and communication skills, now operating under the brand CrossCulture.

He is a polyglot, fluent in more than ten European languages and two Asian languages, and has worked extensively with international leaders and teams to improve collaboration across cultural boundaries.