Who is Who
Corina Goetz is a Middle East Strategist and cultural advisor known for helping Western leaders navigate the Gulf with confidence and respect. With more than two decades of experience working alongside high-level clients, she specializes in Gulf etiquette, cultural intelligence, and strategic relationship-building. Through consulting, training, and storytelling, Corina empowers professionals to succeed authentically across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and the wider region.
In today’s global landscape, the Gulf has become a center of influence, innovation, and opportunity. Thriving in this region requires more than technical skill. It requires cultural fluency, relationship-building, and a deep appreciation of the values that guide everyday decisions. Few professionals embody this bridge with more authenticity than Corina Goetz, a German-born, London-based Middle East Strategist whose mission is to help Western leaders understand the Gulf with confidence and respect.
Corina has built her career on a simple and powerful purpose: guiding professionals through the Middle East with clarity, understanding, and genuine cultural awareness.
Unveiling the Visionary
Corina’s journey began much like the journeys of those she now advises. As a non-Arabic-speaking Westerner, she initially faced the uncertainty and complexity of navigating a culture very different from her own. Instead of turning away, she leaned in with curiosity and commitment. Over more than two decades, she immersed herself in the region, earning the trust of high-net-worth families, business leaders, and even royal circles through her consistency, professionalism, and sincere respect for the Gulf.
Her impact is reflected in the stories of her clients. One former participant shared, “I came away with a much clearer sense of what to do and what not to do in both professional and social situations.” Another wrote that learning from her was “a real pleasure, full of examples and genuine understanding of how business is done in the Gulf.”
Her expertise has supported remarkable transformations. She helped one company grow from having no clients in the region to achieving more than six million pounds in annual revenue. Through Star-CaT, she now supports organizations around the world, preparing executives, training teams, and helping professionals understand how trust, etiquette, and presence shape business success in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.
Championing Collaboration
Corina has a distinctive ability to make complex cultural topics feel accessible, human, and practical. Her work as an Ambassador for the Mayfair Collective and as a former Columnist for Yalla! Magazine reflects her dedication to building understanding between cultures.
Her influence can be seen clearly in the words of those she has worked with. One client describing her workshop said she “makes the complex feel practical and engaging.” Another highlighted her “deep knowledge paired with an engaging personality,” calling her a standout expert whose “thoughtful guidance makes all the difference.”
These reflections capture what sets Corina apart. She does not simply teach etiquette. She teaches understanding, intention, and presence. Her work helps people show up in the Gulf not only informed about cultural expectations but aligned with the region’s values of respect, sincerity, patience, and connection.
Impact Beyond Borders
Corina’s influence extends far beyond the UK. She has guided business delegations, prepared teams for international projects, and mentored professionals who later stepped into senior leadership roles across the GCC. Her clients include legal leaders, hospitality executives, investors, educators, strategic consultants, and high-net-worth families.
One executive described the transformation she brought to their organization, saying, “We now have a focused, confident team who understand how to build real relationships.” Another noted that her advice “transformed our communication and impact in the region.”
Her masterclasses, strategy sessions, and preparation briefings are often remembered long after they end. She has helped professionals secure new Gulf-based clients, understand cultural expectations, and enter important meetings with confidence rather than uncertainty. Women traveling to Saudi Arabia for the first time often share that Corina prepared them not only for business interactions but for understanding the human and cultural rhythms that make the region so unique.
Corina believes that preparation is an act of respect. Her work reinforces the idea that success in the Gulf is not about a polished presentation. It is about cultural presence.
Leadership Lessons Reflected in Her Journey
Corina’s story illustrates the lessons she teaches every day. She demonstrates that cultural understanding is a strategic advantage. She shows that long-term commitment builds trust that cannot be rushed. She proves that challenges can be turned into strengths, as her own experience adapting to the Gulf’s cultural landscape opened doors that many never reach. And her global relationships reveal the influence of connection, sincerity, and integrity.
Her Presence and Influence Today
Corina’s influence across the Middle East continues to deepen. Her weekly reflections, especially from her travels in Saudi Arabia, resonate widely because they reveal the heart of the region. She writes about generosity, hospitality, simplicity, and cultural pride through stories people can feel.
During one of her recent trips to Saudi Arabia, she was recognized on a mountain peak by someone who followed her work online. That moment reminded her that her digital presence connects far beyond borders and that her storytelling helps thousands understand the Gulf more clearly.
Her newsletter, Middle East Insights, has become a trusted resource for professionals seeking an authentic perspective on life, business, and transformation in the region. Her voice blends cultural storytelling with practical guidance, continuing her mission of helping others enter the Gulf with dignity and understanding.
Whether she is meeting leaders in Riyadh, preparing a team in London, mentoring entrepreneurs, or sharing a quiet moment of hospitality in Aseer, Corina brings people closer to a world that often feels distant or misunderstood.
Conclusion
Corina’s story reflects what happens when curiosity, respect, and commitment shape a career. She has built her legacy by helping others understand the Gulf in ways that build trust, strengthen relationships, and open doors. Her impact lives in the clients she empowers, the leaders she prepares, and the bridges she continues to create between cultures.
Her journey reminds us that success is not defined by personal achievement alone. It is defined by how many people we help rise with us. Corina Goetz continues to embody that every day.
