It may seem cliché to hear the saying that music is a universal language, but research shows that jazz improvisation can serve as a bridge to understanding ourselves and others. Dr. Lenora Helm Hammonds, an intercultural maturity researcher and celebrated jazz musician, guides us through the cornerstones that create a unique collection of social and emotional intelligence skills known as Intercultural Maturity. Our ability to successfully navigate relationships, both on the bandstand and in life, requires intercultural competence. However, one cannot become interculturally competent without developing skills along a continuum—starting with awareness and leading to the ability to integrate successfully with others who are different. Dr. Hammonds demonstrates this through musical performances in jazz, accompanied by Berklee alum guitarist Baron Tymas (’82) and faculty members bassist Mimi Jones and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington. Dr. Lenora Z. Helm Hammonds, a Chicago native and former U.S. Jazz Ambassador, is the new Dean of the Professional Education Division at Berklee College of Music. With over 20 years of academic leadership, she has authored award-winning programs and initiatives, including NEA-sponsored teaching artist certifications. A Berklee alumna, she holds advanced degrees in music from East Carolina University and Boston University. As a jazz recording artist with over four decades of experience, Dr. Hammonds, known as Lenora Zenzalai Helm, leads the Tribe Jazz Orchestra® and has released several acclaimed albums. Her work spans academia, digital humanities, and jazz, with numerous accolades including the 2022 Jazz Educator of Distinction award. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx