Cristina Ramalho was born in Fortaleza, Brazil. She has been living and working in Cologne since 1992. Already as a child and teenager she was preparing for her current work as an intercultural trainer and coach; going to  high school in the UK and doing one year of au pair work in Germany. These experiences were important for her distinct understanding of culture and communication. After her studies and first work experience in Brazil, Cristina Ramalho moved back to Germany, where she worked as a lecturer at the Portuguese-Brazilian Institute (PBI), University of Cologne. As of 1998 she has been working as a trainer in intercultural communication. She covers a range of issues, ranging from support for family members dealing with change and grief. She incorporates these experiences into her training and coaching methodologies creating new tools and approaches in the process.