Erin Meyer (the Culture Map, 2017) distinghuishes between egalitarian and hierarchical cultures.

People are equal

Jeanette has been culturally programmed in a more egalitarian tradition. It means that there is not much hierarchy and power distance between people. In egalitarian cultures, such as the Dutch culture, people are viewed as equals and therefore should be treated accordingly. People may have higher ranking positions but will not be treated differently nor will they be given any privileges. Not treating people the same way would be considered disrespectful to people in lower ranking positions.

Sharing ideas

In egalitarian cultures everyone's input is valued and every person can share their ideas freely and contribute to the discussion, regardless of their position. People feel generally empowered to take initiatives and speak their minds. In this way it is felt that all views are included and the outcome of decisionmaking will be best for all. 

Jeanette treats Mr. Takahashi like any other colleague and is primarily focused on sharing content and ideas. She doesn't need to ask for permission at higher levels in order to freely make suggestions. To her this is like an exploration of even brainstorming. If Mr. Takahashi has another idea she would expect him to come forward and have an open exchange of thoughts about it.  

Ranking rules

Mr. Takahashi is representative of a (very) hierarchical culture where society and organisations are layered according to hierarchical ranks. The basic underlying assumption is that people are not equal and therefore should not be treated similarly. The way people conduct themselves and treat others is very much prescribed according to their position. Rank and age are defining aspects and oftentimes coupled. Knowing what position one has and how to relate to others provides a feeling of social security and comfort. This is why a business card and seating arrangements, amongst many other things, in Japan are very important; they indicate the ranking and status of the person. Not treating someone according to their position is considered highly disrespectful and a loss of face for that person.