Diversity MBA Magazine - Summer 2008 - (Page 67)

GOING there were different perceptions about whether their race and/or gender created additional challenges for them outside the U.S., most believed that being different in terms of race and/or gender is an advantage companies should be leveraging more. GLOBAL necessity of a healthy relationship to deal with the challenges of living outside the US. Those who don’t have a positive experience have often accepted the global assignment for all of the wrong reasons, such as not being happy in their current US assignment, viewing a global assignment as a good way to get out of financial debt, or believing that going to live in another country will bring them closer together. Like believing that having a baby will cure a troubled marriage, this reason for accepting a global assignment usually ends badly. Personal & Professional Benefits The most significant benefits noted were the chance to experience a different culture first-hand, develop a broader worldview, and travel extensively to another country or countries less expensively. Several mentioned how this increased their management and leadership skills by helping them become more patient, tolerant, flexible, adaptable, and humble, as well as better communicators, decisionmakers and problem solvers. Darryl Gresham, general manager for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa at Abbott Diagnostics Division, says, “The most significant benefit is the visibility and exposure because of the opportunity to meet more senior managers. It is also an opportunity to develop and distinguish yourself. Companies also tend to take good care of their ex-pats in terms of homes, cars, and schools for your children. Typically, you live better than you would in the U.S.” What They Wish They’d Known The preparation and support provided by companies prior to, during, and upon return is an area that needs to improve. Many of the interviewees said they received little to no preparation prior to moving. Knowing more about the culture, history, language, thinking style, work approach, lifestyle, and values of the host country were all mentioned, as well as more information about the actual package, what to expect and what not to, and the process for returning once the assignment is over. One woman who moved to Eastern Europe felt that her company didn’t handle the fact that her husband was going to stay at home to be the primary caregiver for their children. He wasn’t introduced to any spouses for pre-move support, which generally happens for wives in this situation. Another woman said it was the ex-pat community in China that supported her and made the transition easy. Often, it’s helpful to know the personal things that are unavailable in another country prior to moving, such as being able to buy over-the-counter medications like aspirin, cold/cough syrup, and saline solution. An AfricanAmerican woman who spent more than four years in Australia and Hong Kong with her husband discovered that the hair products she needed were nowhere to be found. When Gresham moved to Germany, he discovered that the homes are much smaller, and there are no built-in closets. Stoves are much smaller, there are no mirrors in the bathroom, and when people move out of a home, they take the light fixtures with them. There is also no daycare in Germany, so if you need a nanny, you’d best take one with you. Chris Thomas, regional vice president of Frito Lay (not the company he worked for when he spent four years in Australia), received a great deal of support from the senior black leadership team in his home country. However, they weren’t able to provide any specific help because he was the first in the group to move outside the U.S. “I thought a similar support group of ex-pats to network with would’ve been very helpful prior to, during and after,” he says. 67 Sacrifices When you move far away from families and friends, you will miss significant life events such as births, illness, deaths, graduations, birthdays, weddings, and retirements. In addition, the ex-pat typically works incredibly long hours and often travels a great deal, placing most of the family responsibility on their spouse. It’s typically very difficult for the accompanying spouse/partner to obtain a work permit, so their career is put on hold while outside the U.S. There is also the possibility of missing other career opportunities in the U.S. while living outside the country. Overall, however, the interviewees perceived the benefits of living in another culture as being more significant, especially in the long term. Anthony Tsai, now executive vice president of operations and chief innovation officer for Beijing Hualian Group, spent nine years living outside the U.S. while working for a US company. “For those who are reluctant, I would say go for it,” he says. “Be prepared before, during, and upon re-entry for the challenges. You and your family will benefit for the rest of your lifetime if you can be flexible and adaptable to the challenges -- professional, personal, and social -- in the new host country. The impact on personal life will be immeasurably positive, except that the experience will render you a changed person from the ‘local’ person that you were before you left.” One ex-pat couple who returned to the US after a rewarding experience in Eastern Europe noted the June 2008 Top 1 0 0 Unde r 5 0 D i ve rse Le ade rs

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Diversity MBA Magazine - Summer 2008

Diversity MBA Magazine - Summer 2008 Contents Letters to the Editor In Your Own Hands Editor's View Find Your Power Voice Business Briefs Off the Shelf The Fourth Annual Top 100 Under 50 Diverse Corporate Executives Negotiation: The Art of Persuasion or Zero Sum Game? Career Planning for Tomorrow's Hispanic Workforce Who's Who In Diversity Entrepreneur Profile: Anita Santiago: Doing It Her Way Businesses that Keep On Giving Rising Sun Going Global: Will An International Assignment Benefit Your Career Work-Life Balance and the C-Suite: An Oxymoron? A Call to Save Travel: Off the Beaten Path - Chile Drawing the Line – Latin Art Exhibit The New Taste of Latin Cuisine American Sabor: Exhibit Highlights Latino Influence in Pop Music Crafting Specialized Business Degrees Latest MBA Salary Suggests MBA Is A Safe Haven Gadgets & Gizmos Gone Phishing – How Scammers Mine Private Data From Web Surfers Advertiser's Index The Meaning of Sanctuary

Diversity MBA Magazine - Summer 2008

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