Within the global workforce exist a whole range of international work experiences. When referring to expatriation, we are speaking about traditional company-initiated expats, who are sent abroad for either shorter or longer periods of time. That is a very simplistic distinction though, as the landscape of company-initiated assignments is constantly changing, producing an increasing variety […]
What we know and don’t know about intercultural competence
Intercultural competence is one of the salient topics in the field of global mobility, with ongoing interest in both academic and applied settings. For example, implications of intercultural competence can’t be overseen when speaking about global workforce mobility, multicultural team management, cross-cultural collaborations in both business and education domains, immigration, and the current refugee crisis. […]
Latest Insights from Expat Industry Survey
Recently, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), sponsored by UnitedHealthcare Global, surveyed 360 executives from North America and Europe and conducted five in-depth interviews with experts to examine companies’ experiences with global mobility. In the following I will highlight some key report data that caught my eye. • Assignment geography is not about the traditional home […]
In Case Topics on Global Mobility Have Started to Bore You already…
Recently IESE Business School had the pleasure of hosting its first independent TED event. Among many inspiring speakers was also one of our MBA students, Mariano Torrente, who spoke about our capacity to be surprised and wonder. Although a magician himself, Mariano argued that magic can be found all around us, not just in the […]
Best Practices in Leading Virtual Teams
‘Once upon a time, when people were still using paper and pen for writing up their thoughts and communication implied physical proximity, people used to work together by gathering in one room and discussing different problems and possible solutions…these people would be highly familiar with each other, they would speak the same language, they would look […]
Expatriate Reentry Training: Insights from Recent Research
Several years ago in one of my blog posts I posed a question whether starting an expatriate assignment requires more company support than repatriation. Despite the common logic that going abroad to a new and unfamiliar place should be more challenging than returning home to a familiar place, this notion couldn’t be further from reality. […]
Benefits of Multilingualism: Some New Evidence
Imagine a person, who sits in a restaurant in front of you, asking you to pass her ‘that plate on the right’… Would you reach out for the plate to your right or to your left? The answer may lie in perspective taking, meaning that if you would take the perspective of the other person, […]
Digital Globalization: The New Era and its Implications
Although many consider globalization to be the buzzword of the last decades, economic historians would argue that globalization has a history that stretches back thousands of years. As brought up in a relevant Economist article, the trend of trade expansion is linked to specialization and is ‘nearly as old as civilization’. The process seems quite […]
Migration: Keep Away ‘Some’ and Attract ‘Others’?
Let’s speak about migration again… In the midst of the migration crisis and the multitude of articles about Europe’s tightening inflow of migrants (e.g. here), it is quite refreshing to also read about the other side, namely the competition for migrants. A recent FT article reminds us of the global talent gap and the global […]
To Sleep or Not to Sleep: That is the Question
When was the last time you encountered a colleague, a student or any other acquaintance of yours, who would answer the common ‘how are you?’ question with a sincere ‘I am doing great’, while looking rested and full of energy? Isn’t it getting more common to hear about ‘being too busy’, ‘a bit tired’ and […]
Autopilot Mode vs Cultural Intelligence
Have you ever experienced driving to your workplace and actually not remembering how you got there? I guess that might be a pretty common phenomenon, given that most of the time (experienced) drivers are planning for their day, having a conversation with someone, or engage in problem-solving while being on the road. Even without an […]
The Global World of a Local Facebook User
Who participates in globalization? Governments, which form alliances, open borders and support trade across countries? Multinational organizations, which open new subsidiaries abroad and employ people of different nationalities? Universities, which support international student exchange programs? Naturally, all of the above mentioned are active participants in the globalization process. Yet, the latest McKinsey publication highlights that […]
The Global Talent Competitiveness Index: Key Points from the Latest Report
On January 19, 2016 in Davos INSEAD launched its latest Global Talent Competitiveness Index (GTCI) report. As in previous years, the report focuses on the important topic of global talent competitiveness, highlighting the emergence of an unprecedented international landscape that redefines global mobility. Today we can speak about increased mobility across all facets of the […]
Cultural Differences: Are We Oversimplifying?
Globalism, crossing borders and interacting with people from other countries go hand in hand with cultural intelligence, that is, being aware of cultural differences, and being willing and able to adapt to them. With that notion in mind, I would dare to say that the majority of international companies take at least some initiatives towards […]
Global Mobility Trends of 2016: A Professional Insight
End of the year and beginning of the new year is a time of reflecting on the past 12 months, celebrating all the achievements and new beginnings. The world of global mobility is no different. For example, the Forum for Expatriate Management (FEM) recently hosted the Expatriate Management and Mobility Awards (EMMA Awards), which celebrated […]
Christmas: Expats NOT Going Home?
As Christmas is around the corner, there is no better topic than writing about expats and Christmas. Last year about the same time I reflected on the unexpected difficulties of going back home for Christmas. Holidays at home may sound like a great idea indeed, as one naturally expects the comfort and familiarity of one’s […]
