Leadership with a Passport: A Global Mash-up of Lessons Learned

As someone who’s hopped from one country to another, my leadership journey has been more about cultures, challenges, and people than anything you’ll find in a standard business playbook. From getting fined in Angola because my car was dirty to participating in "free seating" chaos on Nigerian flights, I’ve picked up leadership lessons that will never fit neatly into a manual.

Whether you’ve been with me from the start of this series or are just jumping in now, here’s a rundown of the biggest takeaways from my adventures. If you want to dive deeper into the full stories behind each lesson, you’ll find a link to all the individual articles at the end. But for now, sit back and enjoy this final ride across the leadership landscapes of Angola, Nigeria, Ghana, Iran, Paraguay, and Malta.

1. Adaptability is Your Best Travel Buddy

In the unpredictable environments of Africa, the Middle East, and South America, adaptability was essential. I learned early on that flexibility—whether it’s navigating sudden power outages or finding creative detours around machete-wielding roadblocks—was key to success. You don’t control the situation, but you can certainly control how you react to it.

And yes, sometimes the best reaction is a laugh—like when I almost got fined in Angola for having a dirty car, or when a pilot fixed the plane with a hammer before takeoff. (Spoiler: We made it.)

2. Trust Yourself, Even When Things Get Weird

In tough environments, the most important person to trust is yourself. Whether you’re walking across a tarmac in Abuja to catch a plane that’s about to take off or navigating the unpredictable business world in Iran, leadership starts with your own instincts. Trust them, even when everything else feels uncertain.

3. Stick to Your Values (Even If It’s Not the Easy Route)

From Nigeria to Paraguay, the temptation to take shortcuts is always there. But standing firm in your values pays off in the long run, even if it takes longer to get there. Whether it was choosing the official Nigerian driving license over the faster “fake” version or sticking to ethics in a complex political environment, these moments defined how I led—and how I grew.

4. Empower Your Team and Watch Them Soar

During the pandemic in Ghana, I learned that trusting your team in a crisis can lead to incredible results. When given the space and tools, my team exceeded every expectation, showing me that empowerment doesn’t just work—it thrives under pressure. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that great leaders don’t micromanage; they trust.

5. Humor is Essential in Leadership

From navigating the marketplaces of Iran to driving the shortest distances that somehow took the longest in Malta, humor kept me grounded. Even in the most unpredictable of environments, a little humor goes a long way—whether it’s calming your nerves or helping to navigate a crisis. You can’t control everything, but you can always find something to laugh about.?

6. Resilience is a Skill You Can Build

Through sudden strategic changes in Paraguay or navigating complex political landscapes in Iran, I learned that resilience isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build. Each challenge made me stronger, and each setback became an opportunity to grow. You don’t need to know what’s coming next; you just need to know you can handle it when it arrives.

7. You Can’t Lead or Learn Without People

Leadership is never a solo journey. At every step, I’ve been surrounded by incredible people who’ve taught me as much as I’ve led them. From local colleagues to fellow expatriates, these people have been integral to my growth as a leader and as a person.

While I can’t mention everyone by name (and for that, I apologize), I wouldn’t be where I am today without the people I worked with across Angola, Nigeria, Ghana, Iran, Paraguay, and Malta. Their support, insight, and shared laughter made each experience richer and more memorable. To everyone who has been part of this adventure until now — thank you. Your contribution was invaluable, and I am forever grateful.

Carlos Almeida , Manuel Marinho , Dora Sintra REMAX , Miguel Koehler Sottomayor , Nizar Manjy , Emilia Morais , Hélder Caetano , Bruno Pereira Duarte , Yacine Ahamad , Anabela Figueiredo , Hugo Fran?ois , Sonia Varela , Telmo Santana , Jo?o Marzo Cruz , Sadik Jamal , Nuno Teixeira , George Nyarko , Norma Nipah , PHRi , Jorge Neto Morgado , Antonio Ferreira , Dontoh samuel , Hephzibah S. , Berlinda Buabeng , Antonio Maqueda Rodríguez , Paola Videira , Gustavo Alves Garcia , Jo?o Alberto Rogado Ventura Guerreiro , Pedro Tavares , wisdom attamah , Helio Rodrigues , Daniel Sepulveda , Nana Kwame Gaisie , Innocent Gati , rejoice atoprah , Angel Zumakpeh , Charles Offei Nyanteh , Biba Balde , Pedro Passas , Tetteh-kwei Affroh , Pedro Percheiro , Fabiana Duarte , Hugo Rego Machado , Nuno Sotto Mayor , ABDULGANIYU IBRAHIM , Musa Abubakar , Abubakar Saidu , John Jibrin , Tarisai Kuzamba , 'Day? Dosunmu , Chagi Jerry Ngura , Dr.Joshua Seun Ajayi , Jennifer Eyiram Aku Etse , Jose Carlos Pinto , Jo?o Mendes , Mehdi Mousavi , Alireza Iranmanesh , Aref Faghih Nassiri , Babak Zamani , Bita Bagheri , Ehsan Ahmadi , Hamid Kiyomarsi , Hossein Asghari , Mahsa Vatandoost , Masoud Bigdeli , Peyman Yarmohammadi Samani , Shadi Karami , Alejandra Vielman , Ariel Alonso Caceres , Claudia Báez , Derlys Sanchez , Giovanni Martinez , Maria Lyz Urdapilleta , Raul Urdapilleta , Sergio Suarez Abbate , Sofía Isla , SOLEDAD FRANCO , walter Bastos , Adrian Zammit , Alan Schembri , Angele Casha , Clint Caruana , Csaba Antal , David Tortell , Denise Cortis , Donato Venezia , Doriana Bileci , Edward Gonzalez , Ilona Bonavia , Ivan Calleja , Ivana Hasan , Jake Muscat , Jon Smith , Grant Jason Neal , Martina Magro , Matthew Buhagiar , Pamela Mizzi , Ruth Zahra , Kevin Paul Ellul , Shirley Grixti

Each of you played a crucial role, whether it was providing valuable insights, standing beside me in difficult moments, or simply sharing a laugh at the right time. Thank you for being a part of my journey.

If I’ve forgotten to mention someone, please know it was never intentional. I appreciate each and every one of you and the role you played, and I am sorry if I missed anyone by name.

A Final Thought

As this journey comes to an end, I hope these lessons resonate with you, whether you’re leading in your office, managing a team, or navigating your own personal challenges. If this is your first stop on my series, or if you missed a few stories along the way, don’t worry—you can find links to each country’s adventures at the end of this article.

Leadership isn’t just about what you do, but about how you do it—and who you do it with. So, if you’re setting out on your own leadership journey, take these lessons with you. Trust yourself, embrace the people around you, and never forget to laugh along the way.

And finally, if you’re facing challenges in any of the countries I’ve worked in (or even somewhere new) and want advice or just a friendly conversation, I’m always available for a coffee and a chat. After all, leadership isn’t something we do alone—let’s talk, share, and grow together.

Thank you to everyone who has joined me on this journey—whether you’ve read one article or followed along from the beginning, your support and interest have made this adventure even more meaningful

Curious to dive deeper into the full stories?

You can find the individual articles for each country here:

How it all started

Angola

Nigeria

Ghana

Iran

Paraguay

Malta