Traveling the World for Work (Deloitte, SAP, IBM) with a Family: My Journey and Top 5 Tips for Embracing the Adventure

Moving abroad for a career change can be a daunting experience, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. I have had the opportunity to live and work in several different countries throughout my career, each with their own unique challenges and benefits.

Throughout my journey, I have been fortunate to receive assistance from a diverse group of individuals, including friends, family, and colleagues. In turn, I have also strived to provide support to others as they navigated their own journeys. In this article, I would like to take the opportunity to share my personal experience and insights gained from moving from UK to Brazil, traveling through Latin America, relocating and working in Ireland, and subsequently, the United States. Each of these experiences has provided me with a unique perspective and valuable lessons that have greatly contributed to my personal and professional growth.

My Journey

I am a citizen of England who relocated to Brazil during my childhood. Skipping ahead a few years, in 2004, I joined SAP for the first time, delivering implementation projects in the region (South America). This experience allowed me to work with a diverse group of people and learn about different cultures and business practices. The challenges included dealing with language barriers and adjusting to a new way of life, but the benefits included personal and professional growth and the opportunity to make meaningful connections with colleagues and clients.

In 2009, I was recruited by IBM to lead a team of global and multicultural professionals around the world. This role allowed me to further develop my leadership and management skills while working with a truly diverse group of people. The challenge here was to align all different cultures with the company’s goals and objectives and ensure everyone was working as a team towards a common goal. The benefits were understanding different ways of working, improving my communication skills and being able to adapt to a multicultural environment.

In 2011, I returned to SAP to take on a new role as a Technical Quality Manager for their MaxAttention offering, which is a premium support offering. This role gave me the opportunity to drive business transformation some of the largest accounts we had in Brazil helping to keep client's operations running (KTLO).

In 2013, I moved to the client side and took on the role of IT Project Manager at Monsanto. This role allowed me to work on projects that had a direct impact on the company's success, and gave me the opportunity to build strong relationships with key stakeholders. Understanding what happens on the other side, the side who pays for a service, was incredible valuable to my future assignments. One of the key challenges in this role was managing competing priorities and technologies. The benefits of this role were being able to see the impact of my work now that I not only had to manage the project but where I'd stay, after go live, and ensure that, whatever was the scope, I was actually there supporting business innovation.

My first life changing event - relocating to Ireland

Ireland has a strong technology sector, with many major tech companies like SAP, Google, Facebook, and Apple headquartered there. The country's highly educated workforce and favorable business environment has attracted many technology companies to set operations. The Irish government has invested in building technology infrastructure and promoting innovation, helping to spur growth in the sector. There is a high demand for technology professionals, particularly in software development, data science and cybersecurity. The job market for tech professionals is very competitive, with many opportunities for career advancement and high salaries.

Prior to making the decision to relocate, I conducted thorough research on Ireland's technology industry to ensure I would be comfortable with the move and able to maintain a healthy work-life balance and high quality of life for my family.

In 2016, a life changing event, I had the opportunity to move to Ireland, to the lovely Galway city, and join SAP's newly created Preferred Care team as a Cloud Customer Success Manager. This role allowed me to help the organization grow and establish its processes, and was a great opportunity to take on a new challenge and advance my career. One of the main challenges of this move was adjusting to a new country and culture with my wife and two children. It was important to establish a new network of friends, and find the right schools for the kids. The benefits of this move were that I was able to make a meaningful impact on the organization helping to buid and improve the prorgam, and also that my family had the opportunity to experience a new culture and way of life. I still miss being able to visit castles and other amazing sights in a matter of minutes.

Second life changing event - relocating from Ireland to USA

In 2019, I was invited by SAP to move to the USA, to the sunshine State (Florida) and rejoin the MaxAttention team. This time, I was working for the biggest retailer in North America delivering transformational projects.

This move was not as challenging as previous ones as we were more familiar with the country and culture. The benefits were that we had the opportunity to live in one of the most diverse cities in the world and continue to develop my skills in this new role.

In 2022, I was invited to join Deloitte's Human Capital team as a Senior Manager.

Deloitte Consulting's results for 2022 have been strong, thanks in part to their strong focus on emerging technologies and digital transformation. This new chapter in my career allows me to continue to grow and develop as a professional, and to make a meaningful impact on the organizations I work with.

My Top Five Tips to Embrance the Journey based on my personal experience

1. Network: Reach out to friends, family, and professional contacts who work or have lived abroad to get insights on the job market and what it's like to work and live in the area you're interested in. You can also join professional organizations and attend networking events to connect with people who have international experience. LinkedIn, I believe your best friend on building or improving your network. Don't be afraid, connect, introduce yourself, ask!
2. Research: Look into companies and industries that have a global presence, and learn about the culture, language, and business practices of the countries you're interested in. This will help you understand what to expect and how to prepare for a potential move.
3. Brush up on language skills: Having a good command of the local language can be a huge asset when looking for professional opportunities abroad. Consider taking a language course or using language-learning apps to help you become more fluent. It's an investment (sometimes free) but, it's even more an investment of your time than your money.
4. Look for remote opportunities: With the current pandemic, more and more companies are offering remote work opportunities, which can be a great way to gain international experience without having to relocate. Even if the company is based in one specific location you can work remotely from another and still be part of the team.
5. Consider the impact on your family: Relocating internationally can be a big decision, and it's important to consider the impact it could have on your family. Research schools, housing, and healthcare options, and talk to your family about the potential move to make sure it's something that everyone is comfortable with. Happy wife, happy life :)

Conclusion

Overall gaining international professional experience can be a great career move, as it can give you new perspectives, broaden your skill set, and increase your cultural intelligence. Also, it can be a great adventure for the whole family if it is well planned!

Moving abroad has allowed me to develop my skills, build strong relationships, and make a meaningful impact on the organizations I have worked with. Each move presented its own set of challenges, from adjusting to a new culture to balancing work and family life, but the benefits far outweighed the challenges.

I can highly recommend people to never drop their dreams, to keep pushing and trying and even when the road looks hard, when we are presented with many denials and challenges, we just need one opportunity to make a life-changing move. It may not be easy, but it is definitely worth it. As someone who has had the opportunity to live and work in multiple countries, I can say that the experience has been invaluable and has helped shape who I am both personally and professionally.

Whether it be through coaching and mentorship, or providing resources and support, I am dedicated to helping others navigate the often-challenging path towards an international career. I understand that the journey can be difficult and full of obstacles, but I truly believe that with the right guidance and support, anyone can achieve their dreams of working on a global scale. I take great pride in being able to share my own experiences and insights, and to be able to help others avoid common pitfalls and achieve success in their own careers. So if I can help you in any manner, don't hesitate to reach out. I would be more than happy to help you on your journey towards an international career.

Cheers! Good Luck!

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