Why Moving Abroad Could Be the Best Decision You'll Ever Make

Success in a career today demands stepping out of one’s comfort zone, both geographically and professionally. As International Business Consultancy (IBC) students, the pursuit of navigating borders and building impactful careers is a constant focus. In light of this, the opportunity arose to interview Helena Trigueiro, an expert in EU Food and Health Policy and a PhD researcher at Ulster University. If you're interested in international careers, health policy, or business consultancy, don't miss out on this article!

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From the North of Portugal to Brussels: A Turning Point

For Helena, the choice to live and work abroad wasn’t purely about opportunity - it was about necessity. "I realized that in order to really engage with EU health and nutrition policy, I had to be where the action is", she explains. In 2019, she made the life-changing decision to move from the North of Portugal - specifically Ponte de Lima and Porto - to Brussels. This shift has opened a wide array of professional doors and also pushed her to think "outside the box”. Helena is a firm believer that growth comes from embracing discomfort.

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Finding Your Passion: It's Okay to Love Many Things

Helena's passion for nutrition and health policy originates from a moment of clarity in her life. "It was in that food taxation class when it hit me just how powerful policy work could be," she said, going on to assure students that it's not necessary to pin down a single passion too early. “Explore various paths,” she encouraged, reminding us that curiosity and intellectual agility can be tremendous assets in charting a career, especially for marketers, consultants, and entrepreneurs.

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Balancing Health While Living Abroad

Additionally, Helena addressed the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle while living in a foreign country. “It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and stress of a new job or culture, but taking care of your health should always be a priority,” she advised. By prioritizing self-care - whether through exercise, proper nutrition and hydration, cooking comfort foods from your home country, or mental health practices - individuals can better navigate the demands of international living while thriving in their careers.

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Building Your Community: An Essential Step When Moving?Abroad

Moreover, one of the big challenges Helena faced when she relocated was finding her community. "When you're in a new country, it's easy to feel isolated, especially if you're not there for academic reasons," she said. Fully aware of how important a support network is, she also spoke about the need to create both professional networks and personal bonds. "You've got to reach out to people, ask for help and ideas, and be vulnerable," she said, reinforcing the idea that networking should not be about checkmarks, but about mutual support and growth.

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Putting Yourself Out There

Furthermore, Helena stressed the significance of communicating one’s passions and skills: “It's really important not only to materialize and construct something with your skills and interests but also to inspire others to do the same”. She encouraged students to express themselves in various ways stating “It doesn’t have to be necessarily an Instagram page; you can write a paper or an article about a subject you enjoy or participate in a local citizen-based initiative. It can be an event, too.” Helena acknowledged that while social media might be easier, there are many other avenues to promote dialogue, such as engaging with civil society organizations or simply sharing ideas with friends. “Start with something you're comfortable with and then build it up to a more public platform,” she advised.

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The Importance of Cleaning Our Online Space

While sharing her insights, Helena also highlighted eating disorders as one big issue nowadays. "Many young people succumb to unrealistic standards they see online, turning into dangerous behaviors," she warned. Helena is committed to advocating for a clean online space where health information would be accurate and responsible. Moreover, she called on students to take charge of their digital environments: “It's essential to curate the content you engage with and to hold platforms accountable for the information they spread.”

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Advice for Future Professionals

Helena wrapped up by advising IBC students to stay active in networking and consider opportunities like internships or?volunteering. "Don't be afraid to send that cold email or to ask for help," she reassured them, using her personal story for testimony of how amazing changes connecting with the right people can bring.

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Staying Grounded in a Global Career

Finally, with her extensive background in international organizations and policymaking in Brussels, Helena reminded?students not to compare themselves with anybody else: "There is only one of you." - a strong reminder for all moving into their international careers.

Helena’s journey demonstrates that international?careers, especially in health policy, can be both challenging and rewarding. From her insights on balancing health, adaptability, networking, and openness to experience, students can embrace invaluable opportunities. As they navigate their paths, Helena’s wisdom serves as a roadmap for thriving in a global environment, from health policy to business consultancy and beyond.

A special thank you to Professor Stefan Wolter for challenging me to conduct this interview and write this article and, of course, to Helena Trigueiro for generously sharing her insights!

How have experiences abroad shaped your career? Feel free to share it in the comments!

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