Dr. Jens Schmidt, A German Executive in Shanghai Dr. Jens Schmidt is an expat. The company’s corporate headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, assigned him  to improve efficiency at the company’s manufacturing plant in Shangai, China. During his first 90 days he came up with a list of quality issues and he shared this list with three of his direct reports (Mr. Zhu, Mr. Cao and Mrs. Ping).  He asked them for input on how to mitigate the issues within the next 90 days and what the “low hanging fruit” were. He emailed them on Friday evening and asked them to respond by Monday morning, enough time to review over the weekend. While Dr. Jens Schmidt was sorting out his moving goods […]

I promised you ten ideas from my expertise as a Global Mobility Yoda when you embark on your Expat Journey. Moving to another country poses a lot of challenges. Too often, we rely on our employers and hope they will ensure everything is done correctly. When we see that an international assignment could have challenges because we talk to other expats, we might not take those so seriously or think that specific issues do not apply to us. You probably also believe you can outsmart everybody else, correct? Still, here are ten ideas you should follow when embarking on your Expat Journey Host Market Salary: Often, the salary in the host country is determined at the “peer” level. However, it […]

Yusuf Altinisik (born in 1992) is a man of many names and roles. Starting out as a self-described “educational nomad,” his journey has taken him from Dachau to Würzburg, Schweinfurt, and Portugal, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and German Studies. He later completed his Master’s in (Inter-)Cultural and Cognitive Linguistics in Munich, while also studying Intercultural Communication. Early on, he worked as a lecturer, trainer, and coach, focusing on potential development and intercultural communication, especially in educational contexts. His passion for transformation earned him the nickname “Mr. Mutabor” – Latin for “I shall transform.” Yusuf discovered agile working while training hybrid teams at a start-up and later became a Change Management Consultant. He is now a certified Scrum Master and Project Agile Leader, working in an international IT company. Today, […]

Inna Malaia is a leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and founder of two purpose-driven organizations: Bevel World, a consultancy specializing in team development and leadership transformation, and Bevel ON, a social impact association supporting displaced professionals across Europe. With a background in global brand leadership and organizational strategy, Inna transitioned from a successful corporate career to entrepreneurship in 2019, driven by a desire to build inclusive spaces where people grow with purpose. Since then, she has led programmes that blend emotional intelligence, the Enneagram system, and practical business tools to help individuals and teams navigate change, align with their values, and thrive. As the President of Bevel ON, Inna oversees capacity-building programmes for displaced and transitioning professionals, with a strong focus […]

The global landscape in 2025 presents complex challenges and opportunities for businesses, governments, and individuals navigating global mobility. This handout applies the Global Mobility Drivers to assess how geopolitical risks, economic markets, labor markets, the war for talent, and migration shape mobility trends. Recommended Newsletter: https://www.lgt.com/global-en/market-assessments/market-view/markets-tumble-as-trump-unveils-new-tariffs-258234 Key Takeaways for Global Mobility Leaders: Market Volatility Awareness: The U.S. administration’s announcement of new tariffs led to sharp declines in Asian and European stock markets, with investors seeking safe-haven assets like gold. This underscores the need for Global Mobility leaders to monitor geopolitical events closely, as such developments can lead to sudden economic shifts affecting business operations and employee mobility.​ Strategic Planning for Mobility Programs: The imposition of tariffs and the resultant market […]