This post is inspired by sundaebean. Tired? Surprising Sleep Tips for Expats Reclaiming Rest: Why Expats Need to Prioritize Sleep As expats, we often find ourselves caught in a whirlwind of professional and personal commitments—so much so that sleep becomes an afterthought. It’s not uncommon to hear our peers complain about sleep deprivation and burnout (we may even be the ones voicing those complaints). For this edition, I want to explore how we can regain control by setting clear boundaries and embracing better sleep hygiene—an idea inspired by sleep expert Christine Hansen, founder of Sleep Like a Boss. Understanding the Sleep Struggles of Expats Before setting new habits, it’s important to understand why sleep becomes such a challenge for expats. Quite […]

The Push for Rainbow Talent in Global Mobility is a series we created for Pride Month to raise awareness of the issues diverse talent might experience in the realm of Global Mobility. Although international organizations have a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) objective, many need to catch up due to a lack of understanding of how DEI impacts Global Mobility.  Global Mobility Programs often do not require specific Diversity and Inclusion objectives as part of their strategy. While I understand that we might not need to develop an inclusion strategy ONLY for Global Mobility, we should still include Global Mobility in our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals. Globally, the proportion of female employees engaged in international assignments is merely 14%. […]

Moving to a new country can be an exhilarating adventure, but it comes with its fair share of challenges. As an expat, you may navigate unfamiliar environments, deal with language barriers, and cope with homesickness. Amid all these changes, it’s easy to neglect your mental well-being. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide to help expats prioritize self-care and maintain their mental health while living abroad. This guide covers everything from practical tips on finding local support systems to strategies for managing stress and anxiety. Whether you’re a seasoned expat or just starting your journey, we believe that taking care of your mental well-being is essential for a fulfilling and successful expat experience. So, grab a cup of tea and […]

I started Global People Transitions in 2010 as a blog, and after I left my well-paid job in 2012, I had a rollercoaster of experiences as a founder, author, wife, daughter and friend. The Seven Principles of Intercultural Effectiveness helped me get through many of these personal stories, and I thought it was time to revisit the original “classics” of my earlier writing. Now, edited and supported by technology, and in the current polarized world we have moved into, I feel these principles are as relevant as ever. Let me know what you think and how you can work with them. Principle 1: I try harder and show more patience. In Switzerland, we are obsessed with the concept of time. […]

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 […]