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 […]

Edwin B. Cohen is a seasoned public relations professional and the founder of GLOBAL-TVtalkshow, a platform that connects business leaders worldwide through insightful interviews and discussions. With a career spanning several decades, Cohen has established himself as an outstanding communicator and marketer, collaborating with clients across New York, London, and internationally.  Edwin B. Cohen’s career has followed a consistent path focused on public relations and marketing to support sales initiatives. For years, he has applied proven strategies across time—adapting his methods to reflect shifts in the industry and evolving demographics, which in turn required refined and updated messaging. His first-ever live event was produced in October 1984 at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, cohosted by the LA Economic Development […]

The Qualitative Research Study by REA Peace of Mind on the Move (2024) highlights the positive impact of partner support programs on expatriate assignments. According to their findings, 69% of employers reported that such programs positively influence family acclimation and assignment acceptance. While specific statistics from 2024 regarding the number of expatriates relocating with career-oriented spouses or partners are not readily available, recent studies provide valuable insights into this trend. Additionally, the Relocating Partner Survey by NetExpat and EY provides comprehensive insights into the experiences of spouses and partners of transferees, offering valuable data for enhancing global mobility and talent management policies. (netexpat.com). These studies underscore the importance of robust support systems for accompanying partners to ensure successful international assignments. […]

Guest post by Oyindamola Adedokun It is no gainsaying that globalization has truly changed the modalities of doing business in the 21st century. The increased rate of interconnectedness and global interdependence has generated the need for many companies to spread their tentacles abroad if they must have a competitive advantage and wield global relevance in today’s fast-changing global economy. The development and geographical expansion of international corporations are however not usually a walk in the park.  There’s a wide array of expatriation processes that must be networked in order to manage a subsidiary or branch in a geographical territory or culture that is different from the headquarters.  Before we explore the factors that determine whether or not an international assignment […]

Daniel Zinner is a global workforce consultant, entrepreneur and business angel. His passion for more than 20 years has been cultural diversity and international collaboration. He has worked in Global Mobility for various corporations in many different countries, but is currently based in Berlin, where he enjoys the city’s creativity, diversity and open mindset. Born in Saxony, he experienced firsthand the intense impact reunification had on East Germany. It shaped his understanding of euphoric change, courage and experimentation on the one hand and the fear of disenfranchisement and endless comparison on the other. These experiences still drive him today to confront and improve everything that comes his way.  With the People Mobility Alliance, he is on a mission to transform […]