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Expat Leadership: The Untold Truths Behind the Adventure
An international assignment often promises adventure and accelerated career growth. And while an expatriate experience can be life-enriching and fulfilling, it also comes with challenges and unexpected surprises few people talk about.
In this episode of Second Crack – The Leadership Podcast, hosts Gerrit Pelzer and Martin Aldergård draw on their decades of experience leading, coaching, and consulting abroad. Each having lived and worked in Asia for over 20 years, they offer candid insights into the unique rewards and hidden challenges of taking on international assignments.
Moving beyond surface-level excitement, they explore critical leadership dilemmas that can make or break an overseas posting. From managing misaligned expectations between headquarters and local stakeholders to the danger of being “parachuted in”, Gerrit and Martin share personal and hard-earned lessons on the importance of cultural intelligence, communication, and proactively managing networks and perceptions back home to avoid the "out of sight, out of mind" trap that can derail future career prospects.
The conversation also delves into the deep personal consequences of a life lived abroad. From navigating the impact on partners and children to caring for aging parents from afar and adjusting to the bittersweet reality of no longer having a single "home," they reflect on how an initial two-year contract can unexpectedly turn into a life-altering, two-decade journey.
If you’re preparing for your first expat role, already on assignment, or considering returning home after years abroad, this episode will give you the questions, perspectives, and tools to navigate the journey with greater awareness and intentionality.
About Second Crack – The Leadership Podcast
Learn more about the podcast and the hosts’ work at secondcrackleadership.com. To explore how they can support leadership development in your organization—whether through company-wide initiatives or individual executive coaching—email: [email protected].
Connect on LinkedIn:
Martin Aldergård
Gerrit Pelzer
View all episodes
By Gerrit Pelzer, Martin AldergardAn international assignment often promises adventure and accelerated career growth. And while an expatriate experience can be life-enriching and fulfilling, it also comes with challenges and unexpected surprises few people talk about.
In this episode of Second Crack – The Leadership Podcast, hosts Gerrit Pelzer and Martin Aldergård draw on their decades of experience leading, coaching, and consulting abroad. Each having lived and worked in Asia for over 20 years, they offer candid insights into the unique rewards and hidden challenges of taking on international assignments.
Moving beyond surface-level excitement, they explore critical leadership dilemmas that can make or break an overseas posting. From managing misaligned expectations between headquarters and local stakeholders to the danger of being “parachuted in”, Gerrit and Martin share personal and hard-earned lessons on the importance of cultural intelligence, communication, and proactively managing networks and perceptions back home to avoid the "out of sight, out of mind" trap that can derail future career prospects.
The conversation also delves into the deep personal consequences of a life lived abroad. From navigating the impact on partners and children to caring for aging parents from afar and adjusting to the bittersweet reality of no longer having a single "home," they reflect on how an initial two-year contract can unexpectedly turn into a life-altering, two-decade journey.
If you’re preparing for your first expat role, already on assignment, or considering returning home after years abroad, this episode will give you the questions, perspectives, and tools to navigate the journey with greater awareness and intentionality.
About Second Crack – The Leadership Podcast
Learn more about the podcast and the hosts’ work at secondcrackleadership.com. To explore how they can support leadership development in your organization—whether through company-wide initiatives or individual executive coaching—email: [email protected].
Connect on LinkedIn:
Martin Aldergård
Gerrit Pelzer