Seasoned with an Accent _The Voice of the Global Professional

A citizen of the world, having lived in Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland, and Sweden, Cornelia Asanger-Lexa is an HR professional who transitioned into Executive and Parenting Coaching and has served the global community for more than ten years. She is a proud mother of three TCK (Third Culture Kids), now in their teens. 

At Global Parenting, she offers a phenomenal coaching program for expat parents of TCK. In our interview, she explains how parents can help their kids transition into a new culture and deal with being “the different kid on the block.” Her focus is to raise TCK kids with a solid identity and help parents understand the long-term effects, pitfalls, and benefits of a globally mobile lifestyle, navigating this journey with greater awareness.

As a mother of TCK myself, I learned a lot from Cornelia, and I know that all parents out there will greatly benefit from her advice! Don’t miss it!

#coaching #parenting #kids #expats #livingabroad #immigrants #tck

If you want to learn how to develop positive relationships with people from other cultures, this interview is for you!

Originally from Morocco, Hamza has lived worldwide, learning languages and interacting with various cultures. He is a polyglot, serial entrepreneur, LinkedIn Local co-host, coach, and co-author of AFRICATELLING – a very engaged and connected professional. He is also the founder of TURAATH whose mission is to invite people to self-development, self-discovery, and communication improvement, enhancing clarity, authenticity, and empathy.

He discussed the fine lines between adaptation and assimilation. We talked about applying our cultural intelligence to deal with different beliefs, values, identities, and customs and how to develop positive and healthy relationships despite cultural differences without abandoning our original cultural identity. LinkedIn Local also came up as an opportunity for immigrants to develop their new network in their new country. 

Fascinating reflections!

His challenge to all of us: “Be authentic!”

You can’t miss this one! Practical applications to all, regardless of origin!

#diversity #inclusion #belonging #cultures #authenticity #culturalsensitivity #culturalintelligence #internationaljobs #networking

is not an ordinary guy! And in a way, I would prefer not to define him because anything I say will not express it all, I fear. But, here we go, I have to tell you something!

Jonaed Iqbal is a creative, innovative, and unconventional Career Coach who describes himself as a rebel. He is the CEO of an equally unconventional – and highly successful – Career Coaching Company called “NoDegree.” It focuses on preparing professionals who have no degrees to articulate their value and get jobs and helps companies find the talents they need within that community. A person very much in touch with the young culture, social media, and the young language, he produces a very upbeat podcast of the same name, “NoDegree.” 

As a second-generation immigrant, he gave us a perspective on what it means to be an immigrant child and have to figure out life and career without the conveniences of a wealthy, mainstream family. And he did it! After working for a while in a job that didn’t match his interests and gifts, he discovered his passion for career coaching and podcasting and is pursuing his primary purpose: serve others! According to him: “Giving is my Fuel.” 

Don’t miss this real-life experience. If you are in the process of figuring out your life, unhappy with your career, or considering what path to follow, please listen! There are some cool ideas for you there! 

CEO, COO, President of various retail and media companies, and actor (check his IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7481818/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0) with extensive international experience, Michael Gralapp has a very exciting life story, having lived in many countries around the world! He has been responsible for on-the-ground operations in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States. After “retiring” as a CEO, he is now working as an International Recruiter mining talent globally for clients in Australia, Brazil, China, Dubai, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Moscow, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.

In this upbeat conversation, we talked about his experience adapting to new cultures and the international job search process. He gave precious advice to global professionals interested in moving abroad or working with multinational companies in their own countries.

It was so rich, so intense, and so full of relevant information for the global professional! He discussed issues like:

• The impact of the hybrid model for global professionals

• The process of VISA sponsoring from the company’s point of view

• The importance of integrating within the culture with locals

• The importance of having a complete and well-written LinkedIn Profile

• How to interact with recruiters and how they recruit 

• How to impress during an interview

 Some of my favorite quotes: 

“When I say soft skills, I’m just talking about being human, you know, being yourself, showing your best face!”

“Sometimes you have to go through one of those doors; sometimes you have to start with a company at a position that you may think isn’t senior enough for you. I mean, I was a CEO of a company, (…) my first job in China, believe me, was not a CEO position. I had to prove myself, I had to get in there and show that, you know, I was an experienced businessman, that I did understand business development. And once you prove yourself, doors open wider and advancement comes quicker. But you know, it is kind of like I see a lot of college kids all over the world, they have spent 2 years, 4 years, 6 years in college getting their degree. They think they are gonna walk into the job of their choice, at the salary of their choice. I am sorry. It doesn’t work like that.”

Pure gold!!!! You can’t miss it!!!!!

#internationaljobsearch #jobsearch #internationalrecruiting #expatriates #livingabroad #careercoaching #graduates

Are you settled in your comfort zone? Came abroad full of dreams but became content with some extra comfort and stopped growing? "Keep the dream alive, don't settle for less," says Dr. Ramini.

Dr. Shiva Ramini is a scientist from India who came to the United States to pursue a Ph.D. in Physics 15 years ago. He worked in the corporate world in forefront biotech companies for many years. Nowadays, he is also a consultant and entrepreneur.

He is a great believer in mentoring. He attributes his success to the great mentors who motivated him to establish a positive mindset and move towards professional growth. In this interview, he reflected on the immigrant mindset and attitudes that can make or prevent the success of immigrants and the struggle to conciliate the values of your original culture and your new one.

If you need a push into professional growth in your life, listen to this thoughtful interview!

How do you handle a double transition: immigrating at the same time you are starting a relationship? Lilian Wee talked to us about how she managed it all and came out stronger than ever! 

Lilian Wee was born in Singapore, where she lived for 30 years. A relationship followed by an engagement called on the decision to uproot her well-established life and immigrate to the United States. 

The career remained the same, as her company transferred her to the United States to work in the same role as a Commercial and Business Development Executive specializing in offshore heavy marine transportation. But the life and cultural changes were a lot to deal with at once!

She shares how she got help, embraced a process of self-awareness and self-discovery, and worked on the cultural adaptation process, coming out with a higher calling to lift other women by empowering them to show up as who they truly are in this world. 

Don't miss listening to this powerful experience!

Do you know what you want to do with your life? Do you have a plan for your career? Did you ever stop to reflect on how you can do better and grow?

Listen to Isack Ghebreyesus, a Senior Marketing Director at World Financial Globe. He challenged us to plan our careers and find some meaning in what we do. According to him, many immigrants only work, work, work without planning their future. 

Born and raised in Eritrea, Isack immigrated to Sudan and, in sequence, to Canada. With those experiences in mind, he talked about his perspectives on cultural adaptation challenging immigrants to focus on their success. Most of all, he encouraged immigrants to find something they love to do, "It is terrible when you wake up, and you don't want to go to work because you don't like it!" He also talked about the Financial Advisor career path and how you can become one. 

If you are in the "work, work, work" mindset, without satisfaction in your career, and no plan for the future, listen! His advice may change your life for the better! 

Are you planning to do business in Japan? Then you need to listen to this interview with Dr. Greg Story.

Dr. Greg Story, President of Dale Carnegie Training Japan, talked about studying, living, speaking Japanese, and doing business in Japan. 

A Ph.D. in Japanese decision-making, and a 36-year veteran of Japan, he is a leadership expert with broad experience. Among his impressive business accomplishments are:

• Launching a "start-up" in Nagoya

• "Turning around" companies for Austrade in both Osaka and Tokyo

• Acting as Commercial Minister in the Australian Embassy 

• Leading as Country Head for Austrade

• Progressing to the role of Co-CEO at the Shinsei Retail Bank

• Becoming the Country Head for the National Australia Bank in Japan

• And more recently, managing, coaching, training, and consulting at Dale Carnegie Training Japan Global, #8 in revenues in 2020. 

A 6th Dan in traditional Shitoryu Karate, he applies martial art philosophies and strategies to business issues. He is so energetic and enthusiastic! An excellent and engaging communicator! 

You will learn a lot about cultural adaptationand Japan. Don't miss it!

A common destination for global professionals – Canada and the United States – have very similar cultures. Elyse Swanson shared her perspectives about their corporate worlds based on her experience working in both countries.

Elyse Swanson is an Actuarial Analyst in the health care sector. Originally from China, she has immigrated to Canada and later on to the United States. Besides tracing some comparisons between these two corporate worlds, she also spoke to us on issues like:

•             Women and equality

•             Cultural expectations for women

•             Freedom to be yourself

•             And cultural adaptation

This interview was thought-provoking. If you are interested in any of these subjects, you need to listen! 

As immigrants and global professionals, we have extra challenges to face in many areas. Did you ever ask yourself, "Is it worth the trouble?", "Will I ever be successful and happy abroad?" José Franco says, "Yes!!!"

José Franco is an educator and immigrant. Originally from Mexico, he is now married to an American Citizen and lives in Utah. In this interview, he talked to us about his trajectory from a boy who didn't speak English and had to care for his family to the successful professional he is today. He shared: 

•             How he balanced his life between family, work, and education

•             The importance of the community in the process

•             How to cope with the demands of helping with expenses at home and studying at the same time 

•             How he now encourages young immigrants to be resilient and win as he won. 

He says to the immigrant community, "It is hard, but it is worth it! Your sacrifices will pay off in the future!"