Tired Of Being A Corporate Gypsy?
I have worked myself for 2 big international firms, Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo. Over the last 10 years, while running my own firm, I have worked in Europe, Africa, South America, Russia and the USA with managers from companies like Nestlé, Unilever, Sara Lee, Reckitt Benckiser and Heineken. All these big international companies have one thing in common. The opportunities for career growth in one and the same country are limited.
If I compare today’s location of my LinkedIn contacts with their situation a couple of years ago, it becomes obvious. Team Leader in The Netherlands and now Global Category Manager in Geneva. General Manager in Surinam and now in Nigeria. Marketing Manager in Russia and now Marketing Director in the USA. Marketing Manager in Australia and now Marketing Director in Germany.
One of my traveling ex-P&G colleagues came with a great expression for this phenomenon. He called himself a Corporate Gypsy.
Now, of course there is nothing wrong with being a gypsy. The opportunity to travel to countries where you’ve never been. To learn new languages like Bulgarian, Russian, German or Spanish. To work with different cultures. And of course all well paid by the company, which distincts the Corporate Gypsy a little bit from the “real” gypsies.
However, every now and then I receive an email or a call from someone who moved to another country and find it more difficult than he thought. To integrate with locals appears more of a challenge than it seemed beforehand. Or in the middle of every heated meeting they start talking in their own language, so you never have the feeling you get it all. Or their partner is getting frustrated about living secluded in a big house.
At such times it can be relieving to have a sparring opportunity. To look again at the reasons you made the move in the first place and to have an honest look at your current situation and what the future will bring.
These conversations always lead to new energy. Either because you re-confirm the choice you made to move abroad and start improving the current situation. Or because you come to the conclusion that you’re tired of being a Corporate Gypsy and are ready for a new adventure. Like my ex-colleague.
