Expat Women - September Home Page

Hi Everyone, While you were enjoying your weekend, we uploaded our new September Home Page and features for you. Please take a look and/or visit the specific article(s) of interest below.

We also launched our 'Tell A Friend' Promotion. Please encourage all of your expat women friends to join, because if their membership number is randomly chosen at the end of September, they will win US$100 and if they nominate you as the person who referred them, you win US$100 too!

Our Expat Women Members' Newsletter will come out later this week. If you have not joined up yet, please join here (and remember to verify your membership when you get the auto-email) before our Newsletter goes out, so you don't miss out.

Thank you very much and best wishes for your September, Andrea.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

September Home Page Features:

Herta Von Stiegel
Finance Leader
Born in Transylvania, Herta has spent her adult life in the US and the UK. She has an impressive track record in the finance industry and together with her partners, has just launched Ariya Capital Group, a fund management firm focusing on sustainable investments in Africa...

Vardit Kohn
For Goodness Sake
Vardit Kohn has been interested in food for as long as she can remember. But it was not until after her linguistics studies in Israel, and her MBA studies in London, that she found her true calling and she now thrives as a Natural Nutritionist in The Netherlands…

Managing Global Talent: What Do Expatriate Spouses Need?
Report to Participants, Dr. Nina Cole
Surveys demonstrate that problems with spousal adjustment are the leading cause of early return home from expatriate assignments, which is costly in terms of repatriation and replacement of the expatriate, and in terms of company performance...

Finding The Right Boarding School
Rebecca Grappo, M.Ed
Young people in internationally mobile families often face many disruptions in their education as their families move from one country to the next. Many times their educational needs cannot be met at the location of the new international assignment...

Expat Confession
Beware Your Friends
Ciao! I just moved to Italy a year ago and have started to meet people. I am married to an Italian citizen and am getting over my culture shock, my rollercoaster emotions and I am finally settling in. I met a woman (also married to an Italian) at a common expat meet up as...

Guanxi: The Art Of Building Relationships In China
Sheida Hodge
In literal terms, Guanxi means "the art of building relationships". But for [foreigners] seeking to
do business in China, this translation is somewhat misleading. The idea of forced socialization...

Expat Assignments: Are You Addicted?

Hello Everyone, We had this article published online yesterday in The Telegraph UK: Expat Assignments: Are You Addicted?

Here's how it starts:

"If you love living abroad, you see your passport more than your home country, you enjoy a much-envied lifestyle and you hate the thought of repatriating, there is a good chance that you, like many expats before you, have been seduced by the addictive nature of international assignments.

So what exactly is it that makes such assignments so addictive? The answers are many and varied, but here are six of the big ones..."

It is aimed at expats (and their partners/families) sent abroad by their employer on international assignments.

If you would like to read more, just click here. Feedback and constructive criticism always welcome.

Best wishes for your weekend! Andrea

World's 100 Most Powerful Women

Hi Everyone, Did you see that Forbes released yesterday their annual list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the World?

Here are their Top 10 women:

1. Angela Merkel
2. Sheila C. Bair
3. Indra K. Nooyi
4. Angela Braly
5. Cynthia Carroll
6. Irene B. Rosenfeld
7. Condoleezza Rice
8. Ho Ching
9. Anne Lauvergeon
10. Anne Mulcahy

To read the rest of their list and to find out where women like Oprah are ranked, just click here. Cheers.

Highlights From Expat Expert Robin Pascoe's "Family Matters!" Survey

Hello Everyone, For those of you following our previous blogposts about Robin Pascoe's Family Matters! Survey in the expat community, here are three key highlights sent around by Robin today:

"1. The survey confirmed there is a distinct 'disconnect' in communication about relocation policy between headquarters and expat families as 64 per cent of respondents said no one - neither employee nor family members - were offered any training whatsoever. Yet, according to the latest GMAC Global Relocation Trends survey, 154 global companies reported that 84 per cent of their organizations made cross-cultural preparation available to at least one member of the family. So while it may be policy to offer training, it would appear from your responses that this news is not being communicated.

2. Marital breakdown was the highest rated factor to impact negatively on the stress of an assignment. It ranked higher than children's education, spousal resistance to move in the first place, spousal career concerns, and adjustment in general. The reasons for an assignment failure are clearly more nuanced than simply "family failure to adjust" which we hear quoted so often.

3. The number one request for inclusion in any relocation policy - well above cross-cultural training and career counseling, both of which came in almost at the bottom of the list - was "assurances of a new contact at the new destination for help settling in." Anecdotally, you informed me that in the absence of ground support in your new locales, however, other expats, through spousal organizations, schools committees, and community clubs, are stepping up to assist you."

When Robin releases her official Executive Summary of her survey findings, we will be sure to let you know. Enjoy your day!

Expats - The Movie - Filming Soon in Dubai

Hi Everyone, If you are interested in starring in the upcoming 'Expats' movie, by Dubai-based expat (NZ) movie producer, Craig Johnson, and you live in the UAE, be quick to register your interest here. Auditions are scheduled for this week: August 29 and 30. Good luck!

(We spotted this announcement on Bernama.com, an online Malaysian News Agency, thanks to our Google alert. )

ExpatFinder - Launched This Week

Hi Everyone, Exciting news this week is the launch of ExpatFinder.com, the brainchild of Sébastien and Francois Deschamps, who are also behind ExpatAngels.org (launched in June 2008) and InterExpat.com (officially launching in September 2008).

"ExpatFinder is the first vertical search engine for people intending to relocate or already living abroad. [It] addresses the increased demand for information and services by relocating professionals and their families. The website acts as a channel to guide expatriates or pre-expatriates about to make the move, to the most relevant information and websites both locally and globally".

Whilst still tweaking a few launch issues and still uploading a lot of the thumbnail images for the search results, I think ExpatFinder is a great idea and shows a lot of potential. I wish Sébastien and Francois all the very best.

Have a fabulous weekend, best wishes, Andrea.

Finding The Right Boarding School

Hi Everyone, If you have children and you live a globally-nomadic life, take a read of Rebecca Grappo's great article: Finding The Right Boarding School, which was published this week in The Telegraph UK.

(Rebecca actually wrote this article specifically for our Expat Women audience - it is coded up and ready-to-go for our September home page and newsletter.)

Rebecca knows what she is talking about: she has lived in nine countries and has personally visited more than 130 boarding schools in the US and Europe.

Loyal readers might remember Rebecca's previous article for us: Taking A Special Needs Child Overseas? What To Know...

Thanks Everyone - enjoy your day/evening! Andrea

Looking For Expat Stories & Experiences

Hi Everyone, We are always looking for expat experiences for our Expat Women stories section.

Do you have a story that you could share?

Here are some of our previous story-of-the-month winners, to motivate you:
Inspiring People I Have Met - By Julie, a Kiwi expat in Switzerland
My Life Is A Charade - By Serena, an American expat in Mexico
Welcome to the Dark Side - By Bronwyn, an Australian in Cambodia
Integration - By Saskia, who was a Dutch expat woman in the UK

If you are a new reader to this blog, we also encourage you to support us and sign up as an ExpatWomen.com member, so you can receive your free e-book with all of our February 2007 - August 2008 Winning Stories. Thanks!

British Expats In, Or Moving To, Spain?

Hello Everyone, Becky Maynard, an Assistant Director at Studio Lambert, is working on a new documentary series for ITV about British expats moving to and/or living in Spain and is looking for people in the following scenarios:

(a) A family on the verge of making a decision to move to Spain, or looking at properties with a view to buy in the next month or two;

(b) British expats already living the dream in Spain;

(c) Someone whose Spanish experience is turning into a nightmare;

(d) People who are considering giving up the Spanish dream entirely.

If you meet any of the above criteria, and are willing to meet Becky in September, with a view to filming in October, please urgently contact Becky here. Thanks.

International Assignments & Emotional Intelligence - Surveys For Working Expats

Hi Everyone, Elise Christensen (a Norwegian who has lived in Egypt, Russia, the USA, UAE and UK) would like your help please in completing two surveys for her postgraduate dissertation that investigate the role of emotional intelligence ("the ability to recognize and manage emotions") in international assignments.

If you have been the person employed/posted for an international assignment (rather than the accompanying partner), past or present, and you are able to help Elise, please email her here to request the two surveys. The submission deadline is 5 September 2008. Thanks.

Kick Like A Girl: The Movie

Thanks to an anonymous comment on this blog, I learnt today about the Kick Like A Girl movie.

"Kick Like A Girl is the story of what happens when “The Mighty Cheetahs”, an undefeated third grade girls soccer team competes in the boys division. With humor and honesty this documentary reveals the reality of the boy-girl issues and what "Kick Like A Girl" really means on and off the playing field. The film is narrated by 8 year old Lizzie, a self-described soccer girl, who doesn't let juvenile diabetes, elbow blocks or grass stains interfere with her desire to compete. Refreshing and triumphant, Kick Like A Girl reminds us all of the lessons learned in competitive athletics and how sports has been one of the most effective instruments of social change in our lifetime."

The online trailer for this movie is very inspirational. After watching the trailer several times and reading every word on their website, I contacted the director of the film, Jenny Mackenzie to find out more.

Jenny advised that the film is currently playing at International Film Festivals and they will have a broadcast premiere on HBO in early 2009. DVDs will be for sale shortly after the premiere. In the meantime, if you are interested in putting your name on their notification list, just drop them a line. Or, if you are interested in Jenny's touring and speaking engagements, email Jenny here.

Thanks Everyone - and enjoy the two-minute-trailer. Andrea :-)

Guanxi: The Art Of Building Relationships In China... and elsewhere

Hello Everyone, We thought we would get into the swing of everything China this month (aka the month of the Olympics) and have sourced this interesting article for you about Guanxi and building relationships in China. In actual fact, even if you're not dealing with China, it's a great reminder about what is important in relationships abroad, namely:

1. Brand;
2. Expertise;
3. Sincerity; and
4. Track Record.

Take a read and enjoy your day/evening! Thanks.

Calling All Writers Interested In Self-Publishing, Print-On-Demand, Lightning Source & Aiming At Amazon

Hi Everyone, Have you ever heard of Aaron Shepard? He's the guy that wrote Aiming At Amazon, which Expat Expert Robin Pascoe once described as the book that changed her life, with its insights on how best to go about self-publishing via Lightning Source and then selling your book(s) on Amazon.

Well, here is some fabulous news, if you are a writer and/or interested in self-publishing...

Aaron Shepard has just announced on his blog that you can now download for free, the draft version of his upcoming revised book - Aiming At Amazon: The NEW Business Of Self-Publishing OR How To Publish Books For Profit With Print On Demand By Lightning Source And Book Marketing On Amazon.com.

The idea is that anyone downloading the book will do so with the intention of providing any applicable feedback/comments by the end of August, to help him finish the book in time for his scheduled September release.

This is a GREAT opportunity to learn from someone who really does seem to know what he's talking about, in terms of self-publishing, Lightning Source and Amazon. We read his first edition and it was EXCELLENT. So... what are you waiting for? Go for it! :-)

Permits Foundation Survey - Expat Spouses/Partners - Can You Help?

Hello Everyone, Kathleen van der Wilk-Carlton from the Permits Foundation has written to us to ask for your help...

The Permits Foundation is an international non-profit corporate initiative to promote access of accompanying spouses and partners of international staff to employment through an improvement of work permit regulations.

They are running an online survey (until Sept 30) for expat spouses and partners, "to learn about your wishes in relation to employment, the challenges you face and possible solutions... you can take part if you are interested in working, whether or not you are working at present".

Kathleen:"the survey is a great opportunity for expat spouses to speak up and get their needs with respect to employment heard by employers and governments."

To help Kathleen and fill in the survey, please Click Here. Thank you.

Trying To Learn A New Language?

Hi Everyone, we learnt yesterday about a cool tool to help you learn a new language, at your own pace, and in your own time: the Language Pod.

You can learn with a ChinesePod, a SpanishPod, a FrenchPod or an ItalianPod. EnglishPods come out next year.

The company with the brainwave is Praxis Language and apparently they launched their first Language Pod in 2005 - so they have had time to iron out any kinks in the product and improve on their very first version. They offer six different skill levels, with loads of 10-15 minute lessons for each language.

"Praxis Language's guiding precept is its trademark Personalized Learning System (PLS), which offers content and tools via podcasts while accessing a collaborative community via the internet. Mobility enables language learning via a variety of media - including the PC, iPod, MP3 player, iPhone and mobile phone, giving the user control in a ubiquitous learning environment, available 24/7, that lets learners be 'immersed in the moment' - any time. Users learn on their own terms instead of in the traditional teacher-centric, 'one-to-many' format used by language instruction methodologies, including other podcast-based systems."

Sounds like the perfect tool for globe-trotting expats. :-)

Want To Contribute To A New Website For Female Entrepreneurs?

Hi again, Anyone willing to contribute expert content, in exchange for a webpage on Women Unlimited, is invited to email Julie Hall, read on...

"I am looking for people to write articles about subjects they are passionate about for an online community website for female entrepreneurs. The website will be both business-oriented and personal development-oriented. My vision for Women Unlimited is to become a catalyst for change in the UK, enabling women to achieve success through their own businesses and skills. The target market for the website is women-owned businesses from sole traders to medium-sized organisations."

"Every author will have their own profile page and by-line on the website, with a link to their own websites. They will also be able to have a link in the business directory for free."

Thanks go to Jo Parfitt for sharing this lead.

Need Mail Services?

Hi Everyone, We would like to thank USA2Me (Package and USA Mail Forwarding Services) for renewing their advertising term with us at ExpatWomen.com. USA2Me were one of our first long-term advertisers and we appreciate their ongoing support, to help keep the dream of ExpatWomen.com alive.

If you need mail services, please check out USA2Me. Thanks.

What Is A SWAT Mum?

Hi Everyone, We read a term in today's Aurora (UK) newsletter that we wanted to share...

Aurora: "Companies are reaching out to an impressive group of top talent newly known as the SWAT Mums (Smart Women with Available Time). Many women at home with kids have extra time to undertake professional opportunities. Often these women have incredible skills and experience, they just don't want to work full-time."

ExpatWomen: Sounds like the age-old dilemma of many an expat trailing spouse (accompanying partner), yes? (...with or without children in tow)

Aurora: "The new challenge is for companies to match opportunities to this rapidly emerging group."

ExpatWomen: ...and for expats to try to tap into companies (at home and/or abroad) who are interested in SWAT talent.

Good luck today to anyone on the job hunt. May you find a company that appreciates you and your values. Or alternatively, may today be the day you come up with your 'great idea' for your portable 'career in a suitcase'. :-)

TCK Teleseminar with Tom Query - Counselor, Therapist & Grief Expert - August 9 (US time)

Anyone interested in the next free Third Culture Kids (TCK) teleseminar by the TCK Academy, might like to click here to find out the details of the upcoming teleseminar on "unresolved grief" with Tom Query. Expatriates, repatriates, parents, counselors, researchers, service-providers and more... everyone is welcome. Saturday, August 9 (US), 6PM Eastern Time. Thanks.

2009 Globe Women Summit

Hi Everyone, Following on from our recent article about the 2008 Globe Women Summit in Hanoi, Vietnam...

It has now been announced that the 2009 Globe Women Summit will be held in Santiago, Chile, May 14-16. Mark your diaries if you intend to go.

To read some of the 2008 Summit outcomes, reports and speaker presentations, visit the official Globe Women page here. Thanks.

BBC Request: Looking For A British Family To Reunite

Hello Everyone, We received a request from Chris Kearsey at Blast Films last week, whose company is making a documentary which celebrates British families, for the BBC.

They are searching for someone who would like to reunite their (mainly) British relatives. They are offering the whole family the chance to discover their collective history over the course of an all-expenses-paid weekend in Autumn, 2008. They are specifically looking for someone who is fascinated by genealogy. Ideally, the majority of their family is currently living in the UK. For more information, please email Blast Films here. Thanks.

Congratulations Julie! Winning Story

Congratulations this month go to Julie, an expat New Zealander living in Switzerland, for her winning story of the month on ExpatWomen.com: Inspiring People I Have Met.

We are always looking for more of your stories (and we know you have plenty). To submit your expat story, please Click Here. To read more of the 200 or so expat stories submitted to date, Click Here.

Thank you and enjoy the first week of August. :-)

Expat Women August Home Page & Welcome To New Sponsor: Confused.com

Hello Everyone! A very special August welcome to our new Bronze Sponsor, Confused.com: a leading comparison service based in the UK. Though best known for car insurance, they also offer home insurance, travel insurance, a selection of financial services, the ability to switch energy suppliers, and plenty more besides. Just by filling in some forms which are nice and simple to follow, Confused.com will return a selection of great deals available on the web, and present them to you in a format that’s easy to understand. Thanks in advance for supporting Confused.com!

This month, our Expat Women August Home Page highlights the following fabulous features:

Success Story: Diane Gulyas
Dianne Gulyas runs DuPont’s largest business unit – a US$7 billion operation, with a 7,500-strong global team. It’s no wonder that Fortune magazine named her as one of their 50 Most Powerful Women. She attributes her accelerated success to working abroad...

Business Idea: The Antiques Diva™
Toma Haines believes that trailing spouses “have been offered the greatest gift on the planet: the time and resources to pursue their dreams”. Toma’s dream was to live abroad and create her own career in a suitcase. With The Antiques Diva™, that’s exactly what she’s done…

Queen Of Africa: Tanya Trevor
Tanya Trevor has led a fascinating life. She has lived in Kenya, Denmark, England, Scotland and Australia. She was with her father when he was filming Gorillas in the Mist, on set during Out Of Africa, and on screen with Jimmy Stewart in Tale of Africa…

Negotiations Abroad: The Female Factor
In order for women to be successful in international business negotiations, [they] need to be educated about how to deal with foreign business cultures. The secret of women’s success negotiating internationally is contained in the three angles of the “Triple A Triangle”…

Expat Confession: Keeping Secrets
"I am feeling a bit down because I have the feeling that my husband is keeping secrets from me. He’s getting distant from me and he always seems too tired to talk. I realise that his work is quite demanding, but we have been married for ten years and have lived the expatriate life..."

Expat Explorer Survey Results
Seeking the good life abroad? Then pack your suitcase and head for Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or the United States (US). These three countries emerged as the best expat locations in the largest global survey of expats, with 2,155 respondents across four continents...

Newsletter Next Week
And finally... we are sending out our August newsletter mid-next week. If you do not already receive our newsletters, please support us by signing up today. New members receive our Free E-Book: Winning Stories.

Thank you very much - and here's wishing you a wonderful August!

11th Annual Talent Management Summit (IQPC), 20-23 October, Las Vegas

Hi Everyone, If you are looking for fresh strategies to engage and retain your employees, then look no further than the 11th Annual Talent Management Summit, this October in Las Vegas.

This conference, themed Aligning Talent Management With Business Goals, "unveils the latest tools for developing your employees including career pathing, onboarding, analytics, as well as other cutting edge topics including multi-generational workforces, RPOs, employer branding, engaging millenials, global talent, HR and business strategy and more".

Keynote speakers include:

Marc Effron, Vice President, Talent Management, Avon, Founder of the New Talent Management Network

Deb Capolarello, Chief Talent Officer, MetLife, Fortune 500

Jay Conger, Henry R. Kravis Research Chair in Leadership Studies

Scott Fleming, President, Replacements Ltd.

Joseph Cabral, Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, North Shore-LIJ Health System

Susan Hailey, VP Talent, Harrah's Entertainment, Fortune 500

Susan Hamilton, Chief Diversity Officer, CSX, Fortune 500

Robert Vosburgh, SVP and Head of HR, CenterCity, MGM Mirage, Fortune 500

Best of all, the conference will be held at The Venetian Resort (gorgeous place to stay, if I might say so myself).

Conference-only prices:

If you register by 1 August, US$1,608

If you register by 29 August, US$1,800

After 29 August, US$2,399

If you would like more details, or know someone in your HR department who would, Click Here to request your free PDF brochure from our friends at IQPC (International Quality & Productivity Center), who are also hosting the Global Talent Management Summit, August 25-27, in Chicago. Thanks Everyone!

HSBC Survey Results: Pack Your Bag And Head To Singapore, the US or the UAE!

Hello Everyone, If you have not already seen the impressive array of news articles in the expat media in the past few days about the HSBC International Expat Explorer Survey results, released on 24 July, here are some of the highlights:

• 2,155 expatriates surveyed, over 4 continents;
• Singapore, US and the UAE were ranked as the best overall expat locations;
• 74% of expats living in Singapore said their quality of accommodation was better than back home;
• 58% of expats save and invest more than they did in their country of origin; Hong Kong-based expats (on the whole) have the highest salaries;
• In terms of longevity, The Netherlands rated the highest, with 82% of expats there already residing there for 3+ years; and
• The UK and France were among the lowest-rated destinations, scoring poorly on their levels of luxury and standards of accommodation.

However, unlike all of the other sites that we've seen, we can offer you the full PDF summary of the survey results (great for expat research, articles, HR strategy, or just plain curiosity), thanks to our good friends at HSBC Offshore (a valued Expat Women Gold Sponsor). Just Click Here. :-)

Women In Technology - 20th Anniversary Summit & Bonus Membership Offer

Hi Everyone, If you are involved in the technology industry, you might be interested in the Women In Technology International (WITI) website, upcoming 20th anniversary conference (12-15 October, Santa Clara, California, US) and/or WITI's current bonus membership offer (pay for 12 months and get a bonus 6 months for free, as part of their 20th anniversary membership drive). Offer expires 15 August 2008. If anyone goes, please let us know what it was like. Thanks!

What Have You Done Today To Make You Feel Proud?

Ever wondered how you can make a difference? Need some inspiration? Then take a look at this four-minute video put together by the MBA class of a friend of mine. Their ethics class assignment was to change the fabric of society. Their idea was to use a YouTube video to inspire everyone to make more of a difference to the community. It's a nice, motivational video, giving examples of real people contributing to the community in real ways.

If you do nothing else other than watch the video (which has great music, by the way), your 'hit' on their view counter would have helped an MBA class and made them feel like their video was worthwhile. Thanks Everyone! Andrea

PS. Here is their blog as well: 1 Small Act.

Become An Expert On Google's New Knol

Have you seen Google's new site which allows you to write about your area of expertise? It's called Knol ("a knol is an authoritative article about a specific topic") and it may just offer you another great platform on which to grow your name, brand and/or network.

Knol is a bit of a cross between Wikipedia (in terms of the ability to share knowledge) and the world of blogs (in terms of its publishing tools). However, unlike Wikipedia, others can contribute their ideas/corrections for your page, but only you can edit your page.

To test their current offerings, I searched the site for the term expat and got zero articles. I then searched for the term women and it only brought up five articles:

1. Female Sexual Function and Dysfunction;
2. Urinary Tract Infection in Women;
3. The Decline in Women in Computer Science from 1940-1982;
4. Breast Pain/Lumps in Women; and
5. Libido Problems in Women.

C'mon everyone - let's get in and boost Google's offerings! I suspect the faster you get in, the more potential exposure you might gain for your name/company/brand/hobby/interest. Think about investing 30-60 minutes into creating an expert page on the new Knol - I certainly will. You never know who might discover you. :-)

Best wishes for your weekend, and thanks for your ongoing support, Andrea.

********************************************************************************

An update from Sébastien Deschamps (InterExpat and ExpatAngels): If you would like to invest the time in (the beta version of) Google's new Knol, be sure to read about the bugs, work-arounds and searchability issues first. It may help you navigate Knol and not lose your hard work. Cheers.

Expats In Denmark?

If you are expat in Denmark, of soon to become one, you might be interested in this new website: Expat in Denmark.

Launched on 30 June 2008 by the Danish Chamber of Commerce, who "would like Denmark to be an attractive country for businesses and international employees alike", the online network "is also created as a tool for companies and expats to help ensure that the stay in Denmark is a trouble-free and positive experience."

Even more interesting, is the fact that on 21 October, they are organizing a job fair event in the centre of Copenhagen at the beautiful, old Stock Exchange, “Børsen”, with the aim of matching business and Expat partners - to help expat partners gain employment and enjoy living in Denmark. Wow. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all host countries helped expat partners like this? :-)

To read more about the venue for the 21 October event, please click here. To see our Expat Women Country Page for Denmark, please click here. Thanks.

Would You Like To Speak At The Asian Women's Entrepreneur Conference?

Hi Everyone, In a blogpost last month, we let you know about the upcoming Asian Women's Entrepreneur Conference (AWEC) to be held in Seoul, Korea, from 25 - 27 September.

Well this week, we received an email from the AWEC Committee, asking us to nominate relevant, credible and high-level speakers for their conference.

If you feel qualified to speak (and/or you know someone who is) and you would like to pursue this further, please email the committee and request the Speaker Recommendation Form. Thanks.

Note: As a speaker at the AWEC Conference, you can also apply for an honorarium and/or financial assistance to help with accommodation and conference registration fees.

August 19 Webinar: International Mobility In The Pharmaceutical Sector (GMAC)

You may recall in a previous blogpost, we let you know about a financial services sector webinar that GMAC Relocation Services hosted, to expand on the results of their financial services sector survey results.

Well, know it's the pharmaceutical sector's turn, with one of the main topics being "As Companies Become More Global, Should They Hire Talent Locally Or Transfer Employees Globally?" A hot topic if you are an expat in the pharmaceutical sector.

The scheduled GMAC pharma webinar is on 19 August (US time). The webinar is free, but limited to the first 100 registrants. To learn more about the webinar and/or register, please click here. Thanks.

Looking For Ways To Save On Your Phone Calls?

Hi Everyone, A little while back, we read a good article about VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), or in other words, how to use the internet for free/cheap telephone services, answering machine services and more - from anywhere in the world. We wanted to share it with you, so thanks to author Debbie Jenkins, we have now added this article to our site: 11 Ways Lean Marketers Can Make The Best Use of VoIP. Take a quick read if you are interested. Thanks.

Stories, Stories, Stories

It seems that everyone except for Julie (in Switzerland) and Lucinda (in Jordan) are on vacation, so we're calling on you...

Can you help us by contributing an expat story to our Stories section this month? We are sure that you have plenty of stories to tell and we would be most appreciative. Please submit your stories here.

Thank you very much and enjoy your weekend!

BBC - Radio 4 - Woman's Hour: Urgently Looking For Expats Who Returned...

...home to the UK, because they did not settle well in their expat posting abroad. Ideally, an accompanying wife/partner who was posted outside of Europe. If you can help, please get in touch via either their website or via Lydia Thomas urgently.

Thanks go to Marian Weston of Swift Transitions for this tip-off.

Reminder: FIGT Proposal Deadline September 1

Hi Everyone, You may recall that in a previous blog post in May, we let you know how to submit a proposal to speak at the next Families in Global Transition (FIGT) Conference in Houston, Texas, US, March 5-7, 2009.

Well, the powers that be at FIGT have sent around a note today, reminding everyone that the deadline for speaking proposals is September 1. So if you are keen to speak (and get exposure for your business, company or research project), get that brain into gear and start writing your proposal.

Here is the link to the submission form again. Go for it!

PS. Want to read what it is like at an FIGT conference?

2008 Report (an Expat Women Interview with FIGT Participant, Robin Pascoe)

2007 Report (by our ExpatWomen.com founders, Jill Lengré and Andrea Martins)

Want To Help Adeline? Ethnic Entrepreneur Research - Deadline 20 July

If you would like to participate in the research that Adeline Wielputz (a Franco-German graduate student) is doing on ethnic entrepreneurs, in terms of how highly-skilled ethnic entrepreneurs have used their ethnic (or expat) status as a competitive advantage in building successful businesses, take a look at Expat Career and Entrepreneur Coach Megan Fitzgerald's blog entry today.

Adeline is looking for entrepreneurs "who have a migrant background. These entrepreneurs can have recently settled in the country, being in the guest country for a long period, or even be born in the guest country. The size and the turnover of the company does not play a role in this research. The firm can also be in the start-up phase."

"Participants need to be: (1) Self-employed; (2) People with a migrant background: that is, be born abroad or have parents/grandparents who were born in a foreign country (1st, 2nd and 3rd-generation immigrants); and (3) Have a business in North America or Europe. The interviews will be conducted in English, German, French or Spanish via conference call."

Deadline is 20 July. So act quickly. Thanks.

Trends In Global Employment & Mobility

If you are interested in reading about trends in global employment, talent and mobility, either for interest, for your own research, or to assist you in the formulation of your company's strategies/policies, take a look at some of the great survey results and white papers available for free at the Manpower Research Center (from employment giant Manpower - based in 80 countries/territories).

Samples and snippets:

The Borderless Workforce Survey - Global Survey Results (June 2008) - Surveyed over 28,000 employers over 28 countries and territories.

Top 10 Countries Recruiting For Foreign Talent:

1. China
2. United States
3. India
4. United Kingdom
5. Germany
6. Japan
7. Spain
8. France
9. Canada
10. Poland

The Borderless Workforce - White Paper (June 2008)

"More than 190 million people live outside their countries of birth." (Quoted in the White Paper, from the International Organisation For Migration website.)

"More than 40 million Americans moved last year, and by 2025, three-quarters of all US residents will live on the nation's coasts - a huge shift, especially for a developed nation." (Quoted in the White Paper, from TRENDS: "Moving Americans," Jacksonville News/ The Florida Times Union, January 2, 2007.)

"EuroStat data found that 59% of people who looked for work outside their home region found work within a year, the equivalent figure for those who stayed put was just 35%." (Quoted in the White Paper, from "European Year Of Workers' Mobility," Europa Press Release)

Relocating for Work Survey - Global Survey Results (June 2008) - Surveyed more than 30,000 people from 27 individual labour markets around the world. Three highest respondent countries/territories were Spain, The Middle East and Belgium.

Top 10 Preferred Destinations For Work

1. United States
2. United Kingdom
3. Spain
4. Canada
5. Australia
6. United Arab Emirates
7. France
8. Italy
9. Germany
10. Argentina

Confronting The Talent Crunch - White Paper (April 2008)

2008 Talent Shortage Survey - Survey Results (April 2008)

The Virtual World Of Work - White Paper (October 2007)

The Power Of Cultural Diversity At Work (in Dutch) - White Paper (October 2007)

Latin American Talent Mobility - White Paper (October 2007) (or Spanish version)

Big thanks go to Eva Velasco (a Spanish repatriate, previously an expat woman in the U.S.) of The Passport Group for telling us about this research.

Need To Send Money Overseas?

Hi Everyone, If anyone needs to send money overseas, please consider using Canadian Forex (part of OzForex), with whom we have just entered a trial partnership, in our ongoing effort to raise funds to support our free resource site for expat women worldwide.

They are offering Expat Women Members their first two transfers fee-free before 30 July 2008.

Click here to discover:
(1) Things to consider when transferring money overseas;
(2) 5 Key Benefits of using OzForex; and
(3) How to transfer funds.

Thanks so much, Andrea.

Want To Help A Reporter and Get Quoted In The Media?

As you know, reporters are constantly looking for sources. They're always writing stories, reporting on something and always need experts in the field. Problem is, they don’t always know how to find the experts that they need.

On the flip side, if you are an expert at something (...and come on, everyone is an expert at something) how do you let the media know you’re available to talk and be quoted when they are writing a story?

Enter: Help A Reporter Out - a US-based site by Peter Shankman, which aims to gather a large database of members interested in helping reporters out and a growing daily list of requests from reporters who need help.

So far, the guy seems to be onto something... he says in this video that he has already built a database of 12,000 sources, used by >2,500 journalists... in just 3 months!

Not sure this site will ever be of benefit to you? Well, you'll never, never know, if you never, never go. Hope it helps some of you.

Best wishes, Andrea.

Want To Brighten Up Your Day? Watch YouTube's: "Where The Hell Is Matt?"

We watched a YouTube video today which not only made us smile a mile wide, but which reignited our travel spirits. We loved it!

To brighten up your day too, take four and a half minutes and click on: Where The Hell Is Matt?

To read more about Matt, click here to get to his own web page. This explains the background as to how a guy like Matt can travel the world in 14 months and dance in 42 countries with a cast of thousands. If there are any expat women out there who can equal (or better) Matt's effort, feel free to drop us a line!

1st World Congress For Women Empowerment, France, November 2008

At the recent Globe Women conference in Hanoi, I caught up again with dynamo Dr Amany Asfour, the President of the Egyptian Business Women Association, who asked me to promote an exciting upcoming conference:

Conference Title: 1st World Congress for Women Empowerment
Theme: Women Empowerment to Meet the Millennium Dev't Goals
Date: 19 - 22 November 2008
Location: Lyon, France
Cost: 600 Euro (before 1 Oct 2008) or 700 Euro (after 1 Oct 2008)
Objectives: Click Here
Topics: Social, Economic & Political Empowerment of Women
Who Should Attend: Click Here

Background: "In the year 2000, the member states of the United Nations signed the Millennium Declaration, which led to the adoption of the Eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Five years later at the UN World Summit in 2005 countries reaffirmed their commitment to the MDGs. Despite these commitments, there has been mixed progress regionally and across the Globe."

Never heard of the Eight Millennium Development Goals? They are:

1. "Eradicate Extreme Poverty & Hunger;
2. Achieve Universal Primary Education;
3. Promote Gender Equality & Empowerment of Women;
4. Reduce Child Mortality;
5. Improve Maternal Health;
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria & other diseases;
7. Ensure Environmental Sustainability; and
8. Develop a Global Partnership for Development."

Best wishes for your day/evening! Andrea

New GMAC Survey Results (Financial Services Sector) & 15 July Webinar

GMAC Relocation Services have just released the results of their add-on survey: International Mobility in the Financial Services Sector: The Challenge of Emerging Markets. (See details of their primary relocation trends survey results in our May blogpost.)

This add-on survey involved interviews with HR professionals responsible for international assignment strategy at companies with offices throughout the world and employees totalling 1.25 million.

The GMAC press release has some interesting info in it, so we have put it up for you on our Expat Women site at this page.

Take a quick look if it interests you, because the page also details how to get free copies of the surveys, plus how to participate in an upcoming GMAC Webinar exploring the findings of the financial services survey, on 15 July (US time).

Third Culture Kid (TCK) Teleconference with Brats Producer, Donna Musil

In May, we wrote a blog post about the first-ever TCK Academy teleclass. Well, Brice from TCKid has written to us again. He would like to invite all TCKs in our audience to join in on an upcoming free teleconference with Donna Musil on the topic: Brats: Our Journey Home, scheduled for Monday 7 July, 1pm US Pacific Time, which is 9pm London time.

In this interview, Donna will discuss the making of her seven-year passion, Brats: Our Journey Home. She will be talking about finding that place of belonging, being comfortable with who you are in the mix of paradoxes, the positive and the challenging legacies that TCKs experience around the globe, and how BRATs/TCKs can develop an ability to fully employ their strengths and have compassion for their weaknesses."

If you are a TCK or are interested in TCK issues, and you are up for this 60-minute teleconference, do join in.

Do You Dread Delivering Presentations?

In a blog post two months ago, I recommended a great website called LeadStar, designed for anyone who "influences outcomes and inspires others". Here is another powerful snippet from Angie Morgan and Courtney Lynch, which arrived in my Inbox this week:

"You have been assigned to prepare a presentation for your next staff meeting or company-wide event. You can feel your anxiety level rising already. This is not surprising as public speaking tops many professionals' list of activities in which they would rather not engage. However, often it is a necessity and a job requirement.

So, how do you overcome your fear and develop solid presentation skills? Here are three ways to ensure that your next presentation is a success:

1. Develop exceptional content.

The content, after all, is the heart of the presentation. Make sure that it is direct and to the point, that it is organized and that any information that must be retained by your audience is also provided to them in written form;

Practice, practice, practice. The only thing that is going to make you more confident in your abilities as a public speaker is practice. Grab any co-worker who is willing to listen and talk through your presentation with them. Practice in the shower, in the car on the way to work and while walking your dog. The better you know your material, the better you will be able to overcome your nerves and relax during the real thing; and

Realize that it's not about you. Although you may feel the glare of the spotlight, your presentation is not about you - it is about educating your audience. A simple shift in perspective and a few deep breaths prior to taking the podium can make a world of difference.

As leaders it is imperative that we enhance all of our communication skills - presentation skills among them. With a lot of preparation and the right perspective, your will lead your presentation to success!"

Trailing Spouses Working Abroad: Jeff Porter's Interviews with Jo Parfitt, Bertrand Fouquoire & Terri Williams

Dear Friends, If you are a Trailing Spouse, there is a good chance that you might enjoy this interview between Jeff Porter and portable career expert, Jo Parfitt.

Jeff Porter (founder of TrailingSpouse.net and now TheAusmerican) talks to Jo Parfitt about: Jo's book Career In Your Suitcase (3rd edition), which we featured on our Expat Women home page last month; the notion of when/how/if to look for a 'real job' abroad; the difficulties, but also rewards, of a portable career; some of the professional identity issues and stereotypes associated with trailing spouses; modern technology... and more.

If you still have stamina, you might like to also check out Jeff's interview with Bertrand Fouquoire (founder of DualExpat.com). Bertrand's website is in French, but the interview is in English. A HR Professional by background, Bertrand's goal is "to develop an international network for dual-career expat partners, plus help match companies with expat talent".

But wait, there's more...

Jeff also has interesting interviews with Terri Williams (of Seneca Coaching Solutions) about the job search process: interviews; resume-writing; negotiating the job offer etc. And I am sure he will add more in the future.

If any of these topics interest you, maybe listen to these talkcasts in the background, while you are working on other things, like I did...

Thanks Everyone and best wishes for your day/evening! Andrea

Expat Women July Home Page

Hi Everyone! We hope you are really well. Our news today is that we just uploaded our July Home Page, if you would like to take a look:

Success Story: Paula Lucas
Founder of the American Domestic Violence Crisis Line
Paula lived what looked like an ideal life in the UAE: A Newsweek photo-journalist husband, worldwide travel, a successful business and beautiful sons. But in reality, she was trapped by domestic violence. Her chance to escape materialized, thanks to a thief…

Globe Women Summit Report
5-7 June, Hanoi, Vietnam
Have you ever wondered what 1,000 women, from 72 economies, would talk about if they were gathered together in the same room? Well, at the recent Globe Women Summit, it certainly was not football, cars or plasma televisions, that’s for sure…

Expat Confession: No Money Left
We answer this confession:
"In a few months, my partner and I will be returning to home base. We have enjoyed postings in Bangkok, Madrid, Berlin and now Vietnam, indulged in amazing holidays, eaten at spectacular restaurants and basically had a lifestyle that was second-to-none. The problem now is that this move home has made us realize that we have no more than two months’ salary saved in our joint bank account – which is virtually nothing. This is causing us both great anxiety, as we now see that we have been a little careless with our impressive salaries abroad and we are concerned that we have not set ourselves up properly for the future. What can we do?"

Eliminating Negative Talk: 5 Easy Steps
Thanks to Rebecca Wells
"At any stage in life you can encounter feelings of self-doubt and lethargy. It is estimated that we each have between 5,000 and 15,000 negative thoughts a day – rearing their ugly heads most prevalently when we are feeling vulnerable. Although moving and living abroad can be extremely exciting and often a positive step to make in life, it can also bring with it new challenges that test you to your limit and can leave you doubting your capabilities..."

Gap Years: Myths & Tips
Thanks to Jenny Early
"Gap Years seem to be like Marmite and world wars: They divide people into two groups - those who believe and those who do not. They may be a mistake for some, but for the majority, I am sure they are not..." Read Jenny's myths and tips...

LARM: Latin American Relocation Management
Valued Partner
Thanks to our friends at Trafimar Relocations (Relocation Specialists: In & Out of Mexico), we now have a relationship with LARM (who we have promoted on our home page for July, then will go on to feature on our Latin American pages for the rest of the year). If you are looking for relocation services in/out of Latin America, please do check out LARM's site first.

"LARM, is Latin America’s leading relocation service company. For the past thirty years, this group of 20 companies, in 19 locations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, has provided exceptional relocation services to thousands of corporate and individual customers."

Join ExpatWomen
And finally... we are sending out our July newsletter in the next 2-3 days. If you do not already receive our newsletters, please support us by signing up today. New members receive our Free E-Book: Winning Stories.

Thank you very much - and here's wishing you a fabulous July!

Business Networks In Australia

If you are looking for business networks in Australia, here is a great link that we discovered today, on Australian woman Robyn Henderson's website.

Robyn, who spoke at an event recently that we unfortunately missed, is a self-acclaimed networking expert, speaking more than 120 times per year, across 11 countries, without ever advertising.

Robyn generously lists all of her favourite networks (women-focussed and otherwise) in Australia by State and provides this information free on her website. Thanks Robyn!

Moving To Spain?

Thanks to oppSpain.com, who wrote to us recently to offer to contribute, we added three articles to our Spain Links & Expat Clubs page this week:

• Spanish Property Today: Post-Boom Influences
  by Patrick Collins
• Bringing a Car to Spain
  by Ciara Carruthers
• Spanish School System
  by Ciara Carruthers

If your company would like to contribute useful articles to ExpatWomen.com, feel free to drop us a line, anytime. Thanks and best wishes for your weekend! Andrea

WEXPO - A Forum For Women In Business

At their recent Summit of > 1,000 women from all over the world, Globe Women launched their new online directory for women's businesses: WEXPO.

Listing on the directory is free and open to all women, so if you would like to:

• Showcase your product or service;
• Connect with business women worldwide;
• Find a client or supplier; and/or
• Network with established business leaders...

...you might like to check out WEXPO today.

Asian Women Entrepreneurs' Conference, South Korea, September 2008

Hi Everyone, I recently met Moon Kyung Choi, the Director of the Korean Women Entrepreneurs Association (Note: This website is only in Korean). She asked me to please promote their upcoming Asian Women Entrepreneurs' Conference in Seoul, 25 - 27 September, 2008, to our Expat Women members.

Apparently, they are expecting 300 Asian women entrepreneurs to attend, including Asian women leaders and CEOs. If you are an Asian woman entrepreneur, you might like to email Moon Kyung for more information. (She gave me an English brochure, so I know they have the info in English, ready to give out.)

Best wishes, Andrea.