American Students Studying Abroad Has Declined for the First Time in 25 Years
Posted on Dec 2, 2010 Leave a Comment
Welcome to the new StacieBerdan.com!
Posted on Dec 1, 2010
Stacie Berdan gives motivational speeches at corporations and on campuses, promoting the benefits of living and working abroad.
WELCOME to my new blog site!
I’m happy that you’re here because it means you are interested in learning more about international careers. Whether you’re a student or professional, a global worker or a budding internationalist, you’ve come to the right place to arm yourself with information, strategic advice and practical tips on what’s involved in going global.
The global marketplace is huge. Dynamic. And yes, even a bit scary because of all the unknowns, including culture, currency, language, history, politics, religion. Global workers need to deal with all of these factors, and they usually first come into play when searching for jobs beyond our borders. And so I’m here to help. I am passionate about international careers – and want to help as many people navigate their way through the maze of going global with my practical advice and relevant experience.
I wrote my first book, Get Ahead By Going Abroad: A Woman’s Guide to Fast-Track Career Success (co-authored with C. Perry Yeatman and published by HarperCollins in 2007) after spending almost 20 years in the corporate world. By conducting interviews with more than 200 women who had lived and worked overseas, we identified a trend: Women not only do well in international postings, we excel. Many women have catapulted their careers because of international experience. I did it after spending three years in Hong Kong and working in more than 50 countries around the world. I have been responsible for global, cross-cultural teams of professionals in 25 markets while managing budgets in multiple currencies.
And although pursuing an international career is one way for women to break through the glass ceiling, going global is not just for women. I believe that pursuing an assignment abroad is something that everyone needs to consider. I also believe that all students graduating these days should prepare as best as possible for an international career – whether they think they want to move abroad or not. Globalization is everywhere today and students need help figuring out the global terrain. That’s what prompted me to write my second book, Go Global! A Student’s Guide to Launching an International Career to be published as an eBook by the end of the year.
Stacie has traveled extensively around the world...here she is at the local camel market outside of Cairo
I grew up traveling and, along with reading, consider it one of my favorite activities – a must-have in my life. I was born in Miami and grew up amidst the explosive growth of Cuban-Caribbean culture in South Florida. I moved to Washington, D.C., after grad school and without a job because I loved politics and the buzz of the capital. I landed a great job with Burson-Marsteller, the largest global public relations agency, which kicked off a fantastic career in marketing communications as I rose from entry level to global account managing director. I was transferred to Hong Kong and moved with my husband the day after we got married. I loved Hong Kong, still one of my favorite cities in the world, where I grew both personally and professionally.
We were there for the handover to the Chinese on July 1, 1997, and managed to experience so much of the vast and beautiful Asia-Pacific region on long weekend excursions and anniversary trips. I made some of my closest friends in Hong Kong, and I attribute a great deal of my fast-tracking success to my ability to differentiate and distinguish myself upon my return to Washington, D.C., where I tripled my salary and jumped from vice-president to global account managing director – despite taking 6 months maternity leave.
Now I live in Glastonbury, Connecticut, a suburb of Hartford. I write and speak about the global workforce, providing latest trends and practical tips. I offer advice to students and professionals, career counselors and human resource leaders. I am an advocate for the increasing importance of raising global children, including the need to increase – not cut – foreign language requirements and cross-cultural awareness programs beginning in kindergarten. As an international career expert, you’ll find me blogging on the Huffington Post and providing advice through interviews and articles on news outlets.
My ongoing experience informs this site. I hope you enjoy it, and consider pursuing an international career so that you, too, can be best informed to GO GLOBAL!
International News
Posted on Nov 28, 2010 Leave a Comment
I found this past weekend full of interesting international news stories that just further indicate global growth, specifically that in Asia and the Middle East.
For instance, in the Washington Post, Delaware Governor Jack Markel writes about his recent trip to China and advocates for the U.S. to follow similar suit: Government-business partnerships: Washington Post to stimulate growth.
In the New York Times, a fascintaing pieces explores the rise of world-class museums in Qatar and Abu Dabi as a means to build a new Arab identity within the region and around the world: Building Museums, and a Fresh Arab Identity
In the Financial Times, there is a business story of how HSBC, the global bank based in London, has named a Paul Thurston, to be new global head of retail and wealth management division — who will be located in Hong Kong — the city within the the region that offers the most growth.
In the Economic Times , how young academics from the U.S., Australia and Europe are now flocking to India as teachers to capitalize on the growth of this emerging market.
These stories are a small reflection of the growing globalmarketplace, a place where so many of us need to feel comfortable working and possibly even living.
Cool Places to See as You Travel the International Highway
Posted on Nov 28, 2010 1 Comment
I’m not one to make New Year’s Resolutions. I prefer to set goals as appropriate throughout the year since nothing’s special about January (unless you count that it’s my birthday month) and so the coincidence of my promise to keep up a weekly blog with the new year is just that — a happy coincidence.
One of my passions is traveling — not just working and living abroad, but exploring the world and what it is has to offer. Since the primaries have started, and I admit to being a political junkie, I have to search for non-political periodicals to read and since The New Yorker has taken yet another funky turn, I picked up the Smithsonian and chuckled when I read the cover lead story”28 Places to See Before You Die” for two reasons: One, my husband, Mike, is a travel writer and had the idea for the 1000 places to see before you die about 10+ years ago. Great idea that someone else had and took home the gold (or serious royalty checks with extensions into calendars etc). Let this be a lesson to all of us: Act now. Two, I was glad Smithsonian was cheeky enough to do a spin on the theme in the broad way only a Smithsonian or National Geographic could.
In reading the piece I found that I’ve been to 22 of them — that’s pretty good for being 40. Most of these I’d put on such a list and recommend people to visit — if they can do it slowly and immerse themselves in not only the site, but the local culture as well. What is seeing the Taj Mahal if you don’t spend time being jostled on the streets of India? A zen garden visit in Kyoto wouldn’t be complete without a basic understanding of zen buddhism and its importance within Japanese culture. To be understood, the Grand Canyon takes time and attention during hikes as you travel along a changing botanical trail as diverse as North America itself.
I am asked at almost every speech I give and most media interviews….What’s your favorite place? It’s hard to put a finger on and, I’d like to say that although the list of 28 is terrific, I would have added Hong Kong for its brilliant skyline, bustling crowded streets, never-ending pulsating beat and confluence of East-meets-West to create one of the most colorful places I’ve ever been. I’m glad to say I’ll be returning in April for a combination vacation/book tour and can’t wait to show my 7-year-old daughters my favorite city.
I’ve posted on our web site’s travel page a new story on Kaikoura, New Zealand. Check it and….let me know your favorite place to visit.
MBA Programs Mandate Study Abroad
Posted on Nov 28, 2010
MBA programs are incorporating study abroad in their curricula. Approaches vary but mandatory time abroad working on a specific business problem is proving most valuable. Two schools leading the pack are Yale School of Management and George Washington University’s Global MBA program.
Yale SOM revamped its curriculum in 2006 by replacing standard finance and marketing courses with “progressive yet practical multidisciplinary courses that cut across functional boundaries,” says SOM professor Doug Rae. “Our focus is not only to prepare students for graduation – but to be ready to tackle business problems that are five to ten years out.”
Role-playing future managers learn various perspectives, such as customer, regulator and manufacturer for example. During students’ first year and after a 12-week preparatory course covering culture, history, language, background and world economics, students embark on a 10-14 day field trip in January. They mix study with meetings with business, government, and nonprofit organization leaders. They complete a trip project and take part in cultural activities. Yale’s first global students are graduating this spring.
GW will offer its revamped program to full-time students beginning fall 2008. Its MBA program is overhauled with new courses on cross-cultural diversity, international business and management, social impact of global business and micro and macroeconomics.
“Students cannot learn to do international business without having international business experience,” says associate dean Murat Tarimcilar, who himself has worked on four continents. “All full-time MBA students will participate in an international residency, which provides an interactive close-up with the complexities of the global economy.”
The international residency is a project-based consultancy. In March, an international business executive visits the campus to share information about a specific company problem in an overseas market. Students then spend weeks writing up the case study and working through the problems. In May, students spend two weeks in the host country before making a final presentation of its recommendations to company executives.
Both Tarimcilar and Rae are passionate about the important role international now plays in a student’s ability to successfully tackle present-day business problems. Although the brief international exposure doesn’t replace living in-country for a length of time, “it teaches the students to ask the right questions” and to do so in completely foreign environments. There are no memorized answers; students must learn to think through the problems – a critical skill to working successfully across borders.
As originally published on Greentree Gazette on June 10: http://greentreegazette.com/articles/load.aspx?art=934
Brazil Moves Onto Global Stage
Posted on Nov 28, 2010 Leave a Comment
Brazil moves onto the global stage: Campuses take note
by Stacie Nevadomski Berdan
Brazil has arrived, and its strong economy is capturing attention. Latin America’s largest economy is poised to realize its potential as a global player.
Leading the charge, President Luiz Inacio da Silva has demonstrated the right touch when it comes to economic prosperity. Brazil has benefited from the combination of his respect for financial markets and targeted social programs that bridge the gaps between classes. Millions have actually been lifted from poverty since 2001, while Brazil has also created the third largest number of new millionaires after India and China
This momentum shows no signs of slowing. Brazilian companies like Embraer, Vale and InBev/AmBevare are some of the largest in the world. InBev made big news recently when it bought Anheuser-Busch. Brazil is the fifth most populous democracy in the world, and it sits on vast natural resources—including billions of barrels of oil recently discovered offshore of Rio de Janeiro. With an export rate to the U.S. of just 2.5 percent of GNP, Brazil has not suffered much during the U.S. economic troubles. But Brazil is struggling to meet the growing demands for intellectual capital.
Many American students are increasingly selecting study abroad destinations that offer linguistic, cultural and professional experience in emerging global markets. Enough are noticing Brazil to moved it into the Top 20 such destinations last year at #19, an increase of 28 percent to 1,994 students, according to the Institute for International Education’s Open Doors report.
American campuses can be a rich source of supply of new talent for global businesses. The China bandwagon, although wildly successful, may be getting crowded. Academic leaders can clear the paths to help students tap other growing global economies.
Don’t miss Stacie’s cover story: “Get to know Hanban and the Confucius Institutes” in the September issue of The Greentree Gazette magazine.
Originally appeared in Greentree Gazette:http://www.greentreegazette.com/newsletters/080819_newsletter.html
Study Abroad Students: Emphasize Your Curiosity and Open-Mindedness
Posted on Nov 28, 2010 1 Comment
The Expert: Stacie Nevadomski Berdan, international careers expert and co-author of Get Ahead By Going Abroad: A Woman’s Guide to Fast-Track Career Success (HarperCollins, 2007).
The Issue: Employers are drawn to the curiosity—and “the ability to enjoy risk”—that compel college students to study abroad.
In a recent article you wrote about employers’ views of study abroad, you said the following: “What do companies value most in the study abroad experience? Interestingly, they are attracted to evidence of curiosity within global-minded applicants.” What do you mean?
In the research I conducted for Get Ahead By Going Abroad, several traits emerged as critical to successfully working across cultures. Curiosity and openmindedness rank in the top five among professionals who have lived and worked overseas, and among companies that employ and appreciate these internationalists. Curious, open-minded individuals enjoy the overseas experience for its breadth of newness and for the sheer joy of operating in an environment that is outside their comfort zone. Dealing with differences in culture as well as in infrastructure—be it while taking classes in a second language or figuring out local transportation—requires the ability to enjoy risk and the spirit of adventure. The world economy is in flux but one thing is certain: Globalization is here to stay. Companies recognize that they need workers who not only understand international business but can also operate successfully— thrive, really—in cross-cultural situations.
How can college students who have studied abroad best market that experience to prospective employers?
Students should be able to explain to potential employers their purpose in choosing the country they selected, demonstrate what they learned, and describe how they can apply their experiences to a position. In addition, where a student studies increasingly matters to companies. Branching out beyond the typical Western European countries and into China, Brazil, Russia, or India signals an enhanced awareness of growing global economies—and a link to the places most companies are expanding. Moreover, these nontraditional destinations often offer more-challenging situations, intensifying the learning.
What can Campus Career Counselor readers do to address with their students/grads the issues you’ve raised here? Encourage students to study abroad in developing markets and growing economies. Advise them to research where the hot markets for future growth are within their fields. Emphasize foreign language proficiency as an element of future career uccess. It’s a big resume booster for those international companies looking to place workers abroad, because they appreciate that language skills go beyond verbal communication and into broader cultural awareness and understanding. Finally, bring experts to campus to advise students on the complex—and sometimes daunting—world of working and living overseas. Professionals who have done it themselves can share relevant, reallife examples, satisfying hundreds of questions on students’ minds.
Originally appeared in Campus Career Counselor January 2009
Ultimate Outsourcing: Americans Overseas
Posted on Nov 28, 2010
It’s being called the ultimate outsourcing: Americans looking for jobs overseas. With IBM’s recent announcement of Project Match — in which the company actively encourages employees to take their pink slips and apply for jobs in China, India and Brazil — more companies are sure to follow suit.
Some people are outraged. Some are scared. Others who understand the value are supportive. To be sure, today’s current economic climate is a serious force to be reckoned with. But rather than curse the storm clouds overhead, American workers would be well-advised to see this challenging moment as an opportunity to reap the rewards that others have for decades: By looking beyond their own borders to gain valuable experience overseas.
Make no mistake about it: American intellectual capital is still considered some of the best in the world, which is why IBM and other companies are willing to incur the expense of sending their people overseas. Those that accept will be rewarded with more than just a roof over their head and a weekly paycheck. The extraordinary personal and professional growth that takes place when living in a foreign culture can be cashed in on future career opportunities — like when the U.S. economy rebounds and companies need employees who can operate effectively in the international marketplace. When that happy day finally comes, those who have proven that they know how to work across cultures will be prized commodities.
And working abroad does not only mean working for American companies. There are hundreds of large, foreign companies that offer tremendous opportunities. This role reversal may seem scary, but it reflects the future of global commerce. Now is not the time to be afraid of the global marketplace but to embrace it.
Yet picking up and moving yourself and your family to a strange new land is a daunting proposition. Americans must be able to adapt to succeed and, with a bit of caution and a lot of research, many will take the deep dive.
And yes, you can do it even if you’re married — I was — and have children. And trust me, you’ll be doing your children a favor: by the time they enter the workforce, a global mindset will be expected.
Last but certainly not least, living overseas can be fun, interesting and exciting.
So if your employer offers you the opportunity to work abroad, be it as part of a promotion or an “or else” proposition, think twice before you say “no.” Not only might it be the best offer you’re going to get — it’s probably a whole lot better an offer than you think it is. And who knows? It just might be the best career move you ever made.
Originally appeared on Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stacie-nevadomski-berdan/ultimate-outsourcing-amer_b_168559.html
No More Cuts! Keep Foreign Language Learning in Schools!
Posted on Nov 28, 2010
Global is everywhere today. You can hardly turn on the news or read an op-ed without hearing how our world is growing more crowded and interconnected. Yet I was dismayed to read a troubling piece in Sunday’s New York Times about foreign language suffering cuts yet again in elementary schools around the country this fall. In this day and age, American students need second language skills tokeep pace with globalization and the competition rising from the super economies of China, India, Brazil, Mexico and Russia.
Take, for example, the streams of recent American college graduates who could not land a job in the U.S. and so, in order to escape hard times at home, headed to China to find work. Graduates with some Mandarin skills will fare better than those without; most likely all will learn while they are there. If and when these students return to the U.S., future employers will appreciate their ability to work cross-culturally, to understand aspects of Chinese business and language, and will — if history is any indicator — reward them with faster promotions and greater responsibility. Companies understand the value of global education.
In the global financial crisis, Americans learned that – for the first time – the so-called developing world surged past the developed world in its share of global productivity; Americans are learning that we can no longer afford to ignore China, Russia, India or Brazil. When today’s kids grow up, they are as likely to be competing for jobs in and with people from Beijing or Brasilia or Bangalore as from Boston or Baton Rouge. In our ever-shrinking world, global experience will continue to move from “nice” to “must-have” for career success.
At stake is nothing less than our ability to compete successfully in the raw global arena, and one of the deciding factors will be American professionals’ ability to speak strategic foreign languages.
However, because studies show that language learning comes more easily to those whose brains are still in the development phase – up until roughly 12 or 13 years of age – when we cut language programs from elementary schools, we are inhibiting bilingualism in future adults. We comfort ourselves with the unrealistic expectation that students will learn in high school or college. But that is unlikely to happen due to the increased difficulty in language learning as we get older. Arguably, bold and innovative new methods of teaching foreign language are needed now more than ever – and instituted in schools as early as kindergarten.
Moreover, cultural knowledge and understanding (gestures, choice of vocabulary) need to be married to actual language acquisition in a systematic way. Having native speakers with different world views as teachers allows children to acquire their language skills accompanied by enhanced levels of cultural, political and historical context. School districts need help in rising to this new challenge.
Yet despite the need, our foreign language skills have decreased precipitously. Perhaps this is because the time commitments required to achieve and retain a high level of skill, weighed against expected use and the widespread perception that foreign language skills are not really necessary – do not favor language learning in school. Until this situation changes, it will be very difficult to radically alter our foreign language education system.
The United States must act boldly, and all sectors of society must participate lest we lose our competitive edge in the international marketplace. While multi-million dollar government grants continue to be issued to school districts interested in pursuing language curriculum, the current economic crisis does not bode well for growing these programs nor enabling schools to stretch beyond their basic needs. Businesses must continue to embraceinternational operations through expansion and operations abroad, but simultaneously through language and cultural acquisition. Universities and colleges must emphasize internationalism, including playing a leadership role in achieving language proficiency – which begins before students arrive on campus.
The stakes for our children are high, and rising. Americans must fight for the need to keep foreign language in the budget as a critical component to our children’s success. Knowledge of and appreciation for another language and culture will help our children grow up ready for a complex and multi-cultural global economy. If we are to continue to prosper as a country, our children must become global citizens: open-minded, bilingual kids ready to see global interconnectedness as both opportunity and welcome challenge. Learning a second language is an integral part of this cross-cultural sophistication.
As originally appeared on Huffington Post.com:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stacie-nevadomski-berdan/no-more-cuts-keep-foreign_b_285172.html