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“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind”. A 2000-year old quote from Seneca that still stands true today. More and more professionals take international assignments to advance their career, increase knowledge and gain new perspectives on life and foreign cultures. We wanted to know whether a global career could lead to professional success and what types of challenges and opportunities face these “global citizens”. Two C- level executives originating from different countries (respectively Australia and the Philippines) but working for the same organization, answered our questions about their career trajectory, skills and outlook on life.
X-Expats: Please tell us a little about your background and current endeavors.
John Buckley: I have been in the maritime industry for the last 29 years, concentrating mostly on container terminal operations and management both in Australia (my home) and abroad. Currently I am the CEO of Maher Terminals LLC in the Port of New York & New Jersey, at Maher we operate the largest private container terminal in North America and we also have a container terminal operation in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada.
The trading environment is very challenging in these difficult economic times, where reduced costs, restructuring and search for profitability keeps our management team busy. The countries where I spent the longest periods of my international duties include: China, Argentina, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, The Philippines, United Kingdom, and USA.
Elzar Dodjie Simon: I have 23 years experience in Information Technology, 21 years of which in managerial capacity. I have developed IT strategies at national, regional and global levels. I have a degree in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of the Philippines, and obtained specialized training in IT, management and terminal operations in educational institutions in various countries including Templeton College in Oxford, UK, the US Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point New York and Excom Education Centre in Sydney, Australia. I obtained CISSP certification (the gold standard for computer security professionals), I am an active member of the New York Metro Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) and a former member of the Australian Computer Society and the Australian Information Security Association (AISA).I am currently Senior Vice-President/Chief Information Officer of Maher Terminals, Port of Newark, New Jersey.
X-E: You have risen to the highest level in your particular area of practice. Do you think your international experience has contributed to your professional success?
JB: Without a doubt, the working experience gained and the experiences living in countries other than my home, have made a major contribution to my success. To be able to learn from and adapt to varying challenges of language, culture, environment, and work ethic has been invaluable. I have always considered how privileged I am to have lived and worked in so many interesting countries.
EDS: Absolutely. Working in different countries and with various nationalities, cultures and systems lends one the unique opportunity to learn a wide range of strategies, methodologies, policies, processes and procedures within the spectrum of IT management. It gives one a perspective that is uniquely attributable to international experience when dealing with a problem, a challenge, or an incident.
X-E: You have managed global projects and directed international teams. How do you develop successful plans and achieve desired objectives when projects involve professionals with different backgrounds, cultures and languages?
JB: Being a competent, strong and decisive leader, surrounding oneself with the best professionals available and allowing them to fully participate in planning and execution of strategy is essential, as is a team approach and sensitivity to cultural realities that differ a great deal from one’s own. The language barrier can be quite a hurdle in some countries, requiring simple phrasing and vocabulary to ensure maximum comprehension of what is being spoken. Patience is also an element of success.
EDS: There are a number of key factors that make a successful global project, regardless of race, culture and creed. First and foremost, you have to understand the business objectives and align your projects to meet those objectives. Secondly, you need a strong and dedicated sponsor - one who understands how projects evolve depending on scope, time and cost. Thirdly, you need the buy in of all key stakeholders including your project management team; they need to appreciate the big picture – why you are doing the project. Fourthly, you need regular, clear and open communication with all key stakeholders. Finally, as head of the global team, you need a lot of patience and very strong persevering spirit to move the project forward regardless of obstacles that you face - everyday.
X-E: Are people “born” citizens of the world or do they become global thanks to experience?
JB: I believe that not everyone is suited to living and working outside their “home” country, it takes a certain mindset and the ability to remain calm. It requires skills in leadership, organization and a real understanding of what goals and objectives to be achieved in an environment that has little resemblance to one’s home country. I have observed that Australians, through their generally “laid back” approach to life, seem to have an edge in getting the best results in a foreign country as compared with some other developed nations expats.
EDS: Each side has a strong argument. I believe that people are not “born” citizens of the world. Being a “global person” is a choice that one deliberately makes. Some people want to stay in one place for their entire life. That’s fine and we ought to respect that. Some people find excitement and challenge in moving from one place to another and experiencing varied cultures and environments. You may spend a lot of time with books or the Internet reading about other places, but there is nothing like actually living in that place, breathing the air, meeting the people, driving on the streets, learning a different way of life and way of thinking.
X-E: How did you develop the knowledge and skills required to oversee international teams?
JB: In my line of business it is of critical importance to be good at what you do and know what you are doing, if you are to succeed. Otherwise you can lose credibility very quickly. International teams need to be led by experienced expats – indeed that is the point of expats working in foreign lands, to bring a level of skills and attributes that might otherwise not exist. The base skills and knowledge were gained as a result of growing up in a very dynamic industry and being surrounded for many years by some excellent mentors.
EDS: It was through many years of working with various international teams. When I was working for the US government in Manila, I worked with expats and with brilliant specialists in the US. When I moved to the port industry, I had the distinct opportunity in P&O Ports to be the Regional IT Manager for East Asia, covering Russia, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. I also worked closely with IT managers and specialists in other countries like India, UK, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, U.S. and Europe. The key is to have a learning attitude all the time.
X-E: Are you able to spot / identify repats within a local team? And if so, what set them apart from their colleagues?
JB: Generally, I find that repats are identifiable because of depth of experience, their interest and knowledge in events and issues in foreign locations; because they have experienced life abroad and have an appreciation for life and challenges living and working abroad. Those who have not experienced life outside their “home” country generally appear less interested because they lack a frame of reference or experience of how different life, working or living, can be in another land.
EDS: Breadth of experience sets repats apart from their colleagues. You discuss one subject matter and you listen to them share their experiences in other countries and companies. It’s fascinating to watch them.
X-E: You presently live in a country other than your home country. Do you maintain ties with your home country?
JB: Indeed I do, having family, friends and property interests there always helps to maintain ties; additionally I am interested in current events in my home country and regularly scan through a variety of newspapers and services available via the internet. One day I will return home as that is where I want to live when I retire, Australia is a wonderful country!
EDS: Definitely. The Internet is a great tool to keep ties with old friends.
X-E: Have you considered the possibility of returning “home” and if so, in which conditions and/or under what circumstances?
JB: I am in no rush to return, there are challenges to be met in my current role and I enjoy meeting those challenges. Luckily being homesick has never been a problem for me! My wife and children have never lived in Australia.
EDS: When you have moved from one place to another, “home” somehow takes a new meaning. When my children have obtained their university degrees in the US, then we (my spouse and I) will have to make a choice where our “home” will be.
X-E: Many repats face a lack of recognition of the skills they have acquired overseas, do you believe that this situation will change and that certain countries or industries will be more welcoming towards their repats?
JB: The problem I see, is that the experience and skill levels obtained during overseas postings are often not appreciated by those either competing for positions and roles who have not acquired overseas experience or by the leaders who similarly do not have that experience and have no appreciation of the wealth of experience, knowledge and understanding an expat / repat offers.
EDS: Hard to tell, but I would hope so. It will be a big loss to countries or industries to ignore the wealth of experience and knowledge of repats.
X-E: A number of international companies fail to retain their expat / repat workforce, do you have suggestions to keep expats / repats happy locally?
JB: Companies do strange things these days in pursuit of their various agendas; often the value of the individual is secondary to a perceived notion of cost and not of value. Keeping work interesting and varied (if possible), considering families’ needs and interests is a solution to keeping expats / repats contented. Being an expat means life is full of challenges, whether working or merely living but always I have found it is always interesting!
EDS: Two suggestions: 1) introduce them to other expats/repats from their home country or from countries where they worked and 2) understand the spouse and children’s interests and connect them to a local group – that could be a social, sports or civic club, a church, a volunteer organization, an NGO or a company.
X-E: Thank you both for sharing your insights on globalization and these cross-cultural issues.
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