EDITOR’S LETTER
Welcome to Issue 3 of The Global Phoenix!
The Conscious Capitalism movement is growing in momentum and popularity. In
Industry Features we examine the concept and learn about its application within our
industry association, EuRA (European Relocation Association). Tad Zurlinden, CEO
of EuRA, shares his case study for MIM Fellow qualification, in which he takes an in-
depth look at The Conscious Capitalism Movement and its Integration into EuRA.
The internet has opened up a wealth of information on every imaginable topic. At the
touch of the keyboard and with the help of a search engine it seems that anyone can
become a self-proclaimed expert on any subject. However, the world wide web has
also been a tool for propaganda and misinformation of all types. When budgeting
for international assignments how can a corporation avoid falling foul of online
misrepresentation? How can a global mobility professional or corporate HR discern
between real data and and the inflated prices of local suppliers hoping for quick
gain? We examine the pitfalls and challenges involved in various data-collection
methods and discuss accurate data-collection and analysis for realistic budget
setting: Meeting the Data Supply Challenge.
Our Global Focus is on the third area within EMEA - The Middle East, a region
presently undergoing tumultuous changes in intra-country relationships. Kent O’Neil
of Pro-Link Global presents An Overview of the Middle East: International Business
and Corporate Mobility. We also have A Brief Introduction to the GCC and History
of the UAE and turn the spotlight on the UAE, with Santa Fe Relocation; Egypt with
Mona Radwan of Global Relocation Consultants and Israel with Mark Kedem of EY.
In line with conscious capitalism, in which not only the bottom line but also the
well-being of all business stakeholders is paramount, we start a series of articles in
our Promoting Excellence section, that examines various aspects of family support,
Addressing the Needs of the Accompanying Family. Any international relocation
entails significant investment in the process of candidate selection and training,
establishing a realistic comp and benefits package and the actual relocation
process itself. This is especially true for hardship assignments. In order to ensure
ROI, and at the same time apply the principles of conscious capitalism, the needs
of ALL members of the transferring family unit must be addressed. In most hardship
assignments, immigration restrictions still prohibit the accompanying spouse from
working locally which further complicates the challenge. At the end of the day it is
usually the collaboration of the accompanying partner that dictates if the family is
settled enough to remain in the host country assignment, and it is the responsibility
of the global mobility service provider to supply sufficient support in this area.
In this issue we present the first article of the
4-part series: Addressing the Needs of the
Accompanying Family. Johanna Mitchell of
Lumus Education examines the subject of
child education in The Education Dimension
wherein she compares education systems
and cultures globally. In forthcoming issues
we will address the subject of working
and non-working spouses and will look at
supporting families with children throughout
the relocation process.
We complete our 2-part series on Developing
the Art of Public Speaking with Marco
Lorenzini who explains how to present a
polished product in Effective Delivery.
We are sure you will enjoy this Summer editon
of The Global Phoenix!
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www.theglobalphoenix.org
SARAH L ANGMEAD
EDITOR, FOUNDER