Global Careers

IWE interviewed Stacie Berdan on her global career and message to empowering women.

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‍1. Tell us a bit about your interesting career journeyto date
I am a lucky woman. I have had two great careers so far and have loved them both. I started my career in Washington, D.C., at the global PR and marketing giant Burson-Marsteller (recently rebranded as Burson), where I began as an entry-level assistant account supervisor. I worked out of the DC, Hong Kong and New York offices over the course of 12 years working my way up to Global Account Managing Director and WPP Partner for clients around the world. I worked hard. I raised my hand for all kinds of assignments. I had excellent teachers and mentors. But it was my three years in Asia that catapulted my career from mid-level executive to global consultant for some of the largest MNCs. It was in Asia where my career really took off. I learned that having the ability to work across cultures, through different languages, and solve clients’ problems by leading a diverse team of professionals to deliver results was a hot commodity—and one that not many of my peers had—and one that I enjoyed and was good at. My international experience—I’ve worked in more than 50 countries and have led global virtual teams across 25 countries—inspired me to co-author my first award-winning book, Get Ahead By Going Abroad, with Perry Yeatman in 2007. Since then I have published an additional five books on the intersection of globalization and careers. I spend the majority of my time consulting for organizations and speaking at conferences and on campuses across the country where I talk about the importance of developing a global mindset for career, lifestyle and beyond.

2. What are you most proud of?
Writing a book is hard! But even more difficult than writing a book is finding a top-notch publisher; the field is crowded with so many experts who have great things to say. I am most proud of my ability to have written a successful book proposal that was bought by HarperCollins, one of the most prestigious publishers in the world—and then deliver that book within the four-month deadline I was given. My co-author had gone back to work full-time so she reviewed drafts, but the bulk of the research and writing was on me. Get Ahead By Going Abroad was received with tremendous media attention; it won two business awards and continues to sell well today (paperback, digital and audio), more than 11 years after its hardcover publication.

3. What have been your own greatest career challenges and how have you overcomethem?
I have many but two rise to the top as the greatest challenges for me, and they are different. The first was my re-entry back to DC after my three-year stint in Hong Kong. I felt as if I had achieved great things and had so much toshare, but my DC colleagues didn’t appreciate where I’d been and what I’d accomplished. I felt lonely, isolated and undervalued. I was considering leaving when the COO recommended I speak to another former expat who had livedand worked on three continents. He was a lifeline and career saver for me. He helped me understand how to package my skills to sell into clients and gave me comfort that although there weren’t many of us, the close-knit group of globalworkers were there for each other. It worked, and I turned my time abroad into an immensely successful career as a consultant.

The second was overcoming my fear of public speaking. Although as a consultant I was required to present and speak in front of clients, I was never very comfortable standing up “presenting”. I preferred small group discussions where I could advise clients around a table. Speaking on a stage, though, to thousands of people ratcheted up my fear to even greater heights! For the first year of my book tour, I was terrified every time I went on stage, and often hoped my taxi would get a flat, or my flight would be delayed so I didn’t have to speak! A colleague saw me speak and asked me why I was so nervous (it came through) because she said my content was great and clearly I had some interesting things to share. She advised me to practice regularly, tape myself (or watch taped speeches I’d given) and see how well I did—and that I could do even better if Ididn’t use my notes. I did as she advised, and I began to really enjoy speaking! So much so that now I love to speak in front of crowds talking up my passion; on average I have given about 40-50 talks a year for the past 10years.

3. Much of your work and writing uses your international business experience and focusses on working across cultures and promoting global awareness.  Do you have any advice for those striving to reach senior levels in global companies, say 3 top tips?

Get international experience. Work abroad, take on a global role, be part of global virtual teams. Organizations need workers who can tap the bounty of markets around the world. How can you grow your company if you only understand your owncountry? How can you manage people of different cultures or who speak differentlanguages if you’ve never had work in them? Wise large organizations recognizethe value of international experience and often require it to get to the top.

Don’t be afraid to fail. Take the job you’re not sure you can do. Move to acountry you’ve been offered a leadership role in. take risks and ask for helpalong the way. Learn from your mistakes. This lesson is probably the one thathas sustained me most from my time working internationally.

Advocate for yourself. Don’t take anything for granted. As a woman who hasworked for 25+ years in the corporate environment, I’ve seen a lot of change.But still, women get pushed aside for promotions, don’t get as much opportunityas men, get paid less. Don’t assume you are going to get that promotion orraise because you’ve done a great job. Ask for it. Network. Make it happen.

4. What do you see are the main challenges?
I believe that people hire people like them. Until we change what that senior level looks like, women will continue to be hired less often for top jobs. Going abroad offers many a chance to circumvent the normal chain of advancementby exiting and then returning with phenomenal experience in an area of growth, orline or management experience. But it takes a high tolerance for risk andoftentimes a willing partner. But it can be done, So many women have and continueto do so.

5. On a practical level, do you have any advice for those who travel extensively for work?  How do you keep your mind and body fresh and alert for international business?
Travel, especially long-haul international travel, can wear you down. Irecommend a few things.

First, keep ahealthy lifestyle. By that I mean eat as much fresh fruit and vegetables on theplane (I bring my own plane food), drinks lots of water, exercise/work outevery day, and drink as little alcohol as possible (especially on the plane).

Second, try toarrive the day before or stay a few days after. The day before allows you toacclimate, see some sights and get into a routine. A few days after is a nicereward to treat yourself to an interesting museum, historic site, a spa orwhatever you like.

Third, get toknow your destination, your host, the language or culture a little bit. Thisallows you to talk about it with your host, colleagues or co-workers showingthat you care about the place, its people, the business—the positive feedbackyou receive will reenergize you.

6. What are you working on now?
I am actually getting back into a full-time role again, doing some new research and launching a few new social tools using digital technology. A little more than a year ago, my mother passed away. I had been helping her for the previous year (I feel immensely blessed that I had the time with her) and although I managed to be a daughter, mother, wife and business owner—the stress took its toll on me. Losing my Mom was very hard, and I decided that I needed some time. I reduced my speaking engagements and focused on just a few favorite clients. I’ll be getting back into full swing at the start of this summer.  

7. What excites and inspires you most?
I am passionate about communicating to as many people at all ages and walks of life the need to develop a global mindset. If more people around the worldrespected each other’s differences, acknowledged that we are more alike than different as human beings, the world would be a more peaceful place. I have found that especially in the U.S., people do not appreciate the value oflearning another language, the life-changing experience of studying abroad, the beauty of learning about other people and cultures. But often times, after they’ve heard my rationale, they can see the value, and I know I’ve changedanother mind. This inspires me to continue doing my work.

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8. Do you mentor or sponsor anyone?
Peoplewith international experience are not common so wherever I speak, I offerattendees or students to connect with me and engage with me on global topics.For many business school programs, I serve as a mentor, almost always to youngwomen, who are considering pursuing an international career. I find that it isbest for me to spread myself as far and wide as possible to help as many peopleas possible. But I have a soft spot for women looking to go global.

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9. How important do you think it is to have a mentor and/or sponsor?
I think mentors are very important, but they must be authentic to be asbeneficial as possible. And so within networks, organizations, workplacesmentoring is critical, especially for women. I believe that women helping womenis supremely important if we are to keep advancing our causes. And so while Iwould not call it mentoring, any type of help or advice—even choosingphysicians and business partners who are women—that I can take makes an impact.

10. Finally, what ‘floats your boat’? What do you like to do in your spare time?
I am a foodie and so eating and cooking (mostly!) healthy dishes fromaround the world for family and friends is a joy. I love to exercise andpractice yoga, lift weights, and hike high and low, short and long trails. Ienjoy gardening, specifically flowers, and love getting my hands in the dirt. Iam a voracious reader and am always looking for great reads, and for people todiscuss books with. I love to travel and am especially happy when I’m able tocombine one or all of the above on the road with my husband, Mike, my twindaughters, and/or friends I’ve made around the world. The world is an immenselyinteresting place, and I feel fortunate to have explored a lot of it—but notnearly enough of it.

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