I was 15 the first time I boarded a plane. Raised by a single mum, we rarely travelled – certainly not abroad. Maybe it was because of that lack of exposure, or perhaps despite it, that I felt a deep longing to explore, experience, and expand.

Fast forward to today: I’ve moved roughly 20 times, settled in 10 different cities across 4 countries, and worked across countless borders with teams from every corner of the world.

And I wouldn’t trade a single part of it.

But let’s be honest: international life isn’t all glamour. It’s layered. It’s logistical. It’s humbling. It stretches your mind, challenges your habits, and rewires how you lead.

Here are a few reflections from two decades of building life and leadership across borders:

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🧠 Cultural Intelligence Is Learned by Living It

What begins as culture shock becomes one of your greatest leadership assets.

The first time you walk into a room where no one shares your native language, you learn to listen differently. You read the room beyond words. You become more attuned to what’s not being said.

This is Cultural Intelligence – the ability to relate and work effectively across cultures. It’s one of the most vital traits of successful global leaders. And while it’s hard to learn from a textbook, it’s built through experience, discomfort, and curiosity.

For anyone wanting to understand cross-cultural differences more deeply, I highly recommend revisiting Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions or Erin Meyer’s The Culture Map, which I’ve found particularly useful in real-world business settings.

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🔄 Growth Follows Stress and Adaptation

Every relocation isn’t just a move – it’s a transformation.

Young Yun Kim’s Cross-Cultural Adaptation Theory describes the cycle of stress → adaptation → growth. And I’ve lived it with every transition.

Even small things, like figuring out how to open a bank account, become confidence-building moments – especially back in the pre-digital days. (I still don’t know how I managed to set up a bank account in Italy, barely speaking Italian and definitely without Google Translate…)

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🌐 A Global Mindset Is More Than a Line on Your CV

Working abroad has given me more than “international experience.” It’s given me a global mindset.

According to the Thunderbird School of Global Management, a global mindset means being able to collaborate and lead across cultures – while balancing global consistency with local nuance.

I’ve seen this firsthand: leading international teams, driving strategy across markets, and adjusting leadership styles to fit local contexts. It’s what helps you go beyond leadership by the book and build something that truly resonates everywhere.

Have I always got it right? Definitely not. Using German-style assertiveness in diplomatic London was… a failure or let’s call it learning moment. But I’m grateful to all those who’ve offered feedback along the way. It’s helped me grow.

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🤝 Near & Far: Relationships Across Borders

Living abroad expands your circle – colleagues, friends and family from all over the world.

But maintaining these relationships? That’s work. And when it comes to family and friends “back home,” it’s easy to feel like it’s on you to keep the connection going. Over time, the visits tend to become your responsibility.

Still, it’s worth it. An international life teaches you to invest in people – near and far – and to build a patchwork of belonging wherever you go.

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📎 One Final Tip: Keep Your Paperwork

This one’s less romantic but just as real: Keep. Your. Documents.

If you’ve ever tried to list your employment history across four countries – right down to March 2003 – you’ll understand why I still keep physical binders with contracts and certificates. International admin is no joke.

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💬 A Question for You

Have you ever lived abroad? What’s been your biggest lesson? And if you haven’t (yet)… what’s the one country you’d live in for a year, if you could?

Here’s to bold moves, lasting friendships, and a world of perspective.