Crossing boundaries begins with a state of mind

Over the course of his career, Erik Versavel has witnessed profound changes in international mobility. He has also realised that value does not only lie in the experiences you gain, but above all in how you learn to see the world through the eyes of others.

On an expat contract

‘I've been working as an expat almost continuously since 1989,’ says Erik. ‘First at Bank Brussel Lambert, later at ING. Eric has been working in 7 different countries, including England, South Korea, Indonesia and China. The story of his expat life is not yet over: at the age of 65, he is now managing a challenging project in Sri Lanka.

‘I've never worked on a local contract abroad, as one international assignment followed the next.’ Erik knows that this is a privilege. Today, contracts for expats are the exception rather than the norm.

Strategic assignments

The nature of international assignments has changed significantly over the last two decades. ‘Today, expat status is mainly used for challenging, less well-known locations,’ explains Erik. ‘I've observed this trend in my own career. I've specialised in regions where international mobility is anything but a given, i.e. countries with limited social security and few opportunities for foreign experts, such as Mongolia or Sri Lanka.’ In such an environment, working on an expat contract is often the only way to gain foreign expertise. However, the system has its limits. One major obstacle is the partner’s situation, who often cannot obtain a work permit in many of these countries. ‘For dual earners, this is an almost insurmountable hurdle, a structural challenge that repeatedly puts international mobility under pressure.’

More than just an adventure

‘It's exciting to discover new horizons and see your country from a different perspective. Once you've experienced this feeling, it's hard to ignore,’ says Erik. ‘But you are also required to be brave and to make sacrifices. In public perception, these sacrifices are often underestimated. The impact on the family, a partner who can't cope, homesickness or job insecurity are real risks. In Erik's family, every step was taken together with his daughters as soon as they were old enough. ‘That was crucial,’ he emphasises. ‘Living as an expat means living with deadlines. After three to four years, a new chapter opens in a new country. These are drastic decisions, not just for yourself as a professional, but for the whole family.’

‘The impact on children is profound. ‘Our daughters grew up in international schools and now live and work in London. They feel at home in several places. For them, “home” is not a fixed place, but a feeling. They have become true citizens of the world,’ says Erik with pride. Uncertainty is also part of expat life. An international career can rarely be planned in a linear way. It often consists of shorter assignments of two to three years. During this time, you gain a whole backpack full of knowledge and skills that can be of great benefit. ‘In an open economy, international experience is becoming more and more important. Yet a lot of potential remains largely untapped,’ remarks Erik.

Bridge builder

Export and international presence are essential for the Belgian economy. Without this international dimension, our country would fall far behind in European comparison. If we want to maintain or strengthen our position, we are required to focus on international competences, both in economic and institutional terms. This requires investment in people who cross borders, both literally and figuratively. ‘International managers are not missionaries,’ Erik clarifies. ‘They are required to be bridge builders, people who can diplomatically navigate between the values of the parent company and the culture of the host country. An enhanced corporate culture provides support, but can also clash with local sensitivities.’

Not without a parachute

‘I grew up in a country with a solid social safety net and even had the opportunity to take this protection with me abroad. Overseas Social Security (OSS) is invaluable to me and an indispensable luxury. It has been supporting me throughout my entire career,’ says Erik.

Crossing borders

‘For our family, living in an international context quickly became a second nature. We have found our home in diversity. When you're in the centre of it, you learn that culture isn't about external factors such as eating habits or etiquette. You can't understand what really drives a society just by following a few rules of behaviour. Genuine intercultural empathy goes much deeper. It requires not only knowledge, but above all the will to understand, even if this is uncomfortable. It requires you to question what you take for granted.’

‘There is a silent force in every culture: a way in which people try to get ahead, not in spite of their environment, but thanks to it. What really unites us are not shared values, but a shared vulnerability: the universal desire to make something of life. Living abroad demands the realisation that one's own logic is just one of many. Your own way of working is not superior, it is merely a variant. This requires respect for the local conditions and for the resilience of the people who must make cope with what they have. You can only really work across borders if you let the world change you instead of wanting to change the world,’ Erik sums up.

Read all of this in Erik's book ‘Expat’. He writes openly about the joys, complexities and challenges of an international relocations with a young family.