About Us u0026 Our Approach

With Positive Expatriation we are entering a new aera of expatriation support and management.rnrnPositive Expatriation was created for expatriates of any management level, for spouses, for their kids and for international organizations that want to do it better than their competitors. We have designed and proven an approach that goes far beyond administrative and intercultural aspects.

We are addressing and training the aspects that really matter and that influence working and living abroad in a way that it is going to be a fulfilling, meaningful and less stressful time.rnrnPositive Expatriation is not about positive thinking, it is rather the power of accurate and integral thinking which can be learnt. In the center of Positive Expatriation are the concepts of Resilience, Mindset and Wellbeing which are main drivers for expatriation success.

u003cimg class=u0022alignnone wp-image-363 size-fullu0022 src=u0022https://positive-expatriation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/about-1.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022540u0022 height=u0022680u0022 /u003e

u003cimg class=u0022alignnone wp-image-364 size-fullu0022 src=u0022https://positive-expatriation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/about-2.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022840u0022 height=u0022573u0022 /u003ernu003cblockquoteu003eEveryone needs resilience because one thing is certain; life includes adversities.rn- Karen Reivichu003c/blockquoteu003e

u003ch2 class=u0022columns__heading h3 mb-3 u0022u003eResilienceu003c/h2u003ernrnu003chr class=u0022divider mb-8u0022 /u003ernrnThe more resilient an expat and his family members are, the happier and more successful they will experience their stay abroad. Every expatriation is a journey which includes bumpy parts. The question is how well the expat react to those unexpected situations, challenges and sometimes even conflicts. Do they face them, do they scare them? Positive Expatriation supports and trains expatriates and their family members to increase their resilience skills in order to handle surprises and setbacks that come along with every stay abroad. They will learn to navigate those challenges in a way that helps them to thrive! Positive Expatriation is a proof that resilience can be mastered, and it is not a fixed ability we were born with.

u003ch2 class=u0022columns__heading h3 mb-3 u0022u003eMindsetu003c/h2u003ernrnu003chr class=u0022divider mb-8u0022 /u003ernrnThe power of your mindset was discovered first by Carol S. Dweck. Positive Expatriation is applying this groundbreaking idea to the success of an expatriation. Expatriates and their family members learn how the success of their living and working abroad can be influenced by how they think about their talents and abilities. Expats with a fixed mindset – those who think that abilities are fixed – are less likely to thrive abroad than those with a growth mindset – those who believe that abilities can be developed. rnOur trainings provide all you need to support the development of a growth mindset before / during and after your stay in a host country. Our work shows that expatriates with a growth mindset are more successful, more fulfilled, happier, and more self-secure. rn

u003cimg class=u0022alignnone wp-image-365 size-fullu0022 src=u0022https://positive-expatriation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/about-3.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022840u0022 height=u0022573u0022 /u003ernu003cblockquoteu003ePeople in a growth mindset don’t just seek challenges, they thrive on it.rn- Carol Dwecku003c/blockquoteu003e

u003cimg class=u0022alignnone wp-image-366 size-fullu0022 src=u0022https://positive-expatriation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/about-4.jpgu0022 alt=u0022u0022 width=u0022840u0022 height=u0022573u0022 /u003ernu003cblockquoteu003eWellbeing cannot exist just in your own head. Wellbeing is a combination of feeling good as well as actually having meaning, good relationships and accomplishment.rn- Martin Seligmanu003c/blockquoteu003e

u003ch2 class=u0022columns__heading h3 mb-3 u0022u003eWellbeingu003c/h2u003ernrnu003chr class=u0022divider mb-8u0022 /u003ernrnHow we feel before, during and after our stay abroad is strongly impacting how successful we are as expats! Positive Expatriation explains and teaches how to invest best in your own and your expatriate’s wellbeing as this leads to better (intercultural) engagement, higher performance and lower rates of expatriation burnout and turnover. We are using Seligman’s PERMA™ theory of well-being to develop strategies for individual wellbeing abroad. In detail, we are focusing on the following five aspects that are – according to Positive Psychology research – the pillars of individual wellbeing.rnu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eThe power of positive emotions and how we can make sure experiencing themu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eHow to find ways to engage in the new environmentu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eHow to build trustful and positive relationships abroad and how to maintain themu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eHow to find meaning in the expatriation (this is especially also relevant for expat partners and families)u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eHow to set goals and to experience their accomplishmentsu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e

The International Human Resource Management is my home since 1997. In any position that I was holding in academia as well as in different corporates since then and today as an entrepreneur, I claim to combine advanced and novel HRM practice with high-quality research and theory.rnrnI am advocating today for a positive change in the world of International Human Resource Management, especially in the one of expatriations.rnrnMy professional expertise in IHRM was especially stretched when I joined my husband with my two daughters on his expat journey to the South of the USA in 2017. After having lived in different countries before and equipped with deep intercultural knowledge, I and my family felt as the technically best prepared for our expatriation. But we had to realize that every expatriation has its own challenges and is offering not only beautiful but also bumpy roads. You felt like I had falsified my own hypothesis, because my theoretical and intercultural experience did not prepare me well enough for the new life abroad.rnrnSince this magic moment I was obsessed with the idea to find new and innovative ways for expatriates as well as organizations which would help to create and support successful and meaningful expatriations and thus international business success.rnrnHaving had the opportunity to study at Martin Seligman’s (founder of the Positive Psychology) faculty at the University of Pennsylvania was definitely one of my most enjoyable and life-changing learning experiences. Not only the fundaments for our business were created, I finally learnt that wellbeing is key for any context whether organization, school and also family, as it determines engagement, satisfaction and performance.

u003cblockquoteu003eI enjoy working with Judith so much. It is not only successful, but also pure joy and well-being. With her keen intuition and never-ending energy, she manages to achieve positive results even in difficult situations.u003c/blockquoteu003ernMy own love of learning comes along with a love of sharing knowledge. This can be in form of an article / book, a key note or simply in our impactful trainings.rnrnProfound knowledge in International Human Resource Management / Business Administration / Sociology and Psychology was built during my studies at different international universities (Trier University (Germany), Universite Jean-Jaures Toulouse (France), Universite Paul Valery Montpellier (France)). I earned a doctorate / PhD from ESCP Europe Berlin and Paris (cotutelle de these).rnrnI loved being a professor for Human Resource Management at EuFH Bruehl and I still enjoy teaching occasionally. Being in close contact with the next HR generation is inspiring and I love to empower and equip them to become strategic and positive HR leaders.rnrnIt’s probably not surprising that my favorite activity – outside of my working days – is to travel, to explore parts and culture of our beautiful and stunning planet. I am curious to get to know people who live another live, to learn from them and so to learn about yourself. Even better if we travel as a family. I love to create memories, to discover new happy places that we then decide to revisit in the next years…the list is long! u2028On a daily basis, I try to be as much active as possible as I have learnt that sports have a huge impact on my wellbeing: I play tennis and do Pilates and enjoy long walks with my Australian Labradoodle right now along the Thames.

Since more than 25 years Human Resource Management is meaning the world to me. Starting in academics, then working in business and now as purpose driven entrepreneur.rnrnWith my sound experience in researching, teaching, writing, leading in the field of (international) human resource management, as well as a very personal, life-changing experience, I finally found my life mission: Making day by day the world of international assignments a better and more successful place for organizations and individuals and at the same time improving my personal life.rnrnMy credo is: Individual well-being, resilience and mindset are the path to true performance, i.e. extraordinary personal and company success that also feels good. Now I found the missing piece in my puzzle and know what it needs to make international assignments more successful while at the same time make them a better place.rnrnI can relate very well to expatriates, but also to companies. I lived and worked myself in the USA and in a multinational corporation. I worked with different cultures every day. And I know very well the reality of expatriates‘ lives and of international HR departments due to my doctoral theses on managing international assignments in the Robert Bosch GmbH and my professional experience in different and distinct senior HR Management positions since 2008.

u003cblockquoteu003eBernadette is amazing in turning challenges into success stories. Because of her sound international working experience she can relate very well to individual needs and company needs. She know how to bringt both sides together and create value for everyone.u003c/blockquoteu003ernMy excellence and extraordinary performance and achievement have been honored several times: University and doctoral degree with distinction, granted with HR Excellence Award for extraordinary HR work in a HR Project in China.rnrnI am very knowledgeable in designing and delivering impactful and tailored trainings as well as developing people, because of my time as Head of Management Development and Global Learning and my experience when teaching and speaking at different universities and conferences plus my completed business coach training and coaching experience.rnrnFor my work life balance, I explore together with my son the world from new perspectives, go for long walk along the rhine, play the piano and I lose myself in collecting recipes even I do not like cooking.