Campus

Can you share an interesting story about your assignment?

We had a friend from our home office who was on rotation in Amsterdam, and we came up with the idea to visit the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain – a 'Great American Roadtrip', Euro style. Our friend drove down from the Netherlands, spent the night at our apartment in Paris, and the next morning we started our ten hour road trip to Pamplona. The next few days were filled with singing, dancing, good food, a fair share of sangria, and our friend from Amsterdam actually running with the bulls… twice. The trip provided us with some great memories that will last a lifetime, as well as some great stories to tell, although our friends in Paris were less shocked that our friend actually ran with the bulls than the fact that we drove in a car for ten hours to get there. I guess the phrase 'Great American Roadtrip' does not translate into French.

What made you want to go on assignment?

I had been in Denver for three years, working on the same client, and got to know the client very well. I had been doing the same thing and going though a routine and had lost a little bit of the spontaneity in my job. I wanted to try something new, so I took the opportunity to come to France.

What did it feel like when you first arrived in France?

I was very nervous, to say the least. It was not so much about being able to work, but it was more a difficulty with the language. I was just worried about how quickly I would be able to learn, and whether I would be able to communicate with my co-workers, my client, and with everyone else I encountered. I think walking into a client on my first day here not speaking any French, definitely took some courage. Looking back I am proud that I came, I am proud that I have experienced this so far without speaking the language beforehand, and have been able to persevere, to work at it, and be successful.

Did you face challenges in adapting to the culture, when you came over?

There are a lot of different challenges that you face both personally and professionally. On a personal basis, interacting with people in shops and restaurants, there are a lot of changes within the language in terms of how to ask politely for something. On the business side, things are a lot more formal. If you need to meet with someone you cannot just walk into their office and ask to discuss things immediately. You need to go through a process and set up a meeting, and wait a few hours to have this meeting, and then recap afterwards. It is a lot more straight and narrow than the business process tends to be in the US.

What is the difference between the person who first got off that plane and who you are now?

I think I am a lot more open-minded now. Coming from Denver in the US, you are in the middle of a huge country and there is not much of an international influence. So once you come here to France you meet people not just from France but from Germany, England, Spain, Italy, Egypt. So you get a more global view of how things work, and an idea that things can still function, but can function in many different ways.

How has the experience been for your spouse?

It has been a little different because she was not able to obtain a work permit or a visa to work. So she has had quite a bit more free time to enjoy herself and see the sites in Paris. She has been able to take a lot more time to take French lessons, meet other people, and has really enjoyed getting to know, not only French people, but people from other cultures that were in her French lessons as well. So it has been a great experience for her.

How has GO inspired you?

During my assignment I have met many different people who have been on rotations to different places. I've been inspired by their positive approach to change and new experiences. It is inspiring for me, and encourages me to try and do the same thing; to try to be as successful in France.

How will GO benefit your career?

I definitely think global mobility has been a positive experience, not only for my life within KPMG, but potentially afterwards. Everyone that I have told about working in France has said, "Oh that is going to look tremendous on your resume". The world has a positive view of working in a foreign country.

How will KPMG benefit from your assignment?

When I return I am going to have a much more worldly view of business and how things work, and of our whole audit process in terms of a worldwide audit engagement. I think I now have a much more complete view of what happens on a worldwide engagement.

Who would you say helped or supported you the most during your rotation?

I think before the assignment it was the partners, because they were the ones who set it up to begin with. Now that I am here and on my rotation it has been much more my Performance Manager in the US, and my Performance Manager here in France, who have kept me up to date with happenings in each of the offices. They have helped me through the day-to-day difficulties, and have also helped me to plan for the rest of my rotation, and beyond that for the rest of my career.

What new skills have you developed as a result of your assignment?

I would say I have a more global view of the firm, and not just the firm but also business in general and how companies do business in other countries, and how it all interacts. In your own describe how it feels to be on assignment. Nervous, proud, happy, and most of all I would say excited.

If somebody came to you and said they were thinking about taking up a global opportunity, what is the advice you would give?

Take the chance, it’s worth it.