Women are on the move. While they are still a minority among expats abroad, their numbers are growing as talent – regardless of gender — is recognized and recruited. Younger female employees seek experiences that can broaden their careers and opt for work that makes a difference.
Flexible, educated, motivated women make an impact when leading projects in new countries. Living Abroad provides resources to prepare and support these businesswomen. A few examples:
Canadian Government / Advice for Women Travellers: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/advice-for-women-travellers
Gain useful tips on legal, cultural, security, health and social considerations relevant to women travelers. These include clothing choice, staying in touch, keeping safe, caring for your health, and general awareness.
UN Women Country Fact Sheets: https://data.unwomen.org/countries
Take the pulse of your destination’s women’s rights, gender equality, economic development, social protections, political environment, and environmental issues – all presented through the lens of the relative impact on women.
World Bank / Women, Business and the Law: https://wbl.worldbank.org/en/wbl
View equality rank snapshots in areas of mobility, workplace, pay, marriage, parenthood, entrepreneurship, assets, and pension. Take a summary glance or a deeper dive into the specifics that give each country its rank.
In addition, the acquaintance and support of other women is invaluable to new arrivals. Tap into women’s professional and networking organizations in your destination. Some worldwide groups include:
International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW):https://www.bpw-international.org/
International Women’s Forum: https://iwforum.org/
National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO): https://nawbo.org/(U.S.)
Worldwide Women’s Association: https://www.worldwidewomensassociation.com/
The city you land in likely has its own women’s organizations and/or industry-specific groups to foster partnerships and collaboration. Local contacts can bridge the personal and professional divide from your home country to your new host location. Women should take advantage of all the support and knowledge available to ensure a successful assignment abroad.
See the International Relocation Center’s Reference Pro for the full list of Resources for Businesswomen.
Written by Ellen Harris, GMS, Product Manager, Content Group
