#123: Kiwi returning home, Global talent relocation, NZ working culture and TCK with Bridget Romanes

Chiwi Journal

My guest today is Bridget Romanes. She is the Founder of Mobile Relocation Ltd, helping Kiwis returning to work and live at homeland, assisting migrants and expats relocating to New Zealand, and offering a tailored program for businesses to recruit and retain international talent throughout Aotearoa.

We discussed:

• From expat herself to founding the company to help expats, Bridget's cross-culture career journey
• The motivation behind starting a business solving talents relocation challenges.
• What are the top three struggles facing returning home Kiwis?
• How to overcome the reverse culture shock and mentally prepare well for returning home?
• How will children get affected by moving around? What's The Third Culture Kid (TCK)?
• What's the MIQ system? How can we better assist global talent to relocate to New Zealand?
• Thoughts on future work. Will remote working become mainstream in New Zealand?
• What's unique about the Kiwi working culture?
• What's the top three factors of NZ that will appeal to global talent to come?
• How to deal with the negative attitudes from locals toward migrants?
• If you could change one policy that will make your job easier, what would that be?
• What do you get most excited about future?

Books and links mentioned in the episode:

• Bridget Romanes LinkedIn
• Free Move to NZ Checklist
• Tall poppy syndrome
• 30 Kiwi Slang Terms you need to know before you visit
• Third culture kids (TCK)
• The Third Culture Adult Book
• New Zealand MIQ System
• Are we returning to the office? Or is the future remote?
• Christchurch mosque shootings
• New Zealand Offers One-Off Resident Visa to 165,000 Migrants
• Mobile Relocation— Impacts of Reverse Culture Shock for Returning Kiwis (mobile-relocation.com)