Leveraging mobility opportunities and building resilience

I joined Allianz Trade in 2016, already with two years of experience with the company as an external consultant. That had given me exposure to intense, exciting projects and the functional and geographical mobility on offer. I knew that Allianz was the place for me. Two years into my full-time tenure at Allianz, I relocated to Hong Kong as Head of Operations. Imagine my surprise when two months later the Board divided the finance and operations departments, asking me to take on the newly created Chief Operating Officer (COO) position.

I had just moved away from home with young children, and the scope of this role was significantly different from the one I was assigned to initially. Not only that, but I had to design the blueprint for the position while being in “discovery mode” – of a completely different region, business model, and culture. It was daunting, but I try to see opportunity in every challenge. Taking it on turned out to be an incredible experience with enormous complexity.

I moved again less than three years later, just as I was becoming comfortable with all the components of my new ecosystems. This time around? Singapore.

I was born and raised in Morocco, and I moved to Paris after finishing high school. Taking the leap to Asia-Pacific really spiced up my professional journey. While our APAC region is very small compared to the more mature markets in Europe, business operations are run in a completely different way. It’s extremely diverse and there are layers of complexity to navigate – it feels like working for a startup reaching maturity! And there’s no better playground for operations: everything here, from organization to processes to IT infrastructure, is constantly being optimized.

Moving abroad leveraged, and tested, my ability to adapt. Perhaps naively, I thought the culture in Singapore would be similar to Hong Kong, especially as many residents have Chinese heritage. But getting used to Singapore was like starting again.

However, I really appreciate learning about the way people think and how it’s been shaped by their culture and history. It’s important to embrace the moments when people do not share your point of view; you can bring those diverse perspectives into your work as well as your personal life.

Entering a whole new environment is inherently risky, but leadership is all about taking risks. It wasn’t just dealing with political unrest and strict COVID-19 regulations while living in Hong Kong that improved my resilience. It was understanding new value systems, and small things that remind you that you’re not at home, like creating new daily habits. These are things you read about but that can’t be captured, and that you don’t realize will have an impact, until you’re living in a place. And this resilience has become indispensable in all areas of my life. 

The mobility support I received from Allianz was seamless from day one, and we were supported in every aspect of the move. The business units in Hong Kong and Singapore were extremely welcoming; diversity is embedded into their DNA.

Would I recommend moving abroad? Yes, 100%. The moves I’ve made have opened professional doors. I am certain that my journey at Allianz Trade has been possible largely because of my eagerness to relocate and take on new challenges. As for me personally: my children, who have lived in multiple countries, see the world with fresh eyes and an open mind. This gift of adaptability is priceless in a constantly changing world. Take the leap!