After 4 successful years working in commercial at Cadbury Trebor Bassett, I have decided to take advantage of the global nature of our business. I am moving to work in our fast growing South African business, where I will be leading a portfolio of brands, rather than just 1 as in the UK. This represents a big challenge for me, but an even bigger opportunity to make the next jump in my career.
I would not say it has been easy to manage this, as it is not that common for people to move internationally this early in their careers, but I can vouch for the fact that if you are a real self-starter, you can make it happen. Other markets are calling out for the expertise we have in the UK, and being sought out by people all over the world is truly flattering. The opportunity to go and visit other markets has been really interesting too, and I now feel like a real international jet-setter!
The final challenge with all these things is the bureaucracy, as emerging markets with high unemployment such as South Africa, do not give out work permits without a bit of a fight. Once again, resilience and patience are critical, and eventually your passport does come back fully validated.
So bring on January 1st, and my flight over to enjoy a southern hemisphere summer (and work a bit!)
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