Expat Women - Helping Expatriate Women Living Overseas - Expat Relocation Abroad

Anne P. Copeland, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director of The Interchange Institute Anne founded The Interchange Institute in 1997 with the goal of using her psychological and research expertise to increase knowledge about intercultural transitions, and then turning that knowledge into practical products for real people. She travels the world presenting her research, conducting training and writing articles and books to help people in cultural transition.

ExpatWomen: Anne, can you please give our Expat Women some background information on your expatriate experience?

Anne: I moved from Boston to London in 1988, with my 2-year-old daughter and my accompanying spouse, to be the Academic Advisor to Boston University’s study abroad program there (and in Oxford). I was on the faculty (Psychology Department) there and my husband, then a researcher at MIT, was ready to write a book. It promised to be a fun adventure. In fact, it was more than that – it changed my life. We came home with two daughters, not one, and a new career for me.

ExpatWomen: How did your Expat Experience help you get to where you are today?

Anne:   Although I was a psychologist who studied the impact of groups on individuals, I’d never really experienced the power of culture and cultural difference. I wanted to understand it better, and to help families move around the globe with more ease. I’ve used the experience throughout my work – although I was not the “accompanying spouse” on that sojourn (we went because of my work, not my husband’s), I wanted to stand with women and help tell their global story – and so I’ve done a lot of my research on accompanying spouses and families’ experiences. I have also used the cultural challenges I faced to help me understand what people go through when they move to the US, where we now live. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing had I not lived as an expat.

ExpatWomen:   Anne, can you please tell our Expat Women how your business started, where it came from and where it is today (in terms of size, services etc)?

Anne:   In 1994, while I was still a tenured faculty member at Boston University, I started writing Newcomer’s Almanac, a monthly newsletter for newcomers to the US. (I’m still writing it every month!) This was the first seed in my new career. By 1997 I had a few other irons in the fire, and changed my role at the University, to become Adjunct Associate Professor (advising research students). And I founded The Interchange Institute, a non-profit organization. We have three arms: Publications (books, welcome materials, and my monthly newsletter); Training (cross-cultural workshops and training-of-trainers); and Research (I’m currently studying the family and personal side of unaccompanied short term international assignments.

ExpatWomen:   What have been your biggest challenges as an Entrepreneur?

Anne: The traits that make a good clinical psychologist and researcher are not necessarily the same ones that make a good Entrepreneur! Psychologists don’t solicit business or try to convince people to use their services, for example! It was also a new experience for me to have people not return my phone calls – that simply never happened to me as an academic psychologist. So there’s some professional culture shock that I had to get through. Now I think I’m bi-cultural…

ExpatWomen: What to you have been your sweetest successes as an Entrepreneur?

Anne: I feel that I’ve made a difference in a lot of people’s lives, through the impact of my research on corporate policy, through the practical assistance in our publications, through helping people launch new careers in my training-of-trainers program (Crossing Cultures with Competence), and through my interpretations of US culture to newcomers.

ExpatWomen: Anne, you are a published author, what books have your written that would be beneficial to women moving or living overseas?

Anne: Two of my books are useful to women moving from anywhere to anywhere – A Smooth Beginning, which is really a list of suggestions and a workbook. And Global Baby – about moving to a new country with an infant. I also have a book, Understanding American Schools, co-authored with Georgia Bennett, for those moving to the US.

ExpatWomen: What tips would you give women who switch career directions and branch out into something more creative like you did?

Anne: Well, if you’re lucky enough to have the chance, then do it! I am very grateful to my family, who bore some of the risk with me and who have been completely supportive of my journey. Remember, you will feel energized by your new activities and the difference you are making, and that will bolster your courage.

ExpatWomen: What would be your Top 5 tips for helping Expat Women whilst they are living overseas?

Anne:

Keep your eye on why you’re there. If every thing isn’t perfect but you’re still meeting your goals, then brava!
Learn the host language if you can. Your experience will be much more interesting.
Find some friends where you live, not just on email. Our research consistently shows this as critical.
At the same time, stay connected to your home culture and help your kids do the same. Re-entry will be easier and you’ll be making new global citizens out of yourselves.
Be open to new directions. I started my journey as a psychologist and I’m still a psychologist, but doing such different work.

ExpatWomen: Thank you very much Anne and we wish you all the very best for your continued success!


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