Beverly Mayhew
Orientations, International Human Resources, Relocation
Beverly Dwiggins Mayhew is the founder of Orientations – a premier destination services organization with offices in nine Asian-Pacific countries. A long-time devotee to the field of international human resources, Bev has designed and taught programs for intercultural training, destination services, compensation and benefits, destination networks and community service organizations in Asia Pacific. At the 1986 AGM of The International Relocation Associates meeting in Hong Kong, Bev was honored with the distinction of being "the Pioneer of Destination Services in Asia Pacific".
Prior to Orientations, Bev was an Administrative Manager and International Marketing Manager for American Fortune 200 corporations. Her international experience was gained on projects in Latin America and the Middle East, and expatriate assignments in South-East Asia and Australia.
Based in Singapore on and off since 1981, with assignments in the region (Malaysia and Australia) as well as working for extended periods in Hong Kong, China and Thailand, Bev moved this year to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but remains very active in her company and commutes regularly to her company's headquarters in Singapore.
Expat Women's Interview with Beverly
Expat Women: Bev, what originally took you to Singapore and what inspired you to start a destination services business there?
Beverly: I arrived in Singapore in 1981 as a blushing bride, armed with a new college diploma in international relations. When I went to my former employer and said "here I am, put me to work" I was told by their HR department that "expatriate wives cannot work in Singapore". Well, as many of us know, tell a woman she cannot do something and the rest, as they say, is history. The specifics of starting a destination services business combined both my international relations degree and my caregiver nature.
Expat Women: As a destination, was it easy to start a business in Singapore?
Beverly: Easy, no, because few had done it before me, so no one knew what to do. Persistence, and the ever important discipline of networking, really paid off. Meeting the right people, never being afraid to ask for their opinion, and ultimately their help, created a 'can do' environment which boosted the business into the media's eyes. The passion I held for the work I was doing clearly was a factor in the business' success as well because so many people along the way wanted to become involved. I made it look not only fun, but easy!
Expat Women: What did you learn when you expanded your business into so many new locations in the region?
Beverly: Our business grew rather organically, at the requests of customers we were servicing in another location. They would ask us "can you help us in such and such a place?" You must remember, there were no other destination service providers anywhere else in Asia. It was our intent to focus on the family to provide a quality service, and not really to become a regional entity. We, therefore, went into the location to find someone of a like mind who we could train in our products and service delivery methods. What I learned was you must build trust in your colleagues and give them the benefit of learning from your experiences. In doing so, you can 'leap-frog' them into faster success which will benefit your entire organization. All of this must be done, however, in the framework of a well-structured and defined organization.
Expat Women: What changes and challenges have you seen in the destination services industry since you started back in 1981?
Beverly: Our business grew rather organically, at the requests of customers we were servicing in another location. They would ask us "can you help us in such and such a place?" You must remember, there were no other destination service providers anywhere else in Asia. It was our intent to focus on the family to provide a quality service, and not really to become a regional entity. We, therefore, went into the location to find someone of a like mind who we could train in our products and service delivery methods. What I learned was you must build trust in your colleagues and give them the benefit of learning from your experiences. In doing so, you can 'leap-frog' them into faster success which will benefit your entire organization. All of this must be done, however, in the framework of a well-structured and defined organization.
Expat Women: What changes and challenges have you seen in the destination services industry since you started back in 1981?
Beverly: The industry which exists today is nothing like it was in 1981 – much as any industry evolves. In the '80's, our business was direct to our local human resource personnel. In the '90's, the introduction of vendor managers created 'middle-people' in the industry, and the procurement departments became the decision-makers for our services.
In the millennium and to current times, outsourcing dominates the industry. Personally I have seen the value of the human asset being challenged by organizations' focus on the bottom line. In addition, I have seen the development of the 'Asian' expatriate, a persona that did not exist in the '80's. Today's mobile employee is just as likely to have yellow or brown skin as white which was the dominant expatriate in the '80's. This new breed of expatriate creates new challenges to employers who must learn how to manage very culturally diverse populations.
Expat Women: What top five tips can you offer to women wanting to start a business abroad?
Beverly:
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First and foremost be passionate about whatever it is you undertake because your 'business' will consume you during every waking (and sometimes sleeping) hour of every day, every day of the week, every week of the year. If you are not prepared to understand the requirements – which will give new meaning to 'work-life balance' do not start a business. Take up a hobby instead. |
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Second and almost as important as the first is to enlist the support of your spouse/partner/family members: the emotional support is important because they may at times play 'second fiddle' to your business. It was not until I had been involved in my business for almost 30 years that my eldest daughter (then 21) said to me ".....Mom, go ahead and take care of that third child, it needs you now....". I have two beautiful, successful daughters. It was then and only then that I realized I really did treat the business like a child and did not even realize! |
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Third and critical to success: the need to understand the figures – if you do not understand the financial figures, find/hire someone who does and pay attention (that means review it until you understand it) to the data no less than every other week. More businesses fail because their owners fail to look at the financials (which should be directing most, if not all of the decision-making) than any other reason. Many of us operate with a 'housewife mentality' – which works okay for grocery shopping – but not long-term strategizing. Understanding finance – really understanding how money works in our enterprises – is the key to making sound, educated decisions instead of emotional ones – which is what we have been raised, as women, to make. |
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Fourth: network with other females to understand the importance of learning – and sharing – experiences. There are things we can learn from each other that are unique to being a woman that only women experience. Listen to men with the objective of learning – but participate with women with the objective to survive. Surround yourself in your organization with individuals who have the same values as you do – because when you are faced with challenges – and they will come I assure you – you need to know you are all working from the same set of values. For me, this includes faith. This does not mean the same religion (which means Christians can work with Jews can work with Muslims can work with Buddhists – get the picture), but the same 'belief in a greater power'. |
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Fifth and important for your emotional well-being: do not be afraid to fail... taking risks often means we learn about things through experiences, and we must be prepared to admit we have not had all of life's experiences! |
Expat Women: Switching now to your repatriation. What made you decide to return to the United States and how do you foresee your re-adjustment?
Beverly: Our company philosophy is "Families Come First". I realized it was time that I put my own family first again. Personal sacrifices are often things that entrepreneurs do not speak about; in particular women entrepreneurs. In reality, these sacrifices sometimes creep in; one often may not notice it because one is too busy with other things – most of which come disguised as 'success'.
While technology allowed me to stay close to my family with net meetings, cell phones, web cam's etc., I was getting 'vibes' that it was just not the same. Fortunately, I am very blessed that the role I hold in our organization is such that it is truly 'mobile', and I have an incredibly strong team throughout Asia who have been groomed to continue with business as usual! The true test of a business (in it's first generation of management) is the organization's ability to continue when the founder steps out of a key role. Since my repatriation, our organization has not only continued its financial success, it is expanding into new locations, creating new products, and grooming incredible talent to launch us into the next phase of destination services!
Expat Women: Beverly, congratulations on the creation, longevity and success of Orientations. Our best wishes to you for both the ongoing prosperity of your company and the new chapter of your life back in the United States.
Links
Orientations
http://www.orientations.com
April 2010
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