As a global mobility professional, you will inevitably face periods of ambiguity and uncertainty—whether it's due to mergers and acquisitions, changes in leadership, economic volatility, or global disruptions. Having the right mindset and strategies to navigate ambiguity is crucial for maintaining operational excellence and supporting your mobile employees.
When Seagen, a Seattle-based biotech company, was acquired by pharma giant Pfizer in a historic $43 billion deal, Global Mobility Leader Stephanie Ortiz Minami awakened to the news one morning through notifications on her phone and LinkedIn. The announcement set off 9 months of ambiguity as the two companies worked towards deal completion. In our recent The View From The Top show, Stephanie shared key insights from her experience in managing ambiguity:
Build a Foundation of Trust and Transparency
Well before the acquisition, Stephanie had established trust and open communication with her mobile employees by providing responsive, "white glove" service. This strong foundation enabled her to be upfront when she didn't have all the answers during the transition period. Employees understood when she said "I don't know" because of the trust that had already been built.
Proactively Anticipate Employee Questions
Within hours of the announcement, Stephanie and her team brainstormed likely questions employees would have and developed an evergreen immigration FAQ on the company's integration website. They continuously updated this with timely communications throughout the 9 months.
Focus on What You Can Control
Much was outside of Stephanie's control, but she focused intently on putting employees in the best position possible—ensuring processes like green cards could continue seamlessly at the new entity. She also upheld policies of "business as usual" until the deal closed.
Communicate with Empathy and Compassion
Drawing from her own immigrant family experience, Stephanie had deep empathy for the challenges mobile employees faced amid uncertainty over their jobs and immigration status. She strived to cut through bureaucracy and make the complex simple.
Practice Self-Care
Ambiguity can take a toll mentally and emotionally. Stephanie emphasized the importance of "giving yourself grace" and using PTO/mental health days to recharge. She reminded her employees not to let work become their entire identity.
Lean on Partners and Service Providers
Rather than going it alone, Stephanie leveraged the support of trusted partners like immigration attorneys who counseled strategies for the transition. Even knowing they may lose business, these firms provided invaluable partnerships.
In today's ever-changing global business landscape, the ability to embrace and manage ambiguity is critical for mobility teams. With trust, transparency, strategic focus, empathy and self-care, you can effectively guide your mobile staff through uncertainty.
You can access the complete discussion with Stephanie here. Don't forget to register for our upcoming show on "Smart Mobility: Leveraging GenAI in Mobility Programs.
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