Research: Is Moving Internationally for a Job a Smart Move?

by Martine Haas, Isabel Fernandez-Mateo, Matthew Bidwell and Giovanna Capponi

December 21, 2023

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Summary.

Many aspiring executives pursue international careers. Often, they ask us — in our MBA classes and later in our executive education programs — whether we think moving internationally will help or hurt their career progress. Will taking a job in a different country give them skills and experience that will make them more valuable to employers over time? Or will it set them back?

Martine Haas is the Lauder Chair Professor of Management at the Wharton School and Director of the Lauder Institute for Management & International Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. She holds a PhD from Harvard University. Her research focuses on collaboration and teamwork in global organizations.

Isabel Fernandez-Mateo (ifernandezmateo@london.edu) is the Adecco Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School. Her research examines hiring processes, career advancement, and gender differences in access to leadership positions.

Matthew Bidwell (mbidwell@wharton.upenn.edu) is the Xingmei Zhang and Yongge Dai Professor at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He holds a PhD from the MIT Sloan School of Management. He studies employment relationships with a focus on careers and employee mobility.

Giovanna Capponi (g.capponi@uu.nl) is Assistant Professor at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University. She holds a PhD in Economics from Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies. Her research focuses on innovation and knowledge sharing.

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Research: Is Moving Internationally for a Job a Smart Move?

Summary.

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