My first reaction was ‘wow, that is really cool’. I have always wanted to work abroad, and in fact, I almost moved my family to Houston, Texas, in 2010. We traveled over there and viewed houses and everything. But my children were only two years old at the time, and I realised that I would be moving them all to Houston, only to spend most of my time on a project in Mexico. And that would not feel right, on any level.
But the dream to work abroad has been lingering in the back of my mind, and I have always worked in globally oriented companies with international customers. So, when this opportunity came, I knew I had to give it a try. And my children will be 18 soon, so the timing is much better this time around. I have never been to China before, so I am very much looking forward to it.
I was also very motivated by the opportunity to really become a part of Brunvoll's history. I will be the first Brunvoll employee to move abroad to represent the company, and I feel the weight of that responsibility — to be a positive contribution to our presence in China. It’s a whole new direction for Brunvoll, after all.
They were positive from the outset and were very supportive of me taking this opportunity, although we did, of course, discuss it thoroughly before I made the final decision. And of course, I move in mid-October, they will visit me for their Christmas holiday, and I will travel to Norway to see them next year during Easter and for my summer vacation. So, we will see each other regularly, and we also have the internet, which makes this much easier than it would have been just a few decades ago.
I’m starting with a one-year commitment, but the intention is to remain in Shanghai for three to four years. And of course, if this, for some reason, does not work out, I can fly back to Norway and return to my previous role in Brunvoll. Nothing is set in stone; this is a learning opportunity for both me and the company.
I am very much looking forward to working even more closely with our agent Tecway, with our clients and with the Chinese shipyards. I also hope to connect with European shipowners based in China and to develop those relationships. And I am, of course, very much looking forward to getting to know Chinese culture, the people, and learning a little bit of Mandarin. Shanghai is an international city, but I still think that being familiar with the language will be a great advantage.
The time difference with Norway can also be a challenge. Still, we have some overlapping hours in our workdays, and I am well into my workday when my Norwegian colleagues arrive at the Norwegian Brunvoll offices. That way, they will receive my updates first thing in the morning. I am also excited about having to build an entirely new network, and I will no longer be able to go for a run in the forest or take my boat out on the ocean and bring home fresh crabs like I am used to at home! However, I am very comfortable spending time alone, and I am there to network. I am also accustomed to travelling, and with today’s technology, it is always possible to stay in touch with loved ones. I’m sure it will be fine. I will be adaptable and get to know new people, and I will create new routines. It’s a remarkable opportunity.
I am moving to support our agent, Tecway, in a more hands-on capacity. I’m not replacing anyone — I am there to help and contribute and be on site, and to be able to solve technical questions as early in the sales process as possible. Can we deliver that diameter for a thruster? Is what the client wants possible, technically speaking? What is a realistic delivery time for the product? If we can get those questions out of the way at the very beginning, we will be able to save a lot of time. I also look forward to building strong relationships with both our Chinese partners and European shipowners based in China. And I will, of course, follow up on our Chinese projects that are already underway.
I think it will be very different to Norway, and that’s what’s so exciting. I understand that business culture in China differs from what I am accustomed to in the Nordics, with a greater emphasis on hierarchy and formal relationships. I look forward to learning more about these differences and adapting to local practices. I also expect to see impressive technology and methods of development and production. I am very much looking forward to getting to know Chinese culture, and to adapting to both the local way of doing business and the Chinese way of life. Everyone I have talked to who has lived and worked in China has had a very positive experience.
