Patrick Landers

People Advisory Services Partner @ EY

CPA, CPP, GPHR

Dallas

Having dedicated my entire career to #GlobalMobility, the last six years on assignment provided a real-world case study that reinforced what I had known academically for many years.

It became evident that there is simply no substitute for the invaluable knowledge and insights gained through in-person experience.

In September 2017, Ashu Rathor, CPA, MBA, MS reached out to me and requested a meeting in New York to discuss a role in Bangalore, India.  What was initially planned as a brief overnight trip turned into a 6-day stay in the Big Apple due to flight cancellations caused by Hurricane Harvey near my home in Houston.  In retrospect, this unexpected situation foreshadowed the flexibility and adaptability required for my new role situated halfway across the globe.

For the past 6 years, I have been privileged to lead the Integrated Mobile Talent team at EY‘s Global Delivery Services (GDS).  During this time, I had the honor of collaborating with GDS team members in India, Argentina, China, The Philippines, Hungary, and Spain while also serving stakeholders from nations in every region of the world.

Despite my 28 years of work in the Global Mobility business and extensive travel worldwide to meet with clients, it wasn’t until I boarded a plane from Texas to Bangalore, India (via Dubai) with my wife and four children that I truly comprehended the mix of nervous anticipation and exhilaration that accompanies an international assignment and a new career challenge.

While memories of riding in an Auto Rickshaw with my son, trekking over 100 kilometers in the villages near Nandi Hills outside Bangalore, participating in a game of Kabaddi during an office field day, and celebrating numerous national holidays with expatriate neighbors from diverse countries will forever remain fond, it was the personal discoveries I made that truly left a lasting impact.

One vital lesson I learned is that building a genuinely global team goes beyond geographical diversity.  It necessitates recognizing and addressing power disparities among different roles within the team. Moreover, embracing varied perspectives and valuing every individual team member are crucial elements in fostering a harmonious environment.

Another lesson came from understanding the power of driving collective impact within the team, while also realizing the profound and meaningful impact that can be made by simply devoting time and attention to individuals.  Building genuine connections and supporting the growth of each team member can make an extraordinary difference in their lives.

Although Covid-19 disrupted our global working patterns midway through my assignment, I learned that the most significant impact I could make often came from physically showing up, even if only via video connection, and actively listening to others. As a leader, I recognized that people sought guidance, but I discovered that my actions carried more weight than mere words.  By being present, engaged, and genuinely attentive, I was able to establish deeper connections and positively influence those around me.  This experience taught me the transformative power of leading by example and the importance of active, empathetic listening in leaving a lasting impact.

I am profoundly grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside a group of extraordinarily talented individuals during my assignment, including GDS leaders Ashu Rathor, CPA, MBA, MS , Priyanka Chaudhry , Mary Elizabeth Porray, Arun Batra, as well as global leaders who invested considerable time with GDS, such as Marna Ricker, recently retired Kate Barton, Susan Pitter, Joost Smits, Simon Stanaway, Gerard Osei-Bonsu, Jason Mi, and numerous other global country leaders, partners, and team members I worked with along the way.  I deeply appreciate their contributions to my professional growth and success.

I also feel heartfelt appreciation for the team members I worked closely with at GDS, including Hemanth Kumar Bommanahal, Nandini Chakrabarty, Nikhil Steven, GPHR, Raghu Kumar Tallam, Preethi Mohanrao, Kuruvilla Cherian, Prarthana Ramprasad, Kavana Dhaman, Trina Diallo, Vivek Mishra, Aman Raina, Dilipa Maiya, Srinivas Siddhabatula, and Vanesa Politis.  I will sincerely miss the day-to-day interactions with this leadership team, as well as the frequent and spirited conversations with the senior managers and managers who are too numerous to individually acknowledge here.  Working with all of you has profoundly impacted my life.

I eagerly look forward to continuing to collaborate with many of the individuals I have met over the past six years, while transitioning into a role based in the United States where I will return to working with clients as they send their employees towards their own life-changing experience.