career by choice ^®

Why Choose Career By Choice?

I distinguish myself as the only career professional who can claim all of the following:

25+ years experience in 45+ countries in career and business development in developing and developed economies
living and working abroad for 18+ years on 3 continents
3 degrees and 8 certifications in career and executive coaching, personal branding, online reputation, career communications, assessments, social media and multimedia design and communications
focus solely on expat and international careers and have proven, comprehensive solutions for today's dynamic and digital global marketplace
a documented history of results including helping people land jobs in new countries and industries, secure 50% salary increases, receive recognition for their pioneering work, get featured in media and industry publications, write books and transform their online presence via online profiles, sites and blogs
named a top 50 personal branding consultant and presents on personal branding at global conferences
selected to be an executive coach for global companies and executive networks as well as top business schools and universities
being featured or quoted in 25+ major media, books and career and expat publications including Fortune Magazine, CNN, the Financial Times, the Washington Post, BBC, the Wall Street Journal Online, the Telegraph, Channel News Asia, Fox Business Online, Italy Magazine, Personal Branding for Dummies, and the Twitter Job Search Guide

I do what I do because I believe by empowering people who want to make an impact in the world with what they need to realize their potential and goals, I can make the world an even more extraordinary place.

Other claims to fame include being caught in a banana worker strike in Costa Rica, having to ride on a tractor for hours in the snow in the dead of winter to catch a plane in Russia, sneaking into Bill Clinton's inaugural ball in Washington DC to see him play saxophone, and being on ABC News with Brad Pitt in Ethiopia while working on HIV prevention with orphans.

An In-Depth Unique Approach That Gets Results

To learn more about how Career By Choice sets itself apart from other expat and international career coaches and consultants, read on:

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Online & YOU Focus

I Help You Thrive Overseas By Helping You Be the Best YOU That You Can Be

I help you align your true strengths with roles and environments that help you be successful by being your best self. We use powerful tools and dig deep to uncover your top attributes, strengths and skills and use them to guide your choices. Clarifying and communicating your unique value in a compelling way is critical to standing out in the global marketplace. A certified personal branding strategist, personal branding is at the core of my work.

You'll Build a Strong Online Identity and Global Network Critical for Success Abroad

I help you build a strong online identity to increase your visibility and credibility with employers, clients and colleagues worldwide. Up to 85% of employers use information they find online in their hiring decisions. Colleagues use this information to assess a person's professional reputation. Service providers will be googled by prospective clients and evaluated based on the results. A certified online identity strategist, an online identity strategy is part of every client's strategic plan.

I teach you to use online networks and social media to build global networks and reach your goals. Since you likely don't have the luxury of networking locally in all the markets you are targeting or serve, using these tools to build relationships is critical to positioning yourself and attracting the right opportunities wherever you are in the world.

360° Support

I Bring a 360° Perspective and Creative Solutions Needed to Win in a Competitive and Dynamic Global Marketplace

I'm known for my creative problem solving, 360 degree perspective and innovative solutions. People often remark on my ability to see things in people or situations that others can't. Working with people from around the globe has shown me it's often our perspective or thinking, not circumstances, which can block us from getting what we want.

My All-in-One Solutions Provide Comprehensive Support You Need to Succeed

I'm an all-in-one solution for international career acceleration and management. We start with assessments to uncover your top attributes, strengths and skills to guide your career choices. I help you create a vision for your career abroad and clarify your personal brand. I guide you through the maze of international work options and help you design a roadmap to help you reach your goals.

We then develop tools to communicate your unique, compelling value on and offline. We design a plan to build your global network and for your current or future job search. We address interviewing, salary negotiation and on-boarding. And I provide support during international assignments and equip you with skills and strategies to manage your career for the long term. All this and more.

I'm a coach, advisor, sounding board and support centered 100% around your needs.

My Core Beliefs

My Approach Will Help Reach Your Goals and Set You Up for Lifetime Career Success

My unique approach to helping people build a career abroad is based on these core beliefs:

Your true strengths and unique value are the only constants in today's dynamic global marketplace - they are critical to success. They drive your performance, your fulfillment, your differentiation and are your ultimate competitive advantage.

Knowledge can help you optimize choices and generate better results in your life and career. Understanding yourself, your strengths and the marketplace can help you define and choose best fit roles and work environments to set yourself up for success by being your best self.

Reaching your goals efficiently requires strategic action rather than action for action sake. Action driven by a clear, measurable goal - instead of impatience or anxiety - will help you avoid wasting time, energy and opportunities you can't afford to waste. It's about working smarter, not harder.

You have to step outside of your comfort zone to get to where you want to go. Change by definition means stepping into the unknown. A willingness to embrace the discomfort that comes with thinking and doing things differently, as well as to 'not know' - which can be challenging for high achievers - will help you realize more than you ever dreamed possible.

Results & Success

I Use Approaches Proven to Get Results to Increase Your Chance for Success

My commitment to excellence is evidenced by my clients' track record of success. Results my clients have achieved include:

Secured jobs in new countries and new industries
Secured jobs with high-profile international organizations they'd pursued for years
Secured promotions and 50% salary increases
Became pioneers in their field for discoveries or work
Built portable businesses, websites and blogs with industry following
Built or expanded global network and client base
Published and/or featured in major media and industry publications and websites
Transformed their online presence from non-existent to #1 search result
Recognized for growth as leaders and improvements to business operations

Experience / Training

I Have Insight that Comes From 20 Years Experience Working in 40+ Countries

I have two decades of experience in career, organizational and business development in 45+ countries on 6 continents. I've worked across many sectors and industries - from new media and renewable energy to global health and technology. I have worked in senior, managerial and director level roles as well as being a consultant and business owner. I've spent many years in international development - including having designed training programs for executives and entrepreneurs from developing countries. I've provided long term support to professionals and entrepreneurs as well as built my own portable business to support my global lifestyle.

Having been in your shoes as an expat professional and business owner, I understand how difficult change can be and what is required to realize success. I've lived in 13 cities on 3 continents and had short term assignments in Africa, Asia and Europe. My extensive experience abroad and tenacious commitment to your success insure you get the consistent encouragement and direct, honest and informed feedback you need to make sustainable changes in your professional life.

My Extensive Training and Ongoing Learning Insures You're Applying Best Practices

I have three degrees, eight certifications and am always pursuing more education and training. I am a certified career coach and certified executive coach. I am one of the first 100 certified personal branding strategists and one of the first 35 certified online identity strategists in the world. I'm also a certified social media marketing strategist. I have two bachelors degrees in International Relations and Semiotics and a masters degree in Multimedia Design and Communications. I continue to take course work in topics related to career and business development, management and growth.

What next?

To learn how I can help you become a highly visible, sought-after expert or leader and build a career abroad, please go to the Solutions for Today's Challenges, Executives and Professionals or Consultants pages or contact me to schedule an initial conversation.

What People Are Saying

Megan did an exceptional job working with me to develop my personal branding plan. Her genuine listening and coaching ability helped me think through and identify my marketable unique value proposition and define a clear vision for my career. Even though we worked together remotely, she followed a disciplined approach and ensured that I was on track with the program.

She knows how to engage with people and provides valuable insight on every interaction. Her drive to continuously learn and strive for success is very commendable. The work we did together was certainly a key contributor to my successful career change. I found Megan to be friendly, articulate and a great person to work with. I would highly recommend her to anyone anywhere in the world looking for a personal branding or career/business coach.”

- Venu Sripada, Vice President, IRI, Technology Executive, Expat in U.S.

“When I came to Megan I was looking to take the next step in my career. I was unclear about my personal brand and needed strategic guidance in moving forward. Our work focused on clarifying the unique value I provide organizations and identifying how to leverage that value to guide my future career.

There were several benefits I gained from the coaching. I am now clear about what I stand for, the value I deliver, my personal brand and how to convey it. I have a branded profile that truly represents me and gives me the ability to clearly express my value for future job opportunities. I learned how to become known/seen as an expert in a world full of undifferentiated and inflated information. I know what I need to look for in the future to succeed and now have a totally new and different view on my career and how to attract job opportunities.

What I enjoyed most about working with Megan was her expert, world class knowledge, her super clear guidance, her endless energy and her commitment to insuring I had what I needed to realize my goals. I recommend Megan to those who are looking for a career coach who is honest, ethical, reliable and personally invested in the success of her clients."

- Nicolas Pokorny, Global Sales & Marketing Pharmaceutical Executive, Expat in Austria