Saudi Arabia work culture & transfer policy

Hi there,

Contracts on the offer!

Now, if you're asking this because you're debating whether to accept the offer, great.

If you're asking because you're looking at “coulda, shoulda, woulda” please stop - this will only make you unhappy by comparing!

In terms of culture, remember offices quite office match their country cultures. So, think about Saudi Arabia culture versus Dubai and  Western Europe and viola! Additionally, to get a much deeper understanding of this than any written Q&A could give, get networking and hop on calls with people! Yes, you can do this even after an offer.

Yes, it is possible to transfer. However, it will be hard, especially in that direction. Please set expectations for it to be more in the 2+ year mark, not the 1-2 year mark. Also, remember that this hinges on both you and external forces. Build up a fantastic reputation and shine as a consultant, but also recognize that there will be factors outside of your control as well.

Congrats and good luck in the new role!

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offer from Kearney!

I think this is an interesting question that may be relevant for many people. I would be happy to share my thoughts on it:

• First of all, while it might certainly be interesting information, unless you also have offers from other companies in Dubai and Western Europe, I feel that contemplating any differences in corporate culture is not meaningful. Generally speaking, though, both Dubai and Western European offices' culture seems to be more liberal and open, independent of the company, which is rooted in the different cultural heritages.
• Moreover, while it is generally possible to transfer offices, it seems to be, unfortunately, very difficult to transfer from the Middle East to North America or Western Europe. However, if you really want to transfer, there will certainly be ways to achieve it.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to address your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hi there,

Congratulations on the Kearney offer!

Answering your second question as I believe other coaches might have more insights on the first.

Q: Also, is it possible to transfer from the Riyadh office to the New York office in 1 or 2 years' time?

It won’t probably be easy to move to New York as it is one of the most desired offices, but it is not impossible.

To maximize your chances you should ideally:

• Have one or more partners in your target office favoring the transfer
• Have one or more partners in your home office favoring the transfer
• Have a strong performance
• Have or be able to get working rights in your target office

It may be easier to try to target a project in the new office being based in your current one, create relationships and then do the full transfer. However, that also depends on the company and office flexibility.

Best,

Francesco