Meet Lauren, the visionary Founder of LS International, whose ambition is reshaping the landscape of executive search. Devoted to the success of each client and candidate, Lauren specializes in identifying top-tier executives for Sales, Marketing, and General Management roles in the consumer goods industry across the USA, Europe, Middle East, and Asia. An American by origin, Lauren embarked on a transformative journey by relocating to Spain to build a life with her husband, whom she met in Amsterdam. In this exclusive interview, Lauren shares her insights as an expat and a global executive hunter, offering a unique perspective on both worlds.
Expat Bio:
Born in: Louisiana, USA
Cities and countries lived: Mandeville and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Amsterdam, Netherlands. Saint-Omer, France. Pamplona, Spain. Barcelona, Spain.
Current city: Barcelona, Spain.
Total time living abroad: 13 years
Lives with Husband, Pablo Aldaz
Current company and title: CEO/Founder of LS International
Hobbies: Gym (Spinning), Cooking, Dining, Listening to Electronic Music, Running LS International
What prompted your relocation to Spain?
I met my husband when we were studying in Amsterdam, so I moved to Spain for us to start a life together.
What were the primary obstacles you encountered as an expatriate when establishing your company?
Navigating Spanish laws and tax system.
When searching for executives for global roles, what are the key competencies you look for?
Depends on the role, but generally leaders who are empathetic, flexible, agile, and self-aware.
Based on your expertise, what do you consider essential for an executive's success in an international assignment, particularly when accompanied by their family?
The executive needs to understand that he/she will have a job and will be accepted into the community more easily because of that. Most of the time, the partner will take a bit longer as he/she usually finds a job after the family is settled into the house/school/etc…Any kind of transition support would be very beneficial for the whole family.
How do you maintain a strong connection to your cultural heritage?
By visiting home as often as I can, through keeping traditions, even if it isn’t always on the same day, and eating food from Louisiana.
What advice would you offer to executives contemplating an international assignment?
They should take the leap! It is a very rewarding experience, but to keep in mind how they will set up a support system for their family.
Thanks, Lauren for sharing your experience as an expat and from working with global executives!
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