In recent years, expat partner Petra Schalekamp-Veerman has focused on shaping a portable career – one that can evolve alongside family life and adapt to the realities of frequent relocation.
A family affair at first
When Petra’s expat journey began in 2013, she was 30 and child-free. “I was working in international shipping and I really enjoyed my career,” she recalls, “but when Paul and I moved to Milan, it felt like the right moment to start a family.” For several years, her two children – both born in Italy – became her main priority. “I did test a business idea – selling Dutch bikes in Italy – but I never really got it going,” she says, recalling her first entrepreneurial venture.
Future-proofing a career
In Jamaica, Petra was unable to work as an expat partner, so she turned to volunteering, organising charity runs to the slums of Trenchtown. At the same time, she began thinking more strategically about her future. “The kids were getting older, which meant I had more time on my hands, so, with the support of my husband’s employer, I decided to study web design.” Although progress slowed during the pandemic, as she supported her children with home learning, she completed her course while still in Kingston.
A willing guinea pig
By the time the family relocated to Oeiras, near Lisbon, Petra was ready to take the next step. Her first client was a friend launching a nutrition business. “She was happy to be my guinea pig!” says Petra. Word of mouth quickly followed, helping her to build a network. Today, she sees her role as going beyond technical skills. “With AI, anyone can create a website in minutes. But clients still value working with someone who can help shape the concept and strategy behind it.”
Personalised design
More recently, working with a business coach has played an important role in refining Petra’s direction. “When you’re doing this alone, it can be harder to see the bigger picture. Coaching helped me understand my business at a deeper level and fine-tune how I present it – it has been very useful and well worth my time.”
Looking ahead
Now preparing to return to Milan, Petra feels confident about what she has built even if it’s early days. “The kids are still young (just 10 and 12), so I need flexibility to shape my schedule around family life,” she reflects. “But for the first time, I have a career that can truly move with me, and I’m excited to see where it takes me.”
Photos: Petra and her children
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