Twenty years ago, during the set-up of the Heineken Partner Network – which would later become Global Connection – I was an expat partner looking for a job. And my fellow expat partners couldn’t for the life of them understand why: “But sweetheart, you don’t have to work, you’re now married to an expat!” Oh, how times have changed.
Changing demand
Over the years, the services we offer have grown. Thanks to the enthusiastic feedback we receive from partners via our regular surveys, we know what they expect from us. It has enabled us to develop from ‘a magazine with a network’ to a ‘one-stop shop’ for partner support, including research and HR consultancy.
Create fulfilling lives
The new generation has new interests. Compared with twenty years ago, the number of partners lounging by the pool all day has decreased significantly. This doesn’t mean that the majority of them have – or are looking for – a regular job. Rather, they are looking for ways to create fulfilling lives for themselves that go far beyond that.
