This year Global Connection reaches a major milestone – our 25th anniversary. Our journey first began when our founder Ingeborg Hooft Graafland completed a posting as a Heineken expat partner in the early ’90s.
The need for support
Ingeborg was struck by the lack of a platform that would enable returning partners to pass on valuable knowledge and experiences to partners preparing for an assignment or, indeed, for those already overseas.
A new era begins
This inspired her to draft a proposal for a support network, an initiative Heineken strongly supported, realising partners were more likely to have a successful assignment if they were well prepared/ supported. And so, a quarter of a century ago, the Heineken Support Network (HPN) was born.
Boosting mobility
In 2003, HPN became Global Connection, an independent company working for multiple organisations and multinationals. Our goal remained the same: to inform, inspire and support expat partners in order to contribute to their wellbeing and the success of their posting, and, consequently, boosting mobility.
One-stop shop
The products and services we provide have evolved greatly over the years, in step with the changing needs of expat partners. From a network with a magazine, we have grown into a one-stop shop that has supported thousands of expat partners, representing 90 nationalities, in more than 140 countries.
Tailor-made solutions
With each passing year we have enhanced the quality and effectiveness of the support that we provide as we seek to find tailor-made solutions for each individual partner, helping them adjust to their new life abroad and find a fulfilling occupation.
The mission continues
We take great pride from the trust that multinational organisations have placed in us over the years, and we are honoured to work with all of their expat partners. We promise to continue supporting expat partners with unwavering enthusiasm and dedication. Just as Ingeborg set out to do in 1993.
