Members of WERC come from a diverse array of industries, backgrounds, and expertise levels. With their unique perspectives, they shape not only WERC but also the global talent mobility profession.
In this member spotlight, we connected with WERC Chair-Elect Elizabeth Kumbhari, owner and managing partner of Go Global Immigration PLLC, to hear how her childhood dream of becoming a foreign ambassador led to a rich and varied career within global mobility.
You’ve had such an interesting journey in global mobility, starting from immigration law to leadership roles in various sectors. What inspired you to pursue this field, and how did you find your path evolving over time?
I have always wanted to work in immigration law and global mobility. I frequently hear colleagues say that they fell into this field or that it just happened, but my journey is the complete opposite. When I was very young, I dreamed of being an ambassador, and by the time I was in my teens, I knew I wanted to help people temporarily or permanently relocate globally.
When I was 16, I was a Congress-Bundestag exchange student, which is administered by the German and U.S. federal governments. I had never traveled outside the U.S., and I didn’t speak any German when I began the program. I moved in with a German host family and studied at a gymnasium (secondary school) for a year. Since this was before the internet and cell phones were easily accessible, I wrote long handwritten letters to my parents, so I can confidently say I was completely immersed in the culture.
One of my favorite memories was joining the local village’s tischtennis (ping pong) teams, mainly made up of retirees, because they were willing to help me with my German. During university, I studied in Vienna, and both experiences taught me about the value of living and working in a different country, both for foreign nationals and locals.
After this experience, my career and studies focused on supporting global mobility for organizations (universities/companies) because I believe immigration is a superpower that can be used to recruit the best talent, expand business opportunities, and add intellectual richness to educational institutions.
With your extensive experience at organizations like Amazon, to Cultural Vistas, and now leading Go Global Immigration, what moments stand out as defining milestones in your career?
While at Cultural Vistas, I negotiated a deal to provide Talkspace for J-1 visa participants. This was revolutionary at the time because, while the industry recognized that living abroad comes with unique obstacles, many organizations were struggling to find ways to effectively support individuals struggling with obstacles such as cultural conflicts, culture shock, or homesickness. By providing fast, confidential counseling on electronic devices, we improved the overseas experience for many.
My entire time at Amazon was pivotal because of the organization’s innovative approach to global mobility. During my time there, I saw the value of strategic immigration and how programmatic global mobility decisions can positively impact business outcomes.
What are the most significant challenges and opportunities in this industry?
I see constant pressure and scrutiny around lowering costs in global mobility. It is challenging to reduce costs while maintaining outstanding client support. The most significant opportunity is utilizing tech to increase speed while decreasing cost.
I also believe in the value of skilling up employees. If technology is used for repetitive tasks, it is essential that our teams perform at a much higher and independent level. Frontline employees must be knowledgeable about their area and empowered to make decisions for the client. Skilling up employees can be difficult in global mobility because the work can be very client-specific and abstract, and skills training is also limited. I’m proud that WERC is recognizing this gap and creating training materials in immigration and other verticals to support companies in training their employees.
Given your research on expat success and your leadership roles, what trends or innovations in talent mobility excite you most? How do you think these will reshape the future of the industry?
Talent mobility is embracing technology and remains focused on providing excellent customer service. By recognizing the market shift and embracing change, the field will continue to grow and offer new and exciting options for clients.
I also see an increased interest in compliance tools and education from both corporations and service providers. This expanded interest means that additional skill sets/expertise will be added to global mobility provider offerings.
As a talent mobility professional, how do you manage stressors resulting from your work? Are there any self-care habits you practice?
I work with really great people who keep me laughing throughout the day. I do my best to approach every decision from an abundance mindset. Rather than asking “What can we do now?” I focus on “What is the best we can do?” I find that it makes a world of a difference, because it recognizes that the journey to the ultimate goal may be long, but it is identified and worth getting to. An abundance mindset also keeps me motivated and encouraged to work through difficult problems because I know the result will be worth it.
As someone who has reached such impressive heights in their career, what advice would you give to those aspiring to leadership positions in global talent mobility?
The best early career decision you can make is to work for a manager who believes in you. I had amazing leadership and support at Amazon and Newland Chase—both companies challenged me to grow quickly, question the status quo, and deliver outstanding results.
I also believe employees must take ownership of their career and skill set. When I recognized areas where I could improve, I proactively sought additional education, work, or guidance to improve outside of my work hours. I frequently enrolled myself in WERC courses and sought out mentors for advice on improvements.
Joining the WERC Board of Directors was an important milestone in my career because of its breadth of education across all global mobility topics. My work on the board reinforces my belief that all of our work is interconnected. I also find it very rewarding to give back to an organization that has taught me so much over my career.
Anything else you would like to add?
WERC has played an important role in my career because it represents all areas of global mobility. I have participated in WERC events while working at a university, a cultural exchange organization, a Global Fortune 500, and a law firm. The friendships I have made through WERC are lifelong, and the education is career-changing. Since WERC is made “by the people for the people,” the organization adapts as a result of membership feedback, and resources are made in response to membership requests.