Some relocation executives have personalities as well regarded as their professional reputations. Anyone who’s been in Texas can easily think of one example. That’s TheMIGroup’s Debi Dault. This is her story.
After a successful 15 years in HR and staffing, Debi was contacted by a recruiter about a completely different business development role, one involving relocation services. The rest is history, a 16-year history with TheMIGroup, one of the global mobility industry’s highly respected relocation management companies.
Debi Dault
Debi’s current work with TheMIGroup is a great fit for this larger-than-life Texan. She explains, “I have found the perfect job for me. As an extravert, I am energized when I’m around people. My work allows me to be around people every day and to help them with solutions. What better joy can you have when you get to help people?”
Debi’s client-serving days are varied and sometimes complicated, an aspect of her working life she enjoys most. As Dault put it, “I love the complexity of global mobility. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not exactly rocket science. But there are so many moving pieces. You have the relocating family, the company asking the employee and their family to move, the company like ours that supports both parties, and all the service providers delivering what’s needed to make it all seem effortless. There are literally hundreds of “moments of truth” where things can go wrong.”
As much as she enjoys her work in global mobility, no industry is perfect. Debi Dault has a few suggestions to improve ours, “Getting corporations to understand the importance of “soft services” which help transferring employees have a more successful experience. For example, when employees relocate internationally, many companies do not offer cultural training for the family. Even though cultural training is listed as a benefit in their policies, some companies decline offering it to save on costs. In reality, if a family is given assistance and training on the challenges they will encounter in a new culture, they are more likely to handle those challenges better, reducing assignment-related stress and boosting assignment success.”
Debi riding in Cabo
In her nearly 16 years with TheMIGroup, Debi Dault’s seen some significant changes. Citing a few she says, “With cost containment at the forefront of every company asking employees to relocate for work, global mobility has had to become more creative and flexible. Companies are looking at solutions outside of the proverbial box. Such as, offering more short-term projects instead of traditional expatriate assignments. Or, offering business commuting travel instead of a relocation package. Also, since employees are using technology more than ever, global mobility companies must have the best technology available. Employees expect to do some things themselves, and might not require as much hand holding. Employees need “vetted” information at their fingertips 24/7.”
Working in a rapidly changing industry that serves clients across time zones can present some serious challenges, but it also comes with significant rewards. Debi describes a few, “I would have to say what is most rewarding about my work life is working for The MIGroup. I have been with them for almost 16 years. It is important for me to like the people I work with and to be in a positive environment. I get both from them. They value employees and have been very supportive in my career. I am able to work from my home in the DFW area while I support a fairly large territory. They support my involvement with SHRM so that I can help give back to the HR profession. My job allows me to meet new people almost every day. I love learning all about them. Where they were born, where they have lived, what brought them to this particular time in their lives, etc. Also, I teach a HR certification prep class at Rice University. I absolutely love interacting with some of the brightest HR professionals out there!”
Keeping abreast of recent developments in global mobility can be a full-time job. Finding the inspiration to face daily challenges in a fast-paced role can take even more. Debi Dault meets the first objectives by being an active learner/leader in the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM and www.shrm.org ). Her most recent leadership position within SHRM was the State Director of Texas SHRM where she proclaimed herself the HR Governor of Texas. Debi admits her will to always exceed expectations comes from those close by, “I find inspiration from our employees in TheMIGroup, especially the ones I work with in Houston. They are always busy, but you hear the empathy and compassion in their voices when they are talking to the transferees. It is rewarding to know they care so much and truly want the relocating family to have a positive experience.”
Not just yet focused on her own legacy, Debi has some typically confident and enthusiastic advice for people just joining the global mobility industry, “Go for it! If you love challenges, and an ever-changing workplace, then this is the career for you. But you might consider trying an internship to see if the day-to-day work is what you expect.”
When not working at TheMIGroup, Debi finds time to relax. Topping her long list of favorite downtime activities are: sharing time with her family, traveling for pleasure, reading, yoga, horseback riding, shopping and some binge TV-watching, including murder mysteries on lazy weekends. Murder mysteries? Who’d have guessed one of the global mobility industry’s most-positive personalities could ever get up to no good, even if it’s only on her sofa lounging before a large, flat screen.
