On the weekends, I volunteer to help children in Indonesia practice their English. I do this using a video-conferencing software from the comfort of my home in New Brunswick, Canada.
Some of the children live in remote areas and a team of students and professionals across Canada, the U.S. and Indonesia ensure the sessions go well for volunteers everywhere – from Qatar, to the Czech Republic, to Thailand. We do this through free Internet-based messaging apps, social media and video-conferencing tools. The volunteers sign up through a web-based platform.
At ShiftCentral, I scan for global market developments that help inform our global clients about their industry, the competitive landscape and market forces. Several times throughout the year, I prepare longer reports for them to carry into board meetings, to help inform their next strategic shifts (e.g. Where in the world should they expand? What’s the best product to launch in country x? Etc.). I do this from the comfort of my desk in New Brunswick, Canada.
Some days, I have urgent questions to ask those clients and vice versa, so we exchange emails or speak on the phone. Other days, five or more people in different cities have to be involved in the conversation, so we connect via conference call. If I need additional training on a certain industry, I can attend webinars, even if they’re held in other countries.
Today, in our highly connected world, it’s easier than ever to make an impact outside of our own communities. And it’s easier than ever to bring the world to our doorstep. Yes, there are challenges, but I believe today is the best time to take the opportunity to think outside the box and extend our reach.
This article was originally published on ShiftCentral, now part of LAC Group.
Mario Thériault
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