Krippit CEO Melissa Chung says that connecting with other Canadian entrepreneurs in France helped her adapt her view of success in a new environment.Gone are the days of decades-long service at just one company. Today, many Canadian women are moving abroad to seek career opportunities and explore new markets as entrepreneurs.
Ms. Bailey remembers the disorienting adjustment period of relearning life and business in Europe. “Leaving your home country to discover a new one feels like being born all over again,” she says. “You have no history, no family, no guidance, just a blank slate and a fresh new chapter.” There were challenges in establishing a business in Paris, notes Ms. Chung, including registering for international patent filing, finding an accountant with both Canadian and French tax law knowledge and dealing with language barriers . She found support and advice from other Canadians in the French fashion industry, such as Tanya Heath, an entrepreneur who established her footwear business in Paris several years ago. Ms.
The key to her success abroad, says Ms. Jallais, was maintaining a professional and personal mindset that was bold and eager to seize opportunities.