The talented linguist: Monika Irchenhauser

It was never a foregone conclusion that Monika Irchenhauser would one day move to America. Growing up in a large family on a farm in Upper Bavaria, Germany the path to Leesburg, USA was not the most obvious one. "But I got the travel bug in college," says Monika, who is director of human resources for the Americas region. Internships in Slovakia and Turkey as well as half a year in the USA showed her: I need to get out into the world. After graduation, she therefore looked for an employer that would allow overseas assignments.

She ended up at REHAU 18 years ago and then, in 2006, the company sent her to Italy – with no knowledge of the language. "But language is the key to everything, so I crammed like crazy every day, and after three months I spoke fluent Italian," says Monika. It was a hard time, she says, but it was worth it. "At one point, the country manager at the time said to me, 'I was skeptical about hiring you, but now I'm impressed."

If you want to get along in another country, in a foreign culture, you need respect and you have to adapt, says Monika. "When you go abroad with REHAU, the good thing is that you don't arrive in a black hole. You meet people on the ground who share your values, understand your systems and processes." If you leave your comfort zone, you will grow, Monika is certain of that.

The designer: Matthias Haasler

Matthias Haasler had just completed his labor of love: With his family, he had renovated an old mill on the outskirts of Hof in Upper Franconia, Germany. Then came the offer to go to Shanghai, China as divisional manager for FS. About a year later, he was appointed as director of the Northeast Asia subregion. "Regular trips to China had already given me a connection to the country, but such a big change wasn't in my plan," says Matthias.

However, following a joint get-to-know-you trip to Shanghai and Taicang, his family, including his two children, shared his enthusiasm, so the adventure began. Since then, the four have gotten to know the country and its people even better. "Even though the time wasn't always easy due to the pandemic," Matthias admits. For example, he also missed crucial family reunions in the past three years because travel conditions between China and Germany were restricted at the time.

The fact that he has his family around him, as well as friends and good colleagues, gives him the necessary support, enabling him to concentrate fully on his work. "We are a fantastic team. The passion with which people work impresses me over and over again, every day," says Matthias. And that's not all: "I find the speed of the market and its potential really electrifying."

If you want Working worlds 13 to be successful in China, you have to be incredibly close to the market and the customers, because competitors are always hot on your heels. "It's a positive stress that spurs me on and compensates for a lot. I have never regretted the decision," he concludes.

The global citizen: Rafael Daum

If you are educated, polite and open-minded, you can get on anywhere. Rafael Daum is head of the Asia Pacific region. The lawyer has already worked for REHAU as an expat in Switzerland and Russia. Currently, Singapore is his home. "I have always been curious about foreign cultures, traditions and customs. And different food, I like to try everything," says Rafael. He owes this to his parents, who took him on educational trips when he was a child.

He makes no secret of the fact that, above all, he owes his global mobility to a woman: "My wife, herself a successful veterinarian, has always had my back," he says. He is very grateful to her for this, because the move to a new country is often much more difficult for the families, says Rafael. "You travel with REHAU, your processes, your environment, your colleagues, everything stays the same to a certain extent. But your family starts from scratch."

Rafael's cosmopolitan outlook, tolerance and respect for foreigners also come in handy in Singapore. "If I can at least make small talk in the local language, know a little about politics and society, then I can get along well socially," he says. If he were allowed to 40 Employees were working for REHAU around the world as expats in 2022. 12% of expats are women. 42 years is the average age of the expats. 13 years is the average length of service. make a recommendation, he says, he would advise every REHAU manager to spend at least a short time abroad. "In an international company, that gives you an insane amount of expertise." And what's next for him after Singapore? Rafael laughs, "As for what might come later, I'm just open and flexible, as I've always been."

The cosmopolitan: Renate Policzer-Mundt

Renate Policzer-Mundt is director of REHAU Academy, managing a European division, but living in Leesburg in the USA. When her husband received the offer to go to America for REHAU, Renate knew that they had to take advantage of the opportunity. "For me and my team in Europe, that meant changes, of course," says Renate. The time difference means that work can't be done in parallel. "I feel it's a great advantage, as it has allowed us to massively increase our level of trust. I know that my team will make the right decisions without me. And my team knows that I prioritize their requests and, if necessary, take care of urgent matters at night."

Renate and her husband moved with just their suitcases – and two cats. Renate is no stranger to this global flexibility. The Austrian has already lived and worked in Sweden, Switzerland and Germany. "The distance from family does feel greater now though, being on another continent," she says.

She also shares a piece of advice for those who are also toying with the idea of going abroad: "It's not always rosy, and there are hard times, but take advantage of the opportunity; you'll grow from it and won't regret it. Just ask yourselves, why not?"

The determined one: Marcin Kabaj 

Marcin Kabaj is searching for his future. "I want to build something, own my own place someday," he says. But his gut feeling in his Polish homeland of Srem was that this wasn't the right place for him.

So Marcin took the initiative and looked for a new place to live through REHAU. At the Polish plant, Marcin had worked as a machine operator since leaving school. He had qualifications that were also in demand at the Rehau plant in Germany, so he got himself hired there and emigrated, which took courage on his part. "I wasn't afraid, but obviously it was exciting," says Marcin. He doesn't speak much German yet, but REHAU offers courses that he is going to take. "I can experience a whole new environment here and grow in it," he says happily.

However, he often misses his family, which is why he always takes advantage of long weekends to travel to Poland on the spur of the moment. "I was warmly welcomed at the plant in Rehau and have great colleagues; many of them speak Polish as well as German and help me find my way around," says Marcin.

The intrepid one: Marta Gonzalez

From Spain to Switzerland: Marta Gonzalez followed her husband when he got the chance to take a job in the Alps. "I had a great job in marketing that I was very attached to, but I was just ready for something new," she says. Her path led her to Meraxis in the new country, where she is jointly responsible for the customer portal.

For her, the move from Madrid to a small town in the mountains was a bit of a shock, "but of course it was also a great opportunity to broaden my own horizons and build a great foundation for my two daughters," she says. The biggest difference is that the streets of Madrid are lively well into the evening, whereas Switzerland rolls up the sidewalks quite early. "I miss that sometimes," says Marta.

Zug, Switzerland offers a very international environment, with lots of expats – Marta and her family also have connections with families from Spain there. "When I see how comfortable my daughters feel here, how they are growing and gaining different experiences, then I know it was all the right thing to do," Marta says. Her daughters speak Spanish, English, German and Swiss German, and they also play soccer. "We are well-integrated," says Marta with a laugh.