The life of an ‘expat,’ as told by a healthcare executive
IN the dictionary, the word expat (short for expatriate) refers to people living outside their native country, often for work or retirement, permanently or temporarily. Although leaving home can send people trembling with the idea that they’re leaving their comfort zone, there are opportunities beyond for those who find the courage to escape their boxes.
Jovelle Fernandez, a multiawarded healthcare executive with over three decades of experience in clinical practice, academia, and the biotech/pharma industry, is an expat herself. Besides the benefits from work, leaving the Philippines opened a new journey for her and her family as they encountered numerous experiences that made them grow as individuals.
She learned life lessons from traveling and working abroad that impacted her. Now, she hopes to share these gems of advice through her new book, The Expat.
During an exclusive interview with Manila Standard, Fernandez shared that being an expat can feel like being a fish out of water because of the unfamiliarity of new places. But in her book’s introduction, she shares how she “had an insatiable appetite that there was something out there bigger than the pond I was swimming in.”
Fernandez has been in five countries throughout her life: the Philippines, Japan, the U.S.A., Singapore, and Belgium. Besides navigating through new environments, Fernandez faced challenges in living and working as a foreigner in academia, a male-dominated society, and the corporate world. All while juggling the demands of work and family as a mother and wife.
As a woman, her colleagues in the industry described her as “The Velvet Hammer.” It was a defining term for Fernandez because it showed her grace and strength as a leader. She named Chapter Ten of The Expat after the moniker.
She recalls in the chapter how people how instead of using derogatory terms to chastise her team, Fernandez has a way of communicating that’s gentle yet effective. It enabled her to tell others that besides concentrating on work, they should also learn to focus on their well-being and other priorities to optimize their performances.
“The Velvet Hammer” shows that Fernandez can empathetically lead others while being strict. After all, the modern woman should not be afraid to have it all while empowering others to achieve their goals.
Within the 12 chapters of The Expat, Fernandez has vibrant descriptions of her encounters across the five countries she visited. She also drops detailed explanations, allowing readers to learn more about the areas she visited while feeling they were there with her. It also opens readers’ eyes to situations across the globe that modern, popular media doesn’t often show.
Yet despite Fernandez’s description as an expat, she admits that some Filipinos can feel like they’re in over their heads inside their homeland. Although frustrating, she encourages them to leverage the power of technology and other available resources as the stepping stone toward taking the first step outside their comfort zones. Leaving is never easy, but sometimes, it paves the way for even greater things. Grab a copy of The Expat on Amazon or Central Books to learn more about Jovelle’s story.