For Ellen Bruynseels, the journey began when she mentioned her interest in international experience to her People Manager at BDO Belgium. When Ireland introduced new regulations requiring pension funds to appoint internal auditors – an area where BDO Belgium excels – an opportunity emerged.
"I had a few countries in mind initially," Ellen recalls. "Switzerland, Ireland, and Canada were on my list. But after conversations with different offices, Ireland felt like the perfect fit – not too far from home, English-speaking, and Dublin is such an international city with many young professionals."
Alessia Facchini's path was shaped by her multicultural background. Having grown up between Italy and Belgium before studying in London, she started her career at BDO UK in audit. After completing her professional qualification, she sought a new challenge.
"I wanted to stay with BDO but experience something different," Alessia explains. "With my English and French language skills, Montreal was ideal. After my time there, I saw that BDO Belgium had an ESG team – something I'd always been interested in – so returning to Belgium gave me the perfect opportunity to change both location and specialisation."
For Adam Ihlenfeldt, the move from BDO Australia to Belgium was about pushing boundaries. Already involved in BDO's global cybersecurity community, he connected with Belgian colleagues and crafted his own opportunity.
"I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and experience something culturally different," Adam shares. “I was also considering Canada and the UK as many Australians do, however ultimately, I wanted something that would expose me to completely new cultures and challenge me to adapt and grow”.
Ellen's eight-month stint in Dublin forged relationships that continue to benefit both offices. "We still call each other with questions like 'How would you approach this client?' and share work methods," she says. The partnership proved so valuable that when Dublin faced resource constraints, they outsourced work to the Belgian team – turning a personal connection into a business advantage.
The friendships Alessia built in Montreal remain one of her most treasured outcomes. "Now when I think about visiting Canada, I'm looking forward to seeing friends I've made there. Work changes and evolves, but these connections stay with you," she reflects. After her time in Canada, her journey brought her to BDO Belgium's ESG team – completing a professional path through three different BDO firms. Her international network has become a valuable professional resource, providing insights into different approaches that inform her current ESG function in Belgium.
For Adam, the story is still unfolding. Just a month into his Belgian assignment, he's already participating in collaborative projects and sharing knowledge between teams. "The plan is to learn as much as I can about BDO Belgium's service offerings, share my experience from Australia, and then bring these new perspectives back home next year," he explains.
Small challenges add up to massive personal development. "When you're in a completely new environment, everything from figuring out the local train system to understanding office dynamics pushes you to adapt," Adam shares with enthusiasm. "Even learning about the specific trash bags you need to buy in Antwerp teaches you something!"
International experiences have a way of transforming more than just technical skills – they reshape perspectives, build confidence, and unlock new potential.
Like for Ellen, who found herself working with over 10 different nationalities within a team of only 25 people in Dublin. An experience that significantly broadened her cultural understanding. "Working with such a diverse team taught me so much about communication dynamics," she explains. "For instance, when writing an email to an Indian colleague, I learned that a more formal tone was appropriate compared to the casual approach I'd use with an Irish colleague, given their different cultural backgrounds" she notes. "That experience has shaped how I approach projects back in Belgium, especially when working with international clients."
And for Alessia, seeing female partners and equity partners leading the Montreal office opened new horizons. "It was the first time I seriously thought about becoming a partner myself," she reveals. "I hadn't realised how important role models were until I experienced it firsthand. It's heartening to see this same spirit of empowerment and support here in Belgium. I deeply cherish these experiences as they inspire me to keep promoting an environment where women uplift each other."
Adam relocated to Belgium with help from a dedicated relocation consultant who guided him through everything from healthcare registration to apartment hunting. "Having someone navigate these processes with me was incredibly valuable," he says. "It meant I could focus on integrating into the team and contributing professionally right away."
Ellen shares the same perspective, with BDO arranging accommodation during her first month in Dublin, eliminating the immediate pressure of finding housing in a challenging market. "The housing situation in Dublin is very difficult, so having that first month secured removed a huge stress," she explains. "It's those little things that make such a difference when you're navigating so many changes at once."
Alessia was also grateful for that initial boost: "BDO provided accommodation for the first month and helped with all the administrative aspects – setting up local documents, handling complex tax matters since I was being taxed in two countries. They made what could have been overwhelming feel manageable."
