Greece: The reasons for the return of expats

Georgia Moschovou, Senior Manager Corporate Communications, with responsibility for four markets in Southeast Europe, belongs to the generation of executives who returned to Greece not out of necessity, but out of choice. With many years of experience abroad and specifically in the Netherlands, with a successful career in an international organization, her own return reflects the transition from Brain Drain to a more mature discussion around Brain Regain and especially Brain Retain.

“My return was a carefully weighed decision”

The decision to return was neither spontaneous nor emotional, as she told the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency.

“My return to Greece was a carefully considered decision, based on personal and professional data, but also on the broader socio-economic context that emerged in the country after a long period of crisis. For years, conditions did not favor such a move. However, this began to change. The country overcame more difficult days and, through institutional incentives, issued a clear call to Greeks abroad, while at the same time, businesses began to actively express their willingness to incorporate international experience.”

Georgia Moschovou confides that she began to redefine the concept of professional development and points out that, “over time, I began to reevaluate what development means to me, not only professionally but also as a life choice. The desire to create my own family closer to my people and to contribute substantially with the experience I gained abroad coincided with the creation of more mature opportunities in Greece. I found an excellent professional opportunity in Greece, I have developed substantially and I am now convinced that, as the Greek market gradually converges with international standards, the country can offer the framework for a dynamic and competitive professional path. Because a career is no longer defined by where you are, but by what you can offer.”

The challenge of reintegration and cultural differences

The return, as with any new beginning, was accompanied by a period of adjustment. “It took time to understand the dynamics and speeds of the Greek market, so that I could operate effectively,” she notes and explains that, “the differences with abroad were real. In many foreign markets, planning and strict adherence to deadlines are a key aspect of daily operations. In Greece, in some cases, the pace is more flexible, but I see that this is gradually evolving, although it certainly constitutes a different work culture.

However, the Greek reality also hides strong advantages. “I was particularly impressed by the perseverance, creativity and inventiveness of the Greeks, as well as the more human dimension in professional relationships. From the first moment I felt that they embraced me and supported me. The relationships are more substantial and less formal. As if there was already a relationship of trust, which gave me even greater motivation and willingness to offer the best possible result.”

“International experience is not a privilege, it is a tool”

In the case of Georgia Moschovou, international experience was not only recognized, but was a basic requirement for the role she took on.

“I joined a multinational organization that operates with common standards worldwide and really invests in its people. My role covers Greece and three other markets, which makes international experience essential. In an environment where borders are of limited importance, the ability to collaborate and perform internationally is not just an advantage, but a key tool for the success of an organization,” she emphasizes.

What Greece lacks and what it offers

From abroad, what she misses most is the intensely multicultural environment inside and outside of work, notes Georgia Moschovou. “In the organization where I worked, approximately 1,000 people from 49 different nationalities coexisted. This mix of cultures and ways of thinking constantly cultivated the exchange of ideas, cooperation and the collective achievement of goals. Abroad, there was intense and systematic exposure to the latest trends in the industry through continuous training, knowledge exchange and openness to new horizons.”

At the same time, as she says, Greece offers something equally valuable. "A vast field of creation and meaningful contribution, combined with a lifestyle that is difficult to compare. Ending the day knowing that you can enjoy quality time, good weather and 

"A vibrant social life is a privilege that I did not appreciate enough before I went abroad."

From Brain Regain to Brain Retain

Sending a message to Greeks abroad, her advice is clear, "to face the return with realism and thorough research. Tax incentives and new professional opportunities are excellent and are a significant help, but returning is not the end, it is the beginning. I truly believe that Greece has all the conditions to develop into a talent hub in Southeastern Europe. The real challenge for Greece is Brain Retain, creating conditions that allow those who return to stay, develop and contribute substantially. This means modern work environments, respect for the employee, continuous development of skills and substantial use of international experience."

She also makes special reference to the lower proportion of women who return. "The data shows that women return in a smaller proportion than men. It is not a lack of possibilities, but often an absence of the appropriate structures that facilitate such a major transition. It is important to encourage more women to dare and to ensure that they find here environments and conditions that support their development, equal participation and the life balance they need, especially at a time when our country is facing a huge demographic problem. It is not a lack of possibilities, but an absence of the appropriate structures. It is crucial to create environments that support development, equal participation and life balance”, she emphasizes.

For Georgia Moschovou, returning to Greece was not a return to the past, but a conscious investment in the future, personal and collective. The message he is trying to convey is that "repatriation can be a real opportunity, not only for the people themselves, but also for the Greece that we want to build in the coming years."