Suzanne Garber Chief Operating Officer, Americas Region International SOS Assistance
Suzanne Garber is the Chief Operating Officer, Americas Region for International SOS America, based in Philadelphia. She has day-to-day responsibility for the Americas region and is accountable for the delivery of P&L of the entire region.
Prior to joining International SOS, Suzanne enjoyed a successful career with various operating companies of FedEx, culminating in her role as Managing Director, South America, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. During her tenure at FedEx, she won the LAC Leadership award, Star award, Team of the Year award and was a four-time President's Club winner for outstanding sales.
Civically, Suzanne was named one of South Florida's International Business Women of the Year sponsored by Latin Trade magazine and sat on the board of directors for the Women in International Trade Miami chapter. She has moderated conferences for the International Aviation Women's Association and spoken on intellectual property and global brand management at Columbia, Pepperdine, and Rutgers universities. Garber is also an active "LifeChanger" with Global Action, having visited and volunteered at orphanages around the world.
Suzanne is an honors graduate from Rutgers University with a degree in Spanish and a Master's degree recipient with honors from the University of Pennsylvania specializing in environmental engineering. She grew up in Spain, Mexico, Algeria, Egypt, the Dominican Republic and various US states. She is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
ExpatWomen's Interview With Suzanne
ExpatWomen: Suzanne, congratulations on your impressive career achievements. To what do you accredit your success?
Suzanne:I love the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that says, "To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. That is to have succeeded".
Having said that, I truly believe that any success in life is a result of a team effort. My team happens to include my family who has always nurtured in me an adventurous and winning spirit; my husband (2008 Brazilian National Jiu Jitsu Champion, Chris Garber) who exhibits extreme flexibility, love and support; loyal friends who keep in touch wherever we are at; and honest mentors who keep me grounded while gently pointing out potential landmines. Of course, I would be terribly remiss if I didn't mention my relationship with Jesus Christ who is the guiding light in everything I want to do and be.
ExpatWomen: Tell us more about your current role and how International SOS works with expatriates.
Suzanne: I am privileged to work for a company whose motto is "Global Reach through Human Touch". International SOS helps organizations manage the health and safety risks facing their expatriates, business travellers and global workforce by providing emergency medical and security evacuations when there is critical illness, accident or civil unrest. So, if you are wondering if it is safe to go out during demonstrations in Peru or where to find a reputable paediatrician in Papua New Guinea, you can call International SOS and speak with a security specialist or a doctor. Last year, we handled over 1 million assistance cases including over 18,000 air evacuations via more than 4.25 million telephone calls. Working in some of the most inhospitable locations on earth, International SOS offers standards of medical care where it is not available or where cultural and language barriers exist.
ExpatWomen: Please share with us some insight intoGlobal Action and what it means to be a "LifeChanger".
Suzanne: Global Action encourages people to be risk takers for God. They reach out to some of the most ‘undesirable' people groups throughout the world by offering a variety of programs such as starting micro-businesses for single mothers widowed by AIDS in Africa, empowering women in Eastern Europe gypsy communities, starting schools for lower caste children in India and opening orphanages in the coldest regions of Ukraine. My husband and I are honored to sponsor a variety of orphanages in Asia, Europe and South America where we have witnessed the wonderful work that Global Action is performing in places most people would not willingly venture. For us, it is not only providing women and children with means to support themselves but to give them hope for their futures via a personal involvement in the development of these forgotten and oft-forsaken communities.
ExpatWomen: How did your experience as a young, global nomad and then your adult expatriate experience shape your current lifestyle, career choice, goals and sideline pursuits?
Suzanne:You know, it is ironic how my childhood contributed to my desire to pursue a career in international business, but the same experiences had the exact opposite effect on my sibling who is very content to stay within the USA. But, because of my upbringing I thrive on the adventure, challenge, and education that comes with visiting, working in and living in foreign countries. As a high school student, I participated in a student exchange program to Russia and pursued a degree in languages in college. As a young adult, I routinely traveled solo on backpacking trips throughout Europe, Israel, Alaska, Asia and Australia. As a working professional, I actively sought out assignments that had an international component to them. The sense of awe and empowerment in learning something new, whether taken in through meeting new people, understanding foreign languages, eating different (and sometimes bizarre!) foods and/or using a map to find my way around, is still exciting to me today.
ExpatWomen:What are your top five tips to women who aspire to follow in footsteps like yours?
Suzanne:
1. Take risks – especially if it takes you out of your comfort zone; you will find you have strength you never knew you had!
2. Be flexible – sometimes you will be asked to take assignments that may not be to your liking, but you will certainly learn something you did not know before, even if that lesson is humility.
3. Ask others you respect to mentor you – you cannot do it on your own and you will need others to help show you the way.
4. Stay balanced – physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Nobody else is in charge of the variety of aspects of your own health but you.
5. Respect the needs and goals of your family – assignments will come and go but your family will be with you for the long haul.
ExpatWomen:It is always interesting to learn from the mistakes of women that you look up to. What mistake have you learned from, that you would be willing to share with us?
Suzanne: I had the unfortunate experience of working for a person who, while acting ‘locally' did not act ethically and routinely requested of me/my peers to perform tasks that would have compromised our integrity. While I did not do what I was asked, I conversely did not verbally counter the request or share this with his superiors which would have and should have been concerning to company executives. Instead, I held my tongue and waited until I no longer worked for him, which was partly done for self-preservation purposes. Having the courage to confront the situation immediately – face on with the manager and to higher ups – would have prevented so much doubt, anger and frustration on my part and my peers. Now that I am in a position of higher authority, I try to ensure I foster and maintain an atmosphere of integrity, openness and trust.
ExpatWomen:Suzanne, congratulations again on your professional achievements. We wish you all the very best in International SOS!
