At Entuitive we believe in working as One Company, empowering our people to bring their whole selves to work by working in our offices around the globe.

In this series, we’ll hear from some of our people who have relocated within Entuitive on short- and long-term work assignments. While many of us are still in lockdown mode, we’ll soon be able to travel again safely and mobility assignments are a great way to grow your career, meet new people, and, of course, see new places.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Chrissy Bailakis, Proposal Manager, to hear her story on her mobility assignment at Entuitive.

Thanks for sitting down with us, Chrissy, to share your experience with us. After spending two years in Vancouver, you moved back to Toronto. We’d love to hear your story. Let’s start with why you wanted to relocate.

Chrissy: There were a few main reasons I wanted to take advantage of Entuitive’s mobility program. First, living and working in another city had always been a goal of mine. Second, I was looking to further develop my career right around the time Entuitive opened its Vancouver office in 2017. I had previously visited Vancouver in 2015 and absolutely fell in love with the city. So when the office opened there, it was great timing and a great opportunity.

How were you looking to develop your career at that time?

Chrissy: Right around that time I was getting more involved in business development and strategy, whereas up till then my role had focused mainly on business development and proposal development. Since Entuitive was expanding with a new office in Vancouver, I thought it would be a good opportunity to gain experience working on strategic regional growth.

Entuitive was actually looking to hire a dedicated business development person to fill that role in Vancouver, so I put my hand up. Fortunately, my husband was able to transfer within his company as well, making it an easy transition for both of us.

What did you like about working in Vancouver?

Chrissy: Vancouver is a great city. I love it. And the office vibe was great too. At the time, we had about 10 people in the office, which really allowed us to get to know each other. I’ve made friendships for life with my Vancouver colleagues. And, of course, dogs were allowed in the office at the time I was there! That was a huge plus.

Can you tell us more about your career development while you were there?

Chrissy: For sure. The main development was moving into more of a strategic role. I was able to get more involved with the management team and work on strategic planning in terms of positioning Entuitive in Western Canada. One example of this was with the healthcare sector. Entuitive has a ton of great experience in healthcare and we wanted to really promote that in BC.

I also developed my soft skills in Vancouver. I can be a bit introverted but moving really pushed me to get to know more of my colleagues at Entuitive, especially since the Vancouver office had just opened.

Finally, relocating also helped with my time management skills. Since Vancouver is several hours behind some of Entuitive’s other offices, I really had to hone that skill and make sure that I could meet with colleagues in other offices and complete tasks during their working hours. This involved a lot of prep the day before and making sure I stayed organized.

So what made you decide to return to Toronto after two years?

Chrissy: Initially my husband and I weren’t planning on moving back to Toronto quite yet. Enter COVID. When the pandemic hit, I realized it was important to be close to family during this time. It felt weird being so far away from them with the pandemic going on. So we packed up and drove home, which will probably be the last “vacation” we take for a while until the restrictions are lifted. Even though we are maintaining social distancing, it’s still reassuring to know that I’m physically closer to my family.

Would you consider relocating again?

Chrissy: Absolutely. Whenever we get through the pandemic and it’s safe to do so, I would relocate again 100%. Entuitive makes it really easy to put your hand up and volunteer for a short- or long-term relocation. Maybe I’ll try out Calgary next.

What tips do you have for others who are thinking about relocating? How can they make the most of the experience?

Chrissy: My main tip is simply to put your hand up. And if you don’t work here yet, join us and then put your hand up! Entuitive is willing to move people around, which is a definite benefit of working here.

I’d also advise people to really take advantage of the move and get to know your colleagues. Especially now during the pandemic, we only see each other virtually. But once it’s over and it becomes safe to move around again, it will be really great to meet people in person.

And lastly, if you don’t like your new city and want to move back, that’s fine too. Mobility assignments can be short- or long-term, and no matter what they’re always a great opportunity.

Thank you so much for chatting with us about your experience, Chrissy! We hope your story will inspire others within Entuitive to consider relocation once it’s safe to do so, and help convince others to join us here and bring their whole selves.