After having relocated to the United Kingdom in 2014 at the request of her Malaysian-based company, Jodi is now returning to her home country, Malaysia

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After having relocated to the United Kingdom in 2014 at the request of her Malaysian-based company, Jodi is now returning to her home country, Malaysia. Whilst in England she married Dr. George and they have twins, one boy and one girl, aged 5. Jodi held a general management position in the U.K. branch of her Malaysian company and Dr. George ran his own medical practice in London. The two children have U.K. citizenship.

When Jodi's second three-year contract in U. K. was coming to an end, the Malaysian company was acquired by a U.K.-based conglomerate, who took the decision to close the U.K. branch and approached Jodi with an offer to return to Malaysia as CEO of the company.

Considering her elderly parents, who had never even seen the twins in person, she and Dr. George felt it would be fun to come and live in Malaysia. Although Dr. George would have to give up his thriving medical practice in London, he was willing to do so in order to show support for Jodi's career promotion.

Unfortunately, after six months back in Malaysia, Jodi and Dr. George remain unsettled and they now have doubts about the wisdom of their choice.

Jodi's firm had changed ownership during her time away and the new board of directors were placing a higher emphasis on consolidation and cost-cutting. Whereas Jodi's success in England had been in market development, as the new CEO now in Malaysia she was expected to increase profitability by reducing costs, maximizing production of existing products, and increasing labour efficiency.

Within three months of taking up the role, she was forced to reduce the number of managerial levels, thus rendering several of her long-time colleagues redundant. Her local support was dwindling and there were rumours that many members of the work-force regarded Jodi as a 'foreigner' who was more English than Malaysian and were seeking work elsewhere.

Her values were being tested as she grappled with the dilemma of either carrying out the directives of the board or showing empathy for her home culture and her loyal supporters in Malaysia.

Dr. George was also struggling to find work that could provide him with a similar salary and sense of satisfaction that he had been used to in his home country.

As the children are about to start school, Jodi and Dr. George are wondering whether it might have been better for them to remain in England.  

Q. If you were in Jodi's position, what would you do?