Megan Fitzgerald

Current

Expat Career and Entrepreneur Coach at Career By Choice

Past

Director of Global Programs at The Project
Affiliate Manager at VSA arts
Employer Relations Manager at American University

Senior Program Officer at World Learning - Entrepreneurial Management and Executive Development Program
Program Officer at World Learning - Entrepreneurial Management and Executive Development Program
Program Assistant at Partners for International Education and Training - Entrepreneurs International Program
Assistant Director of Programs at Maryland International Center - World Trade Center

see less...

4 more...

Education

Brown University
American University
Career Coach Institute

see less...

Recommended

12 people have recommended Megan

Connections

204 connections

Industry

Professional Training & Coaching

Websites

Megan Fitzgerald’s Summary

I'm an expat career and entrepreneur coach and the founder of Career By Choice. I help expats worldwide use their unique value or personal brand to build a career or business that fits who they are and their international lifestyle.

Having designed my own portable career that supports my expat life in Italy, I take a creative, entrepreneurial approach to help others find the same freedom and success in their professional lives. It's the combination of my global experience and natural ability to quickly identify and strategically explore opportunities that equips me to empower others to take action and make choices that work for them.

My clients are expats ready to explore new frontiers in their careers and businesses. They are energized by the idea that communicating their unique strengths and value in a compelling way both on- and off-line is the key to their success. Eager to learn and ready to take action, they enjoy applying new strategies to thrive in the global marketplace.

With over 15 years of experience in career and business development, I've worked with such professionals and entrepreneurs from across the globe. My passion for travel, culture and service has taken me to over 25 countries on 5 continents to live, work or play.

Continuously learning and applying strategies for my clients' success, my credentials include:
• Certified Personal Branding Strategist - 1 of the first 100 worldwide
• Certified Career Coach and Executive Coach
• Certified Online Identity Strategist – 1 of the first 35 worldwide
• Masters Degree in Multimedia Communications

I've shared my expertise in expat careers, businesses and personal branding with global audiences, including the Women Who Tech Summit. I've been featured in expat publications such as Career in Your Suitcase and Italy Magazine.

When not working I enjoy travel, photography and a caffè macchiato to start my day.

SIGN UP for EXPAT SUCCESS TIPS: www.careerbychoiceblog.com

Megan Fitzgerald’s Specialties:

• coaching and consulting for expatriate professionals and entrepreneurs
• aligning careers and businesses with international and mobile lifestyles
• personal branding
• career and business strategy
• resumes, CVs, professional bios
• strategic marketing materials
• online identity
• strategic and online networking

Megan Fitzgerald’s Experience

Expat Career and Entrepreneur Coach

Career By Choice

(Professional Training & Coaching industry)

October 2005 — Present (3 years)

I help fellow expat professionals and entrepreneurs use their personal brand for professional and business success.

I use a step-by-step program to help them:
• Create a clear vision for their career or business
• Discover and effectively communicate their personal brand to their target audience
• Create a brand communications plan, develop their career or business marketing materials and strengthen their online identity and network
• Apply proven strategies for long-term professional and business success

I have worked with expat professionals/executives in:
• Technology, HR, Finance, Media & C-Level Management
• Diplomacy, Foreign Service & the UN
• International Non-Profits & Development
• Medicine & Research

as well as expat entrepreneurs, including:
• Event managers
• Coaches
• Business, Design & Tax Consultants
• Interior Designers
• Doctors
• Tour operators
• Translators
• Writers
• Non-profit organizations

www.careerbychoice.com
Director of Global Programs

The Project

(Program Development industry)

January 2003 — December 2005 (3 years)

• Increased community awareness and action by designing and conducting HIV education programs and evaluations in the US and Africa
• Effectively promoted our programs, services and our power to affect change by writing strategic marketing and training materials, conference abstracts, web site content and program proposals
• Facilitated partnerships, organizational operations and growth by preparing partner agreements, work plans and budgets
Affiliate Manager

VSA arts

(Program Development industry)

January 2002 — January 2003 (1 year 1 month)

• Provided organizational, programmatic and technical support to an international network of arts education organizations that support the power of creativity in people with disabilities
• Supported the growth and effectiveness of these organizations and their programs by developing organizational development, program planning and evaluation tools
• Better met staff and organizational data needs by redesigning the accreditation program and grant application
• Effectively facilitated the accreditation process by leveraging technology and moving redesigned application and final report to electronic format
• Improved program evaluation and funding decisions by building new metrics, reviewing grant applications, making funding recommendations, and generating reports profiling network organizations
• Improved data management by managing the data migration, regular updating, systematic clean-up and development of affiliate databases
Employer Relations Manager

American University

(Program Development industry)

September 1997 — December 2000 (3 years 4 months)

• Managed all university recruitment programs: job and internship listings, domestic and international job fairs, other career related events, and on- and off-campus recruiting
• Empowered team through securing promotions and pay raises for all my staff
• Better met staff and student needs by reengineering recruiting programs and streamlining procedures; improved data collection, tracking, and use
• Increased both employer and student participation in recruitment programs by over 30% by designing marketing materials and implementing new marketing strategies
• Facilitated student access to streamlined programs and services by leveraging technology and managing the migration of job listings and on- and off-campus recruiting online
• Worked full-time while concurrently pursuing a Masters Degree
Senior Program Officer

World Learning - Entrepreneurial Management and Executive Development Program

(Program Development industry)

June 1996 — September 1997 (1 year 4 months)

Entrepreneurial Management and Executive Development (EMED) Program
USAID - Global Training for Development
• All Program Officer duties (see next position description), including supporting the development and growth of Eastern European entrepreneurs by designing, managing and evaluating business training programs
• Improved data collection and management by streamlining procedures and reengineering operational tools; chaired program improvement committees
• Empowered staff and program partners to provide more needs-based training and support through developing needs assessment, evaluation, and knowledge sharing tools, and conducting staff and partner training
• Received award for exemplary performance in 1996
Program Officer

World Learning - Entrepreneurial Management and Executive Development Program

(Program Development industry)

April 1994 — June 1996 (2 years 3 months)

Entrepreneurial Management and Executive Development (EMED) Program
USAID - Global Training for Development
• Supported the development and growth of businesses and entrepreneurs from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe by designing, managing and evaluating business training programs
• Met entrepreneurs' business training needs through comprehensive needs assessment, negotiating with businesses and training providers, and developing customized training
• Increased entrepreneurs' business and cultural knowledge by designing training materials and conducting cultural and training orientations
• Facilitated entrepreneurs' engagement and partnerships with businesses with effective program marketing and securing internships and industry consultations
• Identified and promoted program successes by conducting training impact studies in Hungary and Poland and training evaluations for entrepreneurs
• Maximized training funds of 1.25 million USD through effective negotiation
Program Assistant

Partners for International Education and Training - Entrepreneurs International Program

(Program Development industry)

January 1993 — April 1994 (1 year 4 months)

Entrepreneurs International Program
USAID - Global Training for Development
• Supported the growth and development of businesses and entrepreneurs from Africa, Asia, and Latin America by assisting in the design of business training programs
• Helped to increase the entrepreneurs' business and industry knowledge by researching and arranging for their attendance at industry events, conferences, and training
• Helped to create streamlined, positive training experiences for entrepreneurs by conducting cross-cultural orientations and program evaluations, coordinating training activities and logistics, and preparing itineraries
Assistant Director of Programs

Maryland International Center - World Trade Center

(Program Development industry)

August 1992 — December 1992 (5 months)

• Supported the effective execution and management of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Training Officer and Contractor’s Conference by assisting with budget proposals, pre-event coordination and execution
• Facilitated knowledge sharing and international partnerships by coordinating meetings for United States Information Agency (USIA) sponsored international visitors with experts in the political, business, and educational communities of Baltimore, MD, USA

Megan Fitzgerald’s Education

Brown University

B.A, International Relations and B.A. in Semiotics (Double Major), 1988 — 1992
American University

M.A., Multimedia Communications
Career Coach Institute

Career Coach Certification, Executive Coach Certification, Career Coaching, Entrepreneurial Coaching, Executive Coaching, Managing Change, Career Assessments

Additional Information

Megan Fitzgerald’s Websites:

Megan Fitzgerald’s Groups:

Member of the following:
• International Coach Federation
• International Association of Career Coaches
• Association of Career Professionals International

eOffice
KIVA
Women for Women International
Link to Your World™
Link2Europe
Facebook.com
Global Worker (9,000+ members)
Ecademy.com
Wireless Jobs
Fortune100 Coaches Network - F1CN
International Coaching Network
Fortune Global Group
Expat Network
Global group
Global Recruiters
The 4-Hour Academy
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Brown Alumni Association
Expats in Europe
Expat
JibberJobber - Career Management
Social Media Today
Expatica
Tweeple
Link Expats
◄ ◄ ◄ Online Networking for those who live outside their country of origin ► ► ►
Global Brand Forum
Trailing Spouse Network
VisualCV
The Expat Advisor
LEX EXPATspecialist
Digital_Nomads
Expat Focus