Velocity Global’s Employee Spotlight Series is back! Meet some of the team members of our global team. Today, we’d like to introduce you to Janna.
Meet Janna
Hi, I am Janna. I am an Immigration Specialist on the Global Immigration team. I am based in Cyprus and initially joined Velocity Global as a contractor for a three-month project in July 2022. During this time, I became aware of a job opening in my current team and wanted to apply. I briefly mentioned this to my hiring manager, who immediately put me in touch with the recruiter for that role, and before I knew it, I was interviewing for the position and got it! I was very thankful for the opportunity. I was going through a particularly tough time, which I had shared with both hiring managers. They were very empathetic, flexible, and supportive, which was a real reflection of the culture at Velocity Global. I have not been disappointed—the people here are lovely and live the company’s values.
Janna’s career journey and her impact on our customers’ supported employees
I resonate immensely with our concept of Team Everywhere and building a borderless workforce. Borders should not be a limit to working for the company you desire. Companies can access the best talent worldwide, and people can access their dream jobs while living where they want. I call that a win-win!
Becoming a permanent employee after contracting for a year validated my feelings of belonging and value within the team. Everyone here works with very high standards. We must navigate many complexities in our operations, which have many moving parts. The learning curve is steep but incredibly rewarding.
As part of the immigration team, I love that we directly impact the lives of our customers’ supported employees. These employees will often move to a new country for personal reasons, such as pursuing a new dream job, being closer to loved ones, or living in a place where they feel safer. This can be an incredibly stressful time, even without dealing with the bureaucratic intricacies of obtaining the relevant visas. I love being part of their journey and always hope to alleviate some of their stress by making the process as smooth as possible.
Most recently, I was entrusted with a large relocation project for one of our biggest customers, which involved moving their workforce, around 140 employees, from one country to another. This was an intense but great experience, and I feel honored to be entrusted with such an important project. Throughout the process, we encountered several hurdles due to changes in the immigration rules and processes in the host country, as well as bureaucratic obstacles. I am grateful that we have access to a network of specialists and knowledge that we can draw on to help us navigate these complex and unexpected situations.
I also love educating people on our Employer of Record (EOR) solution, which is still relatively new in the global employment landscape. Often, companies or people wrongly think that employees must choose between living where they want and keeping their dream job. EOR means people no longer have to choose, and companies get to keep the talent they value.
Living our values every day
I have witnessed how everyone from different teams pulls together and taps into our values when dealing with difficult cases, ensuring that we Do the Right Thing for our customers and their supported employees. While dealing with such detailed and nuanced situations, we want to ensure that we can Connect With Empathy when communicating with our customers’ supported employees and colleagues, who might also feel pressure to solve the situation. Every case is different, so we must Lead With Curiosity and keep an open mind in a constantly changing environment to deliver impactful solutions. These values serve as a guiding light and are the foundation for our daily jobs.
We often have to act under pressure because visa expirations are nonnegotiable. I recall many cases where customers approached us to help with candidates whose visas were expiring imminently, meaning that without our intervention, they would have had to leave the country immediately. Pulling the various teams together and speeding through the onboarding process ensured they could stay in the country without the major disruption that leaving and reapplying abroad would cause them and their families. Although we often must act fast, we must ensure everything is done compliantly; many plates are spinning simultaneously!
Advice for new Velocity Global hires
Being proactive, eager to learn, and caring about your work is essential. Velocity Global finds solutions to complex problems, so you must get involved and pick the situation apart. Things are constantly changing within the organization and in the markets we operate in; as a result, all days are different, and we move fast, so it’s important to adapt, learn, and enjoy the ride.
A fun fact about Janna
I have three passports and speak three languages: English, Cypriot, and German.
