Stories

Tryphena Edward joined the KBR team of teams in 2018, working as a structural associate technical professional in Chennai, India. Committed to developing in her career, Tryphena progressed to the role of technical professional and ultimately to project coordinator. During that time, an opportunity arose for a project in Singapore.

“Initially, the specific opportunity was more interesting than the possibility of a location change,” Tryphena recalled. “I’ve always been interested in how projects evolve into the eventual asset, and this move would enable me to see that firsthand.”

But once empowered by KBR Global Mobility to make the move, Tryphena’s eyes were open to the exhilaration of living abroad.

“Moving to a country like Singapore definitely makes work more fun!” she said. “Living abroad is fantastic because it brings new experiences and people, ensuring there’s never a dull moment. And as a foodie, there’s no better place for me than Singapore, where there’s a vendor on every corner.”

Upending one’s life to move to a new part of the world is not, of course, without challenges. For Tryphena, building a professional network and a local personal support system were particularly tough hurdles.

“As a newcomer, it required significant effort to establish trust and to foster cordial working relationships while also developing my own network,” she said. “Fortunately, the support I received from KBR Global Mobility helped take care of some of the bigger logistical issues of an international move so that I could focus on those things.”

Tryphena says taking the leap has paid off and that her skills and professionalism were noticed immediately, especially during her first continuous improvement weekly project update meeting — which included all project sponsors, directors and leads — her first week in Singapore. Not content to rest on her laurels, Tryphena already has her sights set on future projects and scopes of work that would enable her to deliver her skills across an entire project life cycle.

Her advice for anyone considering an international move with KBR?

“Go for it! Embrace the opportunity and make the most of it. And — don’t forget that adaptability is the key to enjoying new experiences, cultures and people. It all adds a little more fun and excitement to life!”