Hi, I’m Julie Marx.

I help companies create a culture that helps China expats thrive. This saves your company money through

Reduced Premature Terminations
Addressing family concerns significantly reduces the likelihood of early repatriation due to family dissatisfaction.

Increased Employee Productivity
Expatriates are more focused and productive when they know their partners are well supported and adapting smoothly.

Longer-Term Assignments Overall
Families who feel well taken care of are more likely to stay for the full duration of assignments, even extending them, benefiting your company’s strategic goals.

Other benefits of supporting expat spouses are more culture-savvy expats, higher job satisfaction while on assignment, and improved mental health of your employees. And: helping your expats’ partners thrive boosts your employer brand and attractiveness.

How I can Help...

Julie Marx (Coach | Writer | Intercultural Expert)

Transition Coaching for Expat Spouses

Our 1:1 coaching sessions are fully customized to tackle spouses’ unique challenges, from cultural adaptation to building a fulfilling life abroad.

Ready for China Workshops

Our Ready for China Workshops empower both prospective expats and their partners to evaluate whether a move to China is the right fit.

Group Transition Coaching for Expat Spouses

Moving to China doesn’t have to feel isolating—our Group Transition Coaching connects spouses who are navigating the same journey. It’s like peer support—with a side of dumplings.

WeChat Community Support

Our WeChat Community is a 24/7 support network for spouses. Whether they need answers to a cultural puzzle or quick tips, help is always at their fingertips.

The flip side of the coin is not pretty. When your company neglects your China expats’ spouses, you will face

High Costs of Failed Assignments

Replacing an expat costs the company up to USD 250,000. Most expatriates call off their assignments when their partners are unhappy in the new environment.

Social Isolation and Stress of Employees

Without social networks and support for expatriate partners and families, there is a high risk of isolation and stress, which can affect the success of the assignment.

Failure to Replace Global Talent

It is exponentially harder to replace a dissatisfied returnee from a global assignment. If spouses don’t feel well supported, the employee will often badmouth the China program to their colleagues.

No matter how you look at it, supporting your expats’ spouses seems like the best thing to do. But why should you hire out this job to the China Expat Spouse?

For the last 20 years, I’ve been right where your expat spouses might be—navigating the ups and downs of life in China. This is why it is my mission to empower expats to China to give their best at work by supporting their spouses. This way, expat families become true champions of your company’s China expat program. Wondering how I do it? Let me share my story.

2004: A Lost College Student in Beijing.

Picture this: me, a college student on an exchange program, nervously clutching a pocket dictionary, trying to ask for directions in broken Chinese. Fast forward to 2014, and I was back in China, this time in Shenyang, as the “trailing spouse” of an expat. I could read, write, and speak Chinese fluently—but I still felt completely lost.

I had been the one pushing for this adventure, nudging my husband toward an assignment in China. But when we finally made it, my dream felt anything but dreamy. It wasn’t China; it was my new reality. I had gone from being a successful HR professional to an expat spouse searching for a new sense of purpose, suddenly dependent in ways I never imagined.

Eventually, after many ups and downs (with a dose of burnout), I found my way. I became a certified coach and started helping others who were feeling just as out of place as I once did. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of coaching hundreds of expat spouses, helping them rebuild their identities, find purpose, and become valued contributors to their new communities.

I get to do what I love – contribute to creating an atmosphere in companies where China expats thrive. And I do so helping expat spouses to China find their place, passion, and purpose.

My approach is simple. I mix practical strategies with a whole lot of heart. Whether it’s helping expat spouses to China land a meaningful job, build a new community, or simply feel like themselves again, I’m here to guide them every step of the way. I do so with the tools I have learned through my coaching training leading up to me being a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. I do so with the work experience I have gathered throughout my career spanning recruitment, training, and other HR-related roles. And I do so through coaching in whichever of my 4 working languages (English, French, German, Chinese) my clients feel most comfortable with.

Speaking of my clients - meet some of them here. Like Eduardo. When his wife got work in China with a big international firm, he thought he’d easily pick up where he left off in his engineering career. However, he soon found that job hunting in China is a whole different ball game. Online job boards? Barely used. Positions for non-Chinese speakers? Scarce. And most companies don’t even have a proper website. Together, we explored different strategies like networking face-to-face and leveraging WeChat. Eduardo eventually landed a role that pushed his career forward in ways he hadn’t even imagined.

Now: A Seasoned Coach

I normally never write a recommendation but Julie has totally earned it. She could, in no time, put herself in my position, understand my needs and set a clear goal. She was easy to talk to, friendly and with tons of energy which she will transfer to you in every session.

Eduardo S. Chile

Then there’s Paula. She came to China pregnant with her third child, only to discover her husband’s infidelity a few months into their assignment. After time apart and some serious soul-searching, they decided to give their relationship another chance—but on her terms. Paula was determined to build her own identity and become less dependent on her husband. We worked through her goals, and she found purpose teaching at a local kindergarten, where she improved her Chinese skills and built a new, stronger sense of self.

Like Eduardo and Paula, my clients find their own place, purpose, and passion in China through our work together. I’m dedicated to helping them thrive, and in doing so, I support companies in creating a culture where expat families can truly flourish. Case after case shows that when expats are happy at home, they’re more engaged and productive at work. A fulfilled family means an enthusiastic ambassador, making it easier for companies to find successors and grow their China programs.

Let’s Create a New Chapter together

a story of thriving families, fulfilled expats, and standout success in China. Ready to turn your China expat program into a win for everyone? Let’s chat. Book a free consultation, and let’s make your China expat journey a success story.