Journeying Through Change: Top 5 Highlights from My New Life and Job Abroad thus far

It's been a while since my last post. I've been busy navigating a new job at a rapidly growing startup and moving to a new country. A few people have reached out, asking about my experience so far. So, I thought, what better way to restart my blog than with a quick recap of my top five highlights and lessons from the past few months? So here goes:

1. Growing in Faith and Community:

Moving solo to a new country without knowing anyone has deepened my faith and reinforced the importance of the people I surround myself with. God, family and friends have been my pillars of support throughout this move.

2. The Cost of Experience:

Never close your apartment door without your key! I learned this the hard way, shelling out 95 Euros on a Sunday night. Watching how easily a locksmith opened my door with a thin sheet of plastic in under a minute made me remember that I'm not paying for the time, but for the expertise. Experience truly trumps everything, and should not be overlooked in the Workplace especially when hiring new recruits.

3. Appreciating Dutch Transportation:

In just one month in Amsterdam, I've traveled to four cities within the Netherlands and visited a small town Bruges, Belgium. Coming from a country where public transportation is almost non-existent, I appreciate the effectiveness of the Dutch system. My morning commute is productive as I take a quick train ride and then cycle to the office. Weekend strolls now add to an average of 30 km of walking. All of which has even boosted my cardio fitness levels from an average VO2 max of 27 to 31.

4. Embracing Startup->Scaleup Culture:

Working in a startup that is transitioning to a scale-up feels like being a kid in a candy store. There's so much potential and excitement to build a product from scratch using the latest tech and best processes. However, I've had to remind myself to stick to the vision and the strategy set. Notion, Notion, Notion—the importance of documentation brings back memories of my Manufacturing Engineering days. Documenting process steps, especially when working with diverse nationalities, cultures, and time zones, is crucial. A missing process step can cause an entire operation to fail in a startup.

5. Balancing Multiple Roles:

In the true startup sense, I've had to wear multiple hats as a product manager and team manager. It's been a while since I've been stretched, handling individual contributions, team leadership, regional expansions, daily operations, and rapid future innovations. Prioritizing time versus value added has been key to avoid burnout, especially in a new country with limited support.

As I ease into my new life and job, I'm excited to resume my blog posts. They'll continue to delve into the core themes of my blog: Innovation, Operational Excellence, and Strategy. Starting of with some key insights into the developments within the Gen AI world. Stay tuned for more!