Taking a Leap of Faith

International experience always has a positive impact on our employee’s life and career. It gives them a chance to experience new cultures and to broaden their horizons. Going overseas can be a nervous experience, this is true. But going through it and coming out from the other side gives people a greater sense of confidence in themselves. At PUMA we encourage our employees to experience that path as part of our internal mobility program. Here, three PUMA employees open up about their personal relocation experiences.

Tell us about your relocation path. Where were you prior to this?
Deniz: I was working as P&O Executive in PUMA Turkey, Istanbul office.

What do you like about the experience?
Deniz: My team, 5 people from 5 different countries: German, Mexican, Brazilian, Indian and Turkish. I love learning about other people’s cultures, observing how our points of view differ, and appreciating the variety of our spirits. My team has been there for me ever since I arrived, helping me both physically and mentally. From the beginning thanks to my team and the powerful PUMA Cat who supports me through my steps, I did not feel as an outsider!

Did you struggle in the beginning?
Deniz: YES! It would be a big lie if I say I’m not struggling anymore. Relocation has challenges. The hardest part was getting used to being alone. However, I must admit that I have learned to like having time for myself and doing whatever pleases my heart. Still, I miss my family and friends every day. But I am so grateful to have this experience, my personal learning curve has never been greater.

Why did you choose to relocate?
Deniz: After working in a market for 1.5 years, the idea of moving to the headquarters truly attracted to me. I enjoy being challenged, therefore I’ve always stepped outside of my comfort zone to try something new. I enjoyed my work in Istanbul, but it started to feel too cozy, and my body craved a challenge, so that’s why I’m here.

What’s the weirdest/most foreign thing about living in this new culture?
Deniz: DIY (Do it yourself) Culture. In my home country, you can pay for a service, but in Germany, it’s really difficult to get someone to transport your staff or assemble your furniture. It was particularly strange when my first set of furniture was delivered to my house and the delivery men didn’t assist with assembly. I’m pleased to confirm that I assembled my first set of table and chairs by myself. And now I’m wondering why I never done something really fun like this before.

Did you know the language when you relocated and how hard was it to adjust?
Deniz: I’m studying German, very slowly but surely… It’s a difficult language. There were a few occasions when my train changed its route, but I couldn’t understand a word the driver said and eventually went the wrong way. My advice for people who will relocate soon: try to have at least A1 level of the language in order to feel more adapted.

What would you tell other people who are thinking about a relocation?
Deniz: The finest method of finding yourself is relocation. Relocating is never too early or late; and needs patience. In the end, it will eventually be worth it.

What’s your favourite thing about the new culture/country you are living in?
Deniz: I love so many facets of German culture that it’s difficult for me to choose just one. Germany, in my opinion, is a blend of the ancient and the new. You might discover a museum of contemporary technology in a 500-year-old building. I respect Germans for preserving their own history and culture. Another aspect that appeals to me is that respect for one another is quite high in Germany, where justice and human rights are highly valued. Additionally, there is the delicious food and a huge variety of beers. I love weiss beer and the Northern-style potato salad.

Tell us about your relocation path. Where were you prior to this?
Elvira: Originally I am from Mexico City. In 2009, I left Mexico to study in New York and then in Madrid. In 2013 I got a job in the Hotel Industry in São Paulo, Brazil and moved there until 2017 when I moved back to Madrid for a job opportunity. I was in Madrid for 4 years working in the Education Sector in the Talent Management Department of a private university. In January 2021, I relocated to Herzo to work for PUMA and started my job in March 2021.

What do you like about the experience?
Elvira: To my advantage, I have previous experience relocating and I love the feeling of starting something new, meeting new people, going to new places and exploring new opportunities. My husband is also an adventurer like me, so he fully supported our move to Germany.

Did you struggle in the beginning?
Elvira: When I moved to São Paulo, I was single and when I moved to Madrid, I moved with my husband, but when we moved to Herzo we relocated with our 1 year old. It wasn’t a struggle, it just made the whole relocation process more interesting and fun. We got to see her adapt to the new environment and honestly, my little girl loves living in Germany.

Why did you choose to relocate?
Elvira: There are many reasons why we chose to relocate. First, the opportunity to work at PUMA. It truly was my dream job and a great opportunity I could not let pass. Second, it was the right step at the right time and as a family we were up for the adventure. Third, Herzo is a great place to live and a great place for my little girl to grow up.

What’s the weirdest/most foreign thing about living in this new culture?
Elvira: Something that we had to adapt to is that everything is done by mail. This is a two way thing – so not only do you get lots of letters but you also have to send lots of communication via the post. I think before relocating to Germany I hadn’t been to the post office in years.

Did you know the language when you relocated and how hard was it to adjust?
Elvira: Unfortunately not, I didn’t know German before relocating. I think it’s unfortunate because knowing the language is part of adapting to the culture. When relocating to Brazil, I learned Portuguese and I thought that German would be similar, but German is a language that I realized I needed to actually study to learn. Fortunately enough, I have a 3 year old that teaches me new German words every day.

What would you tell other people who are thinking about a relocation?
Elvira: Take a leap of faith, it may not always be easy, but you will always learn from the experience and you will come out of it stronger.

What’s your favourite thing about the new culture/country you are living in?
Elvira: I love that there are many things to do outside like festivals during the year – Christmas markets, harvesting, biking, skiing, etc. It doesn’t matter if it is cold or hot, there is always something to do in nature.

Tell us about your relocation path. Where were you prior to this?
Andre: My hometown, Lisbon.

What do you like about the experience?
Andre: The fact that I get to grow a lot from a personal and professional perspective. By stepping out of my comfort zone and the environment that I was always used to (Home), and having the opportunity to learn new things and different perspectives from a different culture (Germany).

Did you struggle in the beginning?
Andre: Of course… It was the first time for me being away from my family and friends. Having to deal with a different culture and language was difficult at the beginning.

Why did you choose to relocate?
Andre: Because I wanted to work in the sports industry, and PUMA HQ is based in Germany.

What’s the weirdest/most foreign thing about living in this new culture?
Andre: Probably how often I have to receive and send things through post mail.

Did you know the language when you relocated and how hard was it to adjust?
Andre: I didn’t know any German, and it is quite different from Portuguese. I’ve been trying to adjust by learning German slowly, but luckily I get to speak English most of the time at work.

What would you tell other people who are thinking about a relocation?
Andre: I would strongly recommend someone else to go through the experience of relocating to a new country. I think it forces you to grow in many aspects of your life, and that being exposed to a different culture helps you to start seeing things from a different perspective.

What’s your favourite thing about the new culture/country you are living in?
Andre: The German sports culture. I really appreciate the fact that Germans tend to fiercely support local sports clubs, and also how active people are in general (regardless of the age group).