What led you to join the team at Nomaden Berlin?
I have always felt energised when living overseas and think the experience of working abroad is something that many people can benefit from. As a full-service relocation provider that focuses primarily on youth mobility, Nomaden Berlin seemed an ideal fit as it shares my ideals for a more open and accessible world that brings different cultures and nationalities together. I’ve now been involved with the company for over two years and take great pleasure seeing people arriving and getting set up in the German capital.
Nomaden participants on a tour of the Reichstag
Can you tell us about your role as Head of Marketing & Content?
Germany is renowned for its bureaucracy and relocating can leave expats feeling tangled in red tape. Therefore, a significant part of my role consists of deciphering the bureaucracy and creating clear guidance and instructions for newcomers to the city. In fact, just last month I completed our 100,000-word relocation platform that includes all the information you need to get set up in Berlin, from finding a job, an apartment, and securing a visa to taking out a German health insurance policy, registering an address, and much much more. Aside from creating relocation resources, I work to keep the website content updated, manage the partner network, and work to open up cross-marketing opportunities with relevant businesses.
Nomaden participants at an art exhibit in Berlin
What makes Nomaden Berlin easy to market?
I feel Nomaden Berlin’s four relocation programmes are extremely competitively and fairly priced, with a range of options to suit different budgets. The product is superb so my job is simply to convey the benefits of the relocation programmes in as transparent and accurate manner as possible, and to reach as wide an audience as possible. It’s a marketers dream to be working with products that sell themselves, and I feel Nomaden Berlin’s programmes do just that!
What challenges do you face in your role and how do you overcome them?
As a significant part of relocating to Germany involves navigating the visa and residence permit process, we are constantly required to adapt to an ever-changing bureaucratic landscape. For example, when visa application forms are updated or the prerequisites for securing a visa are amended, it is essential that we are the first to know and can advise our clients accordingly. To tackle this, we have established direct contacts at a number of government bodies, German embassies, and visa offices to ensure that the content we produce reflects the latest administrative changes.
Talking to potential newcomers to Berlin
You have lived, studied, and worked in the UK, Norway, the Netherlands, and Germany. How have these experiences shaped you personally and professionally?
Living abroad has definitely helped me become more independent, both in a personal and professional capacity. Everything from attending parties, visiting the doctors, or enjoying work drinks with colleagues can throw up both linguistic and cultural challenges that certainly increase my comfort threshold. While intimidating at first, you quickly become used to dealing with a broad range of scenarios that you simply aren’t exposed to in your home country.
Secondly, living overseas has exposed me to a very wide spectrum of people. Quickly establishing a network of friends is crucial to feeling settled overseas, so I’ve been much more proactive in going out and meeting new people than when I was living back in the UK. This can again be a slightly uncomfortable process, but extremely worthwhile in the long run – you’ll most likely end up with a group of friends from all around the world!
What makes Berlin an ideal location for freelancers and digital nomads?
Berlin is a world-renowned creative hub that is currently seeing startups springing up left, right, and centre across the city. Many of these startups are seeking young, international freelancers to come in and work on exciting projects, whether it be software engineering, web development, graphic design, or content writing. When coupled with affordable living (especially compared to other popular European capitals, such as London and Paris), top-drawer nightlife, and an abundance of trendy co-working spaces, it is unsurprising that the city is attracting large numbers of freelancers and digital nomads.
Why do you love the work that you do with Nomaden Berlin?
Having previously worked for a number of large corporations where the only results to be seen were on spreadsheets, it’s tremendous to be able to meet our customers and actually see them successfully setting up in Berlin. Being part of a small company, I get a lot of hands-on, direct influence on the direction that the company takes. And to see our plans come to fruition beats a spreadsheet any day!
Some of our Nomaden participants at a summer meetup
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
While often focused around voluntary work and projects, I feel meaningful travel can take on many different forms. For me, it is about interacting with the locals and embracing the culture of your host country. Taking some steps to integrate (however small) can go a long way with regards to what you get out of your travel experience.
Rather than simply gawking at a foreign culture, I try and get an understanding of how and why things are done as they are in a different country. For me, this is what gives travel meaning.
Why is it important to travel and experience new cultures?
I feel travelling and experiencing new cultures can help expand your worldview, and give you a better understanding of the challenges the world faces and the rich diversity of its occupants. While cultures and people vary in their beliefs, opinions, and attitudes, travelling helps people find common ground and realise they are citizens of the world, with a shared responsibility for its future.
What hopes do you have for the future of Nomaden Berlin?
I hope to see the company continue to grow and help a larger number of people realise their dreams of living overseas. However, as the company expands, I’m confident that we will be able to maintain the personal, hands-on approach that we take with each of our customers, an approach that we believe is essential for ensuring newcomers feel settled in their new home! I also hope to see the Nomaden Community continue to be a tight-knit group, offering an ever-greater array of events and meetups for both past and new participants.
