Massimo is an Italian citizen who has lived out of his home country for the last 10 years. It all started with the T.I.M.E.
(Top Industrial Managers for Europe) Erasmus Double Degree program between his university Politenico di Milano and the French Grande Ecole ENSTA-PARISTECH.
In Paris, while living in the Cité International Universitaire de Paris, he was surrounded by students coming from all over the world and learnt 6 foreign languages.
He started his professional career as an engineer in Paris, then moved to Holland for one year. He seized the opportunity to go to Russia for 2 years and work in marketing, then came back to Paris again for another 1.5 years in Business Development before he decided to do an MBA in Switzerland.
Massimo has been working in Zurich since June 2008 with a large multinational corporation in the Corporate Strategy department and has just recently moved into a corporate finance role.
What key factors influenced you the most to work internationally?
I have always been attracted by foreign cultures, also because my family is spread all around the globe. Furthermore, I strongly believe that to be able to learn and interact while working, makes life much more interesting and work less boring!
Has the international experience had an impact on your career to-date?
Definitively!
Every time I was offered a new position, it was because I could show them that I was a person able to learn fast, adapt in very different situations, manage challenging projects and work in international teams.
What are some of the cultural challenges that you have had to face?
When I moved to Russia to work, I saw a completely different country from the one I used to know when I was visiting it as a tourist and to learn the language. However, my passion and motivation helped me overcome the cultural shock of the first months. After two years back in the old Europe, I still miss Russia, my friends and colleagues there.
What advice would you offer to those wishing to embrace an international career?
In the long term, to have an international exposure definitively contributes positively to one’s success in work.
|
|
|
|
|
