From late April through mid-June, I worked from my home country, France. In addition to allowing me to be close to my family and French friends, this opportunity to carry out my duties MAIN Living abroad has allowed me to draw inspiration from what’s happening elsewhere and to reaffirm that I still love Montreal just as much.
ADJUST MY SCHEDULE TO MONTREAL TIME
Between Lille, Brittany, and Ghent, my stay abroad was initially a challenge in terms of organizing my work. To avoid having to juggle the time difference between Eastern Daylight Time and European time, I decided to stick to a Montreal schedule.
This adjustment to working from home during non-standard European hours did not, therefore, disrupt my coworkers, although it did disrupt my family, who saw me working late into the evening. I also had to reschedule my social activities in France so that they would take place in the morning rather than in the evening, at least from Monday through Thursday.
Fortunately, while I was in Lille for two weeks, I was really glad to have access to a coworking space open 24/7 at Euratechnologies. It was a real bonus that also allowed me to enjoy a few fun evenings out after work.
WORKING ABROAD MEANS DISCOVERING NEW THINGS
Speaking of Euratechnologies—or Euratech, as those in the know call it—I took advantage of my time in France to explore how other ecosystems work startups premises.
In Lille, the meteoric rise of retail giants—mostly driven by the Mulliez family and their innovative vision (for example, Decathlon and Leroy Merlin, to name just a few)—has fueled the growth of an ecosystem startup of importance.
This visit, along with the conversations I had with the people who work at Euratech, reminded me of the need for collaboration among the various stakeholders to ensure the optimal functioning of an ecosystem, as well as the need for openness to complementary ecosystems, as is the case between Paris and Lille.
One of the major differences I’ve noticed is the private funding that has made it possible to create these spaces, which are so important for accelerating startups. Without the Mulliez family, the Lille ecosystem would not have taken off to such an extent.
WORKING ABROAD ALSO MEANS FACING DIFFERENCES
Another major benefit of being abroad is the excuse it provides for making it easier to set up meetings. By introducing myself as a newcomer to France—in addition to my new role as unit manager—making introductions was easier. And even then, after so many years in Montreal, my attempts at casual encounters ran into two major hurdles due to cultural differences between France and Québec.
The first difference has to do with how people meet. In France, it still mainly happens in person. Most of the people I was talking to instinctively suggested meeting in person rather than online. Yes, the country is smaller than Canada, but since I’m based in Brittany, I had to turn down several dates that had been planned in Paris.
The second major difference has to do with how difficult it is to approach someone—especially those in leadership roles—in France without an initial introduction. In this regard, I really missed Montreal, where the leaders of major organizations, even Montreal-based multinationals, are more approachable.
HUMAN CONNECTIONS: THE FOUNDATION OF WORK
I also took the opportunity to attend an international event, the World Incubation Summit organized by UBI Global. This event, which would have required a flight from Montreal to Belgium to attend, only required a simple high-speed train ticket to get there.
In addition to the very interesting program, what struck me about this experience of attending an event was how important it is to take care of international participants to help them feel comfortable, so that this experience can become a truly enriching one, both culturally and professionally.
Ultimately, the biggest lesson this trip taught me is that human interactions are what matter most in the work we do. Whether it’s treating our colleagues with respect, being open to new connections, or organizing events that foster interaction, people are still at the heart of our work.
Also, this trip abroad gave me a chance to reconnect with friends and family members I hadn't seen in far too long. And that feels good.
– Tiamy, Unit Manager — Acceleration Support