Boston – Aygün Sahin, Ph.D. Created Cancer Research Simplified

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Please introduce yourself.

My name is Aygün Sahin and I am from Frankfurt/Main, Germany. I am the Founder and CEO of a Boston-based global non-profit organization on cancer education CANCER RESEARCH SIMPLIFIED. We educate people about cancer in a straightforward, non-technical way and in multiple languages. We’re only one-and-a-half years old, have about 15 team members, and our educational programs have reached over 120 countries around the globe and in all 50 states in the US. I live in Boston, MA and run my international team around the globe from here.

When/where did you move to USA – how did you choose those cities/career?

I moved to the USA, more specifically to Boston, MA 8.5 years ago, when I got a job offer as a postdoctoral fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Medical School (MGH-HMS) in the department of Neurosurgery. Boston was my first “American experience” and I am so in love with this city that it makes it really hard to move anywhere else. I am a biologist with a Master’s degree in applied biology, earning both my undergraduate and Master’s degrees from Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, where I also worked as a research and teaching faculty member. I always believed in “bringing science down to people” and that’s why I got my master’s degree specifically in applied biology.

During my undergraduate years, I got selected from over 60 applicants for a summer internship at the Turkish National Scientific and Research Council (TUBITAK) at the department of Molecular Oncology. That was the time when I started to find cancer research fascinating. After earning my Master’s, I moved back to Germany for my PhD degree in Genetics at the University of Bonn. My PhD work was all about understanding the development of one of the most aggressive, most deadly type of brain cancer in adults, Glioblastoma (GBM) and developing genetic therapies for it. I continued to work on GBM at the Center for Clinical Research at the University of Bochum, where I built and ran a neuro-oncology laboratory, developing cellular therapies for GBM. This was the time when I got a job offer as a postdoctoral fellow at MGH-HMS and moved to Boston, MA.

There, I developed cancer immunotherapy strategies for GBM and won a highly competitive research award from the well-respected American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA). After 3.5 years working as a postdoctoral fellow, I got promoted to a junior faculty position. During my career in cancer research, my experience with cancer patients’ family members around the globe, desperately searching for knowledge about their loved ones’ disease and the disconnection between the scientific world and cancer patients led me to build the nonprofit, Cancer Research Simplified.

What did your family do and where are they now?

Although I was born and raised in Germany, as you might have guessed, I have a Turkish name. My parents are Turkish and I lived 16 years of my life in Turkey, from secondary school to high school in Istanbul, and from college to masters in Ankara. We moved from Germany to Turkey in 1984 and since then my parents have lived in Istanbul. My mother supports my father at home while he still works at the age of 70 on his own business in tourism. My two older sisters moved back to Frankfurt for college, while my little brother stayed in Turkey and pursued college there. Both of my sisters have degrees in German studies and journalism, and my brother is an electrical engineer. My oldest sister is currently living in Düsseldorf with her family and is a well-published, award-winning author on children and youth literature, addressing intercultural tolerance. My middle sister lives with her family and my amazing nephew in Berlin. My brother works as a manager at a company in Istanbul, where he lives with his family.

How did you end up starting the non-profit you have now? Why – and how do you fund it?

During my career in cancer research, I always dealt with people’s questions about cancer and latest cancer research for specific cancer types. This led me to build a nonprofit that explains people their disease, guide them toward institutes and hospitals, and help educate the general public about cancer prevention. Since I have been a mentor for young people throughout my career, I strongly believe in encouraging young scientists, thus, our nonprofit also has the mission of providing cancer research scholarships to high school students around the globe. There is also a specific story behind it.

You can read more about why and how I built the nonprofit here: http://www.cancerresearchsimplified.org/about-the-founder.html
Our funds are raised by donations, board member’s contributions and in-kind donations from companies. We’re also looking for sponsors to support our specific educational programs and great cause in general.

Do you try to go back to Europe every year? The language and the culture are different from in the USA for sure. What do you miss the most – and the least?

Oh, I wish. Unfortunately, I haven’t been to Germany and haven’t seen my siblings and nephew for 5.5 years. Recently, I had to fly to Istanbul, after two years, due to a health condition of my grandmother.
What I miss the most is the close friendships that come so naturally in Europe, here in the USA, you must work very hard for it, and yet, you’re often not sure whether or not you are considered to be a “close friend”. On the other hand, I absolutely love the tolerance between cultures and religions here in the USA, the respect and care for one another, and that you are and can be who you are, which Europe really has to learn.

Workwise – how do you see Germans/Turkish being different from Americans – also culturally, what stands out in your chosen profession?

Generally speaking, I think we Europeans are very shy to present ourselves both in written form and verbally, whereas Americans have absolutely no problems with it. When I talk about my profession, Germans, like myself, work very organized and efficiently during their work hours, and are always on time, and I find Turkish people to be very smart and they ask great questions. Not that people from other cultures don’t have these qualities, but those are the ones that stand out in my opinion.

When you think about life in Europe vs USA before you moved to the USA – did you have misconceptions that turned out to be wrong?

I have to chuckle at this question. Yes, like every European, I thought that the USA was a super high-tech country. Like in Hollywood movies, I thought that tall buildings were made out of glass, and all machines were operated by robotic technology, and your coffee, tea, drinks were handed to you by pressing a button. Well, who knew that the houses, streets, and public transportation are very old here. That was a huge shocker for me.

What is your favorite food/s and drink?

Oh, my favorite foods are Karniyarik (stuffed eggplant) and dolma (stuffed peppers). I don’t think I have a favorite drink, but I don’t drink anything caffeinated, I always drink decaf Americano, herbal teas, and milk.

How is the European community in Boston vs. the USA? Who do you think are the Germans and Turkish the average American may know? Any scientists?

My goodness, we have a huge European community here in Boston. But I must say that San Francisco is also one of my favorite cities, and it also has a large European community.
As for German, I think Albert Einstein would be known by an average American, and Mehmet Öz as a Turkish physician. However, having worked at the Neurosurgery department at MGH, I was very pleased to hear the repeated mentioning of Gazi Yaşargil, the father of modern Microneurosurgery.

What would you like anyone to know and appreciate about Germany or Turkey? (food, music, culture, people, history….)

I think people know that about Germans, but I really like to emphasize that Germans are known for efficient, organized, and timely work ethic, which is praiseworthy. Turkish people are really smart and they can think on their feet. Many people know that already, but I like to emphasize here that Turkish people are very friendly and warm-hearted people, and are very hospitable.

Would you ever return to Europe to live there fulltime?

I am not sure. Haven’t thought of it (yet). I love living here in Boston and in the USA, but I miss my family and friends very much. It’s a tough call.

Could you share with us what are your plans for the future as far as your research goes – what would you like to accomplish…what has been the best, worst…My exchange family’s dad was a cancer researcher, Phd (immunology) – so I have heard a lot about this and also experiences with close family and friends the affects of cancer at many levels. I guess personally for me small kids having cancer is the most touching as it feels so unfair.

Sure. My goal with our organization is to become “the” resource and center for cancer education in the USA and around the globe, collaborating with hospitals and K-12 schools on cancer education. For cancer patients specifically, my goal is to fully empower them against their diseases, not feeling victimized by it, and being able work “together” with their medical team. To achieve this, we recently initiated a worldwide campaign in multiple languages, called #empowermentagainstcancer. People download our sign from our website and write the names and countries of their loved ones who are currently suffering from cancer and send their videos or pictures to us. We’ve received an overwhelming amount of responses and I would like to encourage everyone to join our campaign. You can learn more about our campaign here: http://www.cancerresearchsimplified.org/blog/take-part-in-our-new-campaign
I had amazing experience with people contacting us from around the globe, asking questions about their loved ones’ diseases. I cannot describe the feeling when they thank you back, writing very emotional thank you letters, it’s just heart breaking, but extremely rewarding. Then I know that I “really” do something good for humanity!
As a cancer immunology researcher, I absolutely believe in the power of cancer immunotherapy and I know that there will be amazing therapies available, hopefully in the near future.
Yes, pediatric cancer is a topic that breaks my heart as well. But I need to emphasize that not all cancer types lead straight to death. Some cancer types have a better outcome and survival rate in childhood as well as adult cancer than people might think.

Anything you think we all could do to prevent cancer realistically?

That’s what we educate the general public about. We’re the only organization that exists that informs people on what they can do on day-to-day basis to prevent cancer. Therefore, we promote healthy diet, exercise, and healthy life style. Eating healthy (e.g., some fruits and vegetables need to be consumed as organic due to pesticides, less processed food, fiber rich foods, more whole foods) and in balance (balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates), doing exercise, staying away from stress, staying in smoke-free environments, avoiding products with harsh chemicals, being more in fresh air, staying positive are some things we all could do to seriously reduce the risk of cancer. Obviously, it also depends on our genetic heritages, but some triggers caused by environmental factors can be avoided.

Connect with Dr Aygün Sahin & Cancer Research Simplified:
Aygün Şahin, M.Sc., Ph.D.
CEO and Founder
Cancer Research Simplified – 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Phone: +1 (617) 767-1070
P.O. Box 400335, Cambridge, MA 02140
USA

www.CancerResearchSimplified.org
FACEBOOK

 

Austin – Michele Aubry, How To Live Your Life in Harmony (Czech Republic)

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1. Please introduce yourself.

My name is Michele Aubry (Michele Ubryova) and I was born and raised in Prague, the Czech Republic. My mom and I moved to Austin in August of 2000 for her now ex husband. The rest of our family still lives in the Czech Republic.

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice here in Austin, TX and I have a son, Maxx, who is 3 years old.

2. When/where did you move to USA – how did you choose those cities/career?

cities/career? We moved when I was 16 years old straight to Austin where I finished high school and then I moved to Santa Barbara, CA to start college. I moved back to Austin a year later and have been here ever since. I finished school at UT of Austin.

3. What did your family do and where are they now?

Now? My mom worked as a paralegal in Prague. In Austin she has worked for Saks Fifth Avenue and now Neiman Marcus since they opened their doors at the Domain.

4. What is important to you in life – money, freedom, food, family, hobbies, friends, travel — Why? Since you are more multicultural in my opinion you may have more varied likes/dislikes.

I grew up traveling all over Europe and I see how much those experiences taught me and enriched me. I was raised eating healthy food and spending time with friends. A deep friendship is something that I value highly, especially because it has been harder to find here. I see money as a means to security and something that I would like to have enough of for traveling purposes, so I can continue adding on new experiences.

My hobbies are fitness and food. I love to try new food and I very much enjoy cooking various types of cuisine!

5. Do you try to go back to Europe every year? The language and the culture are different than in TX for sure. What is home for you outside US, What do you miss the most – and the least?

I used to go back to Prague at least one a year but ever since I had my son, I went only once. Traveling with a toddler alone is not on my list of desired things to do. I miss seeing my family more often but nowadays, skype and Facebook make it easier to talk, see each other and share. I still speak Czech at home with my mom and my son.

We don’t miss the food much but we do miss walking around, we miss the architecture and ease of public transportation. One thing we don’t miss a bit is the jealousy and negativity that is now obvious to us – but was not when we lived there.

6.Workwise – how do you see Europeans being different from Americans – also culturally, what stands out in your chosen profession? You studied psychology. I lived 17 years in Manhattan. I recall thinking there how many people were super neurotic. I have been to dates where the guy tells you if you do have a therapist or have had some type of psychotherapy/analysis you have a problem! I prefer talking about my problems with friends and family though I am sure there are times we all could use a therapist (major changes in life, drama, illness, loss of job, death).

First of all, psychoanalysis is a type of an approach to therapy and is quite outdated nowadays. Psychotherapy however, is something that has bad stigma in Europe and it makes me quite sad. Most people don’t understand the difference between the roles of a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist, or a therapy. Truly, I think that we all can use talk
therapy as some point in our life, whether it is to resolve unfinished business or to make a positive change that will help us reach goals and feel happy.

Therapy is not for CRAZY people, those are referred to a Psychiatrist who is also a medical doctor.

Note by Kaisa: I have a friend – Dr. Byron Wilkenfeld, who is a psychiatrist here in Austin – a brilliant man, a very interesting topic to discuss the use of meds in the USA with him.

7. When you think about life in Europe (the CR) vs USA before you moved to the USA – did you have misconceptions that turned out to be wrong?

I saw on TV as a teenager. I moved from Prague to Austin. It was a culture shock and a huge surprise. I have also never seen so many homeless people and that was very shocking because people always spoke of USA as the country of the rich.

8. Is there something with the American culture or customs that you think Czechs you learn from – and vice-versa?

I think Czechs could learn from Americans to be more optimistic and more friendly towards strangers. Also, philantrophy is something that I would like to see more people in the CR do. What I would like for the US people to learn from Czechs is to work to live life, not to live to work mentality.

9. What is your favorite food/s and drink?

Sushi and wine. I could have that every day.

10. How is the European/Czech (your country’s) community in Austin vs. USA? Who do you think are the Czechs the average American may know?

The Czech community here in Austin is actually quite large. I started a Czechoslovakian group on FB few years ago and at our last Easter get together, there were around 60 Czechs I would say. Many of us have blended in this culture and enjoy this place for what it is. Many go back to the CR on regular basis to see families but I think that except our accent, we aren’t so different from the locals. Maybe, we are quite a bit more direct with others;-)

11. What would you like anyone know and appreciate about your country? (food, music, culture, people, history….)

I personally don’t care for Czech food but I have adopted the gluten free dairy free diet for personal beliefs. However, I do think our pastry is outstanding. The architecture and the way the country preserved that over all the years is admirable.

We Czechs make very loyal and trustworthy friends, I believe.

12. Would you ever return to live there full-time?

No, I would not, but my mom is also here with me so that makes my decision much easier. I lived there for 16 years but I have been here for 14 years now, so I have had time to build relationships here.

13. Could you share with us what are your plans for the future? What is it in life that makes you happy or content – that means different stuff for all of us.

In the very near future, I would like to continue growing my private practice and present on the topic of happiness and success. Throughout my journey of coming here in my teens, my marriage and divorce, my motherhood, I have found myself in the study of happiness and what drives us and makes us more resilient. I would truly enjoy reaching a larger audience
to share my knowledge and personal experience. And as a mom, I would like to focus on being the best I can be to help him achieve his full potential and help my son Maxx grow into a warm hearted, respectful man.

Connect with Misa (Michelle):
micheleaubry.com/
Misa at Facebook

New York – Alexandra Spirer, Making Friends Around the World!

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EuroCircle Founder feels it’s time for the members to know more about the team leaders due to many requests from the members, so let’s start in New York City where EuroCircle had its first event in January 1999 (15 years + ago).

1. Please introduce yourself

My name is Alexandra Spirer. I have been living in Manhattan since 2002 (Larchmont and Boca Raton, FL are my other two home cities).
My family is spread out all over the country. My dad Gary lives in Austin, TX. My mom Karen will be moving from White Plains, NY to Florida in the fall. My younger sister Danielle lives in Westchester with her husband David.

2. What struggles have you faced in your life and how have you overcome them?

Growing up I suffered from a severe learning disability. I couldn’t understand abstract ideas well. My junior high school recommended that I enter a special education school rather than my high school. I didn’t like the idea at all. I asked my dad to study with me. I discovered ways to understand abstract ideas and the world that had been shut off from me suddenly came alive.

It was very frustrating learning how to connect the dots. I found relief in traveling to different countries and making friends that I have kept in touch with over the years. I have traveled to 40 countries and my goal is to join the 100 Traveler’s Country Club. I will add two more countries this fall when I travel on EuroCircle’s 4th Annual Trip to India with a stop in Dubai before.

In 2005, I was also diagnosed with Thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s) which is an auto-immune disease. I have struggled with my weight for many years partly due to it. It is a constant struggle but one I am determined to beat.

3. How have your learning disabilities and struggles affected your business career?

My learning disabilities had made me very shy, self-conscious. We started a family food business and it was very traumatic for me to present myself at trade shows and in supermarkets giving out samples. I had to learn how to communicate by looking people in their eyes and listening carefully to what they were saying. I found many times I would be distracted because of my learning disability.

I have always helped others learn better since it has been a challenge for me my entire life. After our family food business, we created two businesses that focus on learning and education. We have designed accelerated ways for people to learn; test what they have learned and implement what they have learned all in real – time.

It is very rewarding to see people who have struggled as I have learn about business and life in ways they never thought possible.

4. What was the inspiration behind these educational companies that you are involved in?

My father devoted years to perfecting the learning models that had helped me get through high school and become a top student in college. As I said, it became my passion to help others learn and comprehend faster. For anybody that is interested, we offer courses, coaching and mentoring to entrepreneurs, creative types and local businesses using our learning models to accelerate what they need to know to succeed.

We have a best-selling Crowdfunding/money raising book on Amazon Crowdfunding: The Next Big Thing (it has been #1 and #2 best seller in Crowdfunding for months now).

Our other company DILOGR, an interactive real-time educational marketing, training and analytics company that is integrated with IBM, Oracle/Eloqua, Salesforce, Infusionsoft and other CRMs.

5. How did you get involved with EuroCircle? Any other thoughts you’d like to share with us?

I have been a EuroCircle member since 2008. I have been the New York Organizer since 2011 (with the help of Sherry Kumar who ran it for a while from Philly after the EC Founder moved to Austin). You can check out the latest events at our website or in our group on Facebook: EuroCircle New York.
EuroCircle charges no fees for individual membership, all its expenses are paid by its founder – and we all are volunteers.

I would love to find trustworthy “country/goodwill ambassadors” or “point people”, members that are interested in representing their countries – be the face for their country, write stories, interviews, videographers/photographers to cover our events, take photos/videos for the website. All of that would help greatly. I am sure the other city leaders feel the same. I would also love to have an entire team of cool, social and reliable members that are interested in being hosts at our events and help us to arrange events. I have loved meeting so many people from different groups and countries (Arctic Circle Finns in NYC, Italians in NYC, GermansinNYC, Danes in NYC, Intl Swede, Fwd.us, welcome.us etc) and making many wonderful European friends. We have loved featuring other European groups/leaders at the site. It has been very rewarding and a great learning experience for someone who loves travelling like I do.

If you interested in becoming involved – in ANY role in EuroCircle, LISTEN {YES, it is me talking. Thanks DilogR!} to this short clip by me and E-mail me!

6. Traveling – most Americans don’t travel much outside the USA – how about you as it sounds you have a personal interest in Europe?

I have been to 40 countries so far with the goal of making the 100 Country Club (and yes it is a real club). I will get to 42 countries later this fall when I travel to Dubai and then India on our 4th Annual EuroCircle Trip at the beginning of November ! I have been to far out places like Tibet and last year Laos after the EuroCircle trip to Vietnam and Cambodia.
In college I was fortunate to spend my spring semester of my Junior year living and working in London. I got to do a lot of traveling from Greece to Czechoslovakia.

7. What is your favorite food?

Mexican food – I love a good guacamole, taco or burrito. Every year I look for a new Mexican place for my birthday dinner! I am a big foodie and love to check out the latest restaurants with friends and try new cuisines. (I probably should prefer Italian food since my mom’s heritage is Italian.)

8. When you aren’t working what do you like to do for fun?

New York City has so much to offer. I love to explore new parts of the city with friends. I love museums, The Botanical Gardens or checking out the latest Broadway musical or play.
I go to the movies whenever I can. On my list to still check out is to finally go to the Highline and explore the cool places along it.

9. Any childhood memory that makes you smile?

When my younger sister Danielle was born I woke up screaming “mommy, mommy” and then went right back to sleep not knowing that an hour away my mom was giving birth to my sister Danielle at that exact time. My mom has called me psychic ever since.

10. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

That’s a difficult question. I loved London and would move back there in a heartbeat.
I loved being able to be at the theater in under 20 minutes and on the weekends take Britrail to places like Hartfield where the Winnie the Pooh stories were created by A.L. Milne. There is the real 500 acre woods.
I hope in the near future that I get to explore more of Europe and England.

I love Europe in general, the culture, the people and seeing so many amazing sites have made it a place that I would love to live one day. One my best friends from high school lives in Switzerland. Her heritage is partly from Montenegro so I have visited her family a few times there as well – gorgeous.

11. Anything else you would like people to know about you?

I like to cook and love trying new recipes whenever I get the chance. My mom is a master chef.
I am an avid photographer and love taking pictures wherever I go. I also love spending time with family and friends whenever I can. I LOVE traveling – I always say I would like my job to have something to do with traveling.

12. If I were able to grant you any wish – what would it be?

I would love to be able to travel more and see more of the world. I wish I had more time to spend with friends that are in different parts of the world.

Thanks Alex for sharing some of more personal memories and experiences with all of us.

Connect with Alexandra:
Email Me
Alex at EuroCircle forums
My job – DilogR.com
www.linkedin.com/in/alexandraspirer
www.facebook.com/alexandraspirer
www.twitter.com/eurocirclenyc
I mentioned I work for DILOGR, which has this interactive real-time technology that enables the users to make any photos, images, slide presentations and videos interactive. What it means is for example add audio, text, URL, etc to photos (Hover over the photo below and see what happens if you click on hotspots). With videos the users can add survey questions, call-to-actions, integrate with CRMs, add text links, collect analytics and more. All in one platform.

San Francisco – Virginie Suos, Parisian Flair with Prélude

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1. Please introduce yourself.

My name is Virginie Suos. I am from Paris, France and currently live in San Francisco, California. I’ve worked on several startups within the fashion industry and am now about to launch a clothing line on Kickstarter..
Prélude Kickstarter campaign

Comment: If you do not about crowdfunding/money raising online – Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Rockethub – go and read Gary’s interview at EuroCircle – you can get his book for a special EuroCircle price with extra bonuses.

2. Tell us about your upcoming line:

Prélude is about Women’s sleepwear + loungewear made from 100% all-natural, organic cotton. Inspired by classic French cuts and handcrafted in California. We combine timeless fashion + classic elegance to create easy, everyday pieces that are safe and delicate on even the most sensitive skin.

3. How and why was the company founded: Why?

To revolutionize the fashion industry! Nowadays, most companies are manufacturing their clothing in sweatshops overseas and using poor quality, synthetic fibers that are detrimental to our well-being and toxic to the environment. The clothing is then marked up 8x in fast retail. Prélude is about going against the status quo and abiding by healthier ethics.

4. When and why did you move to the USA

I moved to the USA about 10 years ago now. My parents immigrated to France from Cambodia in their early twenties; they’ve lived in several countries, experienced different cultures and always wished that we do the same. They firmly believe that California is the land of opportunities so my brothers and I moved here to study abroad. We spent our first couple of years in rural Modesto prior to transferring to the University of California in Berkeley.

5. What do you do after work, what interests you

Besides brainstorming and daydreaming all day, I enjoy taking fitness / yoga classes and surrounding myself with athletes + artists. I love attending art shows and classical performances. I get so much inspiration from the crazy ones who pursue their passion.

6. What is your favorite food:

I grew up eating a lot of my mom’s home-cooked French + Chinese meals! I love trying different local restaurants; Japanese + Thai foods are on top of my list, but French food is still my favorite as I find it more balanced and nutritious. More importantly, I’ve learned to seek more organic, fresh ingredients.

7. Tell me about your family, where are they now?

My dear parents are looking for a place to retire! I think they would be happy in the bay area, maybe in Marin county. I also have an older brother who’s in Los Angeles, and my younger brother is here with me in San Francisco.

8. Do you try to go back, what do you miss the most?

Sadly, I haven’t been back to Paris in over 5 years. My parents have been visiting a lot so I haven’t felt an urge to go back. I do get nostalgic at times though; I miss my French grandmother and aunt a lot. I also miss hanging out at Parisian cafés and parks with friends, and spending my summer in Southern France.

9. How do you see the French being different from Americans?

I see more similarities than differences. The lifestyle is quite the same; although French people tend to spend a lot more time traveling and enjoying the good things in life! I like French expats; the French people I meet here in SF because they tend to be more ambitious, more open-minded and more positive-minded than the typical French.

10. Would you ever return to live in France full-time?

At this point, I’m not sure. If my Kickstarter campaign does well, I’d like to keep on expanding the clothing collection/company and live in more than just one place! The world has plenty of beautiful places so I wouldn’t want to limit myself to just Europe or the USA.

11. Are there any other relevant and even not so relevant information you’d like to share?

I love interacting with different cultures! I’ve had roommates from all over the world. And l love my bitcoins! Not just for the libertarian ideas, but for the concept of global currency.

Connect with Virginie Suos:
Virginie at Facebook
Prélude Kickstarter campaign

San Francisco – Carla Suhr, IDESLI Co-Founder from Spain

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1. Please introduce yourself.

My name is Carla Suhr, I’m from Spain, and I moved to San Francisco about 6 years ago. I found the area was a special place where I fit really well.

2. Can you tell us about your work?

I co-founded IDESLI International Institute of Linguistics with my partner Monica Vivanco about 5 years ago. IDESLI International Institute of Linguistics is committed to helping professionals, companies and organizations bridge linguistic gaps, build and expand their network, integrate the communities they work with and fulfill their mission by ensuring success in all projects and tasks involving a bilingual or multilingual approach. We provide language courses and multilingual translation.

3. What do you enjoy most about San Francisco, now when you have more experience, how’s the quality of life compared to Spain or where ever you moved from?

It´s fascinating to live in such a liberal and progressive city with a lot of open-minded professionals that want to improve the world.

4. Usually there are some negatives, what are the ones for San Francisco that really stand out for you personally? What do you miss most about “home” what ever that means to you?

I´m not a person who misses things really. Anything that I try to “import” from Spain? Being a little bit more relaxed when hanging out with friends, for example, instead of eating and leaving, I love “la sobremesa”.

5. Did you feel San Francisco is a good place for you as an entrepreneur right now? Are there any areas expats like you might like in the USA better than in San Francisco/Europe in your opinion (entrepreneurs? WHY?

San Francisco Bay area is a great place for entrepreneurs, with a lot of resources and investing companies. It´s also very competitive though, specially for technology start-ups. Probably there are many other cities that are good for entrepreneurs, i.e. New York, I guess it depends on the industry.

6. What are the best places/suburbs to live in San Francisco area in your opinion ?

East Bay has good transportation and is affordable, Marin County is very beautiful.

7. Do you go out a lot – hobbies? Or is everything about work right now? ?

I exercise a lot (hiking, yoga, climbing) and try to go out with friends as much as possible.
Most people in SF are very active.

8. What’s the cost of living compared to Spain or other places you have lived in? What is cheap or expensive in particular?

Rent is particularly expensive in SF. The rest of living costs are pretty similar.

9. What are the Californians like compared to for example people in Spain – do you notice any notable differences? Do you think it is easy meeting people and making friends in SF area?

Yes, it ́s a very diverse city, people have a very wide perspective of the world and are willing to meet new friends..

10. What’s the economic climate like in San Francisco, how would you compare it to Spain right now? Why?

I see that the economy is moving forward and doing better and better in SF. The recovery process in Spain is a bit slower.

11. How does the work culture differ from Spain?

It’s much more casual than in Spain, extremely professional but casual (you can wear jeans and flat shoes), specially in the start-up world.

12. Coming from Finland myself I know a lot about Spain. I also know most people here know very little about Spain, usually it is very superficial and limited to Barcelona and Madrid or Costa del Sol. What would you like to have everyone know about Spain – facts, culture and trivia.

Spain is a very culturally diverse country. I ́m from the Northern coast of Spain,the region called Cantabria, that is actually similar to Northern California, very green, with mountains close to the coast, and extraordinary food. If people are traveling to Spain for two weeks or so, I would recommend them not only to visit the big cities but also to explore the Northern and Southern areas.

13. Did you have any misconceptions about the USA that have turned out to be super wrong….or vice versa, you thought something will be great and it is exactly the other way around?

I didn’t have many expectations as I think it ‘s the best way to go.

14. Do you think your career (business) would be the same in Europe– or does this work better for you? Either way, please explain more.

I’m an entrepreneur by heart and I would have probably opened a business any place I would have lived in. We offer services to cover the specific needs of the SF population (those might be others in other places). i.e teaching Spanish for professionals.

15. If money was not a concern for you what so ever –what would you do?

Money might be one of the little factors that guide me in my decisions, but it’s not the main factor at all. When we started IDESLI, we did it with about $1,000. It wasn’t the money that made us start the business, it was our excitement to create something we believed in and for what we had the education.

16. What are your favorite restaurants/bars in SF?

NOPA and Plant Café Organic in Embarcadero are two of my favorite restaurants. Always good.

17. Is there any advice you would like to offer new expats/entrepreneurs arriving at San Francisco?

Come with an open mind, ready to learn and to give the best of yourself.

18. Anything else you would like to share with us?? Choose freely.

Visit www.idesli.com !
We offer language services geared to entrepreneurs and workers coming to the USA from other countries as well: Business English Courses (focusing on pitches, presentations, …) that are available on-site and Online, and Certified Multilingual Translations. If you need any of these services, please email us!

Connect with Carla Suhr:
www.idesli.com
Carla Suhr at LinkedIn

Houston – Anna Zsigrai Grove, Hungary

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When I realized that Anna had moved to Houston, I just had to interview her. She was friends with a former EuroCircle team member from NYC, Anu Arponen. Anu nowadays lives in St. Petersburg, FL. She used to run ballroom workshops for NYC based members in Manhattan.

1. Please introduce yourself. Tell us a little about where you are from originally and who you are.

My name is Anna Orsolya Zsigrai Grove and I am from Miskolc, Hungary and currently live in Houston, Texas. I work at the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest medical center, and am a Sponsored Programs Manager (aka Grants Manager) at the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. I work closely with faculty and researchers, advising them on their grant submissions, preparing their budgets and grant applications and other things they need to help them receive funding for their research in tropical medicine, and making sure we follow federal and institutional rules and regulations regarding our spending of sponsor funds.

2. How did you choose your career?

I think the career chose me… I never would have guessed that someday I would be a Grants Manager; I didn’t even know such career existed. I was a banker back in Hungary and after moving to the U.S., started out as a real estate agent in Manhattan. A couple of years later I got a job as a Procurement Analyst at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene at the City of New York. One day after work I met a friend of a friend at a Happy Hour and she mentioned they were having a hard time filling a Grants Manager position at the Hospital she worked at and the rest is history.

3. When and why did you move to the USA, where have you lived after that initial move?

I moved to the States exactly eleven years ago and was one of the lucky fifty-five thousand individuals that year to win the green card lottery. I quit my job at the second largest bank in Hungary and got on the plane with two suitcases and some money in my pocket and came to the U.S.

After 7 wonderful and exciting years in New York, I spent a year and a half working for the George Washington University in beautiful downtown Washington, DC. In August of 2010 I moved to Houston, where I have already lived in 3 different places

4. What do you do after work, what interests you?

Beside my full-time employment, I am also a photographer and enjoy taking pictures of the city I live in and the people that live here. My pictures have been used by Apple Inc., Glenn Beck, Christie’s, Bloomberg’s, etc., and can be viewed at www.annagrovephotography.com. I started with fine art back in New York City, however here in Houston I expanded my territory to include event photos (e.g. conferences, art shows), portfolio/portrait photos, and family photos due to high demand.

Collage1 collage2The best part in taking these portrait and family photos are that I do enjoy bringing the best out of each and every one of my clients. Seeing the happiness on their faces when they receive the photos is what I love the most.
collage4

I also work with glass. I have recently started selling my glass artwork including fused glass jewelry, home decor and wall art all made by using glass fusing technique. collage3

These items can be viewed at www.studio18works.etsy.com

My plan for the future is to take my photography business and fused glass studio to the next level.

5. What is your favorite food?

Well, I’m a huge “foodie”, and Houston is a great place for finding a large variety of food choices. I like all kinds of food; Thai, Greek, Indian or Middle-Eastern. One of my favorite Houston restaurants is Underbelly, where the food is local and the menu changes every day based on availability of ingredients.

However, I must say I can’t wait to go home and eat real Hungarian food—especially my mom’s home cooked meals!

6.Tell me about your family, where are they now?

Most of my relatives live in Miskolc, the second largest city in Hungary. However, my mom moved to the capital city, Budapest a few years ago. She works for Anheuser-Busch Inbev as a payroll specialist. My sister and her family live in Vienna, Austria. One of my cousins lives in Boston and her brother lived in London until about a year ago. As you can see we are pretty much all over the world.

7. Do you try to go back to Hungary every year? What do you miss the most?

Sadly, I haven’t been back to Hungary in over 5 years. I know it is way overdue so I am happy to say that I have my plane ticket for this summer. August can’t come fast enough…
What I miss the most? I’m not sure. My family and my closest friends for sure. I feel a bit detached right now since it’s been so long that I last visited my country. I feel very nostalgic and I think just walking down the old streets where I grew up and seeing my school building would bring tears to my eyes.

8. How do you see Hungarians being different from Americans?

When I look at Americans and Hungarians I see more similarities than differences. Especially among the younger generation (30 and under). They have access to most things that Americans do, they speak English well, and most of them are well traveled.

9. When you think about life in Hungary vs USA before you moved to the USA – did you have misconceptions that turned out to be wrong?

Not at all. I found it very easy to adjust and I had no surprises. I am able to adapt very easily so it might just be me, although I must say there are things here in America that do make me take a second look and say ‘only in America’.

11. How is the Hungarian community in Houston vs. USA?

Houston has a relatively large Hungarian community, centered around the Hungarian American Cultural Association, of which I am an active member. Its leader, Richard Graber, is a fantastic organizer, and keeps the organization vibrant and active. Hungarians here in Houston tend to stay for a few years and then move on or move back home after having gone to medical school here, doing residency or working for an oil company for a few years. So we always have new faces in the crowd, but it’s very diverse, too, both in terms of age and how long they have been here. We hold regular Hungarian Happy Hours every first Friday of the month at a local Greek restaurant. We also try to celebrate major Hungarian anniversaries, get together for picnics or other gatherings, and there are sometimes Hungarian folk dancing and music events—there is also an honorary Hungarian consulate in Houston, Philip Aronoff.

12. Who do you think are the Hungarians the average American may know?

The average American is probably familiar with the following people even though some may not know they are of Hungarian origin: Adrien Brody, Zsa zsa Gabor, Mariska Hargitay, Goldie Hawn, Toni Curtis, George Cukor, Gene Simmons, George Pataki, Erno Rubik, Calvin Klein, George Soros, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy just to name a few…

13. Would you ever return to live in Hungary full-time?

At this point I’m not sure. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Connect with Anna:
www.annagrovephotography.com
www.facebook.com/annagrovephotography
www.facebook.com/studio18works

New York – Malena Belafonte, Denmark – Beauty with Brains

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Malena is a former international model, singer/songwriter, mother, co-founder of the Speyer Legacy School and founder of Malena by Malena Belafonte Cosmetics for Women.
Malena will be co-hosting our Summer Kick Off and White Party on Thursday,May 29, 2014 at the Attic in New York City (right after her trunkshow at 15 CPW).
Join Malena at her SCANDINAVIAN TRUNK SHOW at 15 Central park West earlier in the day on May 29 from 1pm-7pm (thanks DilogR for letting us use your technology)

Tell Us About Yourself.

I am born and raised in Denmark. I come from a very academic family. My parents were both professors at The Royal Danish Conservatory of Music. My dad was a conductor and composer and my mom was a soloist. I started performing with both them and in school, and traveled a lot performing all over. I became a singer and later a songwriter which seemed so natural to me. I left Denmark to become a model in Paris and though it was only to master French at a level that would let me become an Judge for International affairs, after 2 very successful years, that dream of the royal tribune of law, got replaced by my real passion which was music and entertainment.

How long have you been a member of EuroCircle?

I don’t even remember when I joined. I seem to have hosted a myriad of events and been involved for a while.

How long have you been in the US and what brought you here?

I came to NYC as a model because I knew that if you can make it in New York you can make it anywhere. It was supposed to be a temporary thing, before setting up base in LA. Somehow I am still here and it ended up being the other way around. I go to LA on trips and have been living in NYC for a long time now. NYC fits my personality which is definitely fast paced and adventurous, yet totally real and honest. The hard working mentality that you simply have to have in order to succeed here is just a part of me that I think my dad fostered.

What has been the best thing you have done so far in your career?

Well, anytime I am in a studio recording there is a happiness that I cannot describe. It is the creativity that fulfills anyone in music. But set that aside: I co-founded The Speyer Legacy School in 2009. One of the mom’s in my daughter’s preschool came to me in 2007 and asked what I thought about starting a very special school for gifted children. Being that my dad had been a co-founder of a school in Denmark and a brilliant mind, it was pretty natural for me to shake hands and say: “Let’s go!” and the journey began. The last one of the Fab 5 as I call us 5 that founded the school, sort of tied it all up in a nice bow, because she was this amazing lawyer who was able to get all of our ideas and enthusiasm put into a legal entity that now has become an educational masterpiece. We started with 2 amazing leaders whose view on education and skills as teachers were just Nirvana. We had 26 students and now we have close to 250 students, a staff of 50 in 85,000 sq feet that we beautifully renovated in time for the September 2013-2014 school year. Another thing I am incredibly proud of was when I did Dancing with the Stars in Denmark. It was one of those times that I will never forget. We were opening the school on the same time and I had to peddle back and forth between NYC and Copenhagen with a 1 year old and a 5 years old and my dance partner, so we lived on 2 hours of sleep a day. It finally became too hard to travel that much and we ended up living in my home country for 3 months. It was awesome for my kids to experience Danish life and also for me to be with my family every day. My husband David (David Belafonte is a producer, son of entertainer Harry Belafonte. David is an Emmy Award winning, Grammy nominated producer too) came every weekend and we all just made it work. Getting the silver was just the icing on the cake. Though both things happened on the same time, and so opposite in every way, it was incredibly fulfilling on every level and such a testament to the diversity that my parents taught me to always have in me.

Is there any particular story, moment, an award or an achievement throughout your career that you are particularly proud of?

Any achievement during my career pales in comparison to having children. Having my daughter, was the most amazing moment in my life. When she came out, she smiled, immediately started nursing and my heart just filled up and it was like: Ahhh, there you are, this was what I felt I was missing my whole life. It all of a sudden just made sense. When my son was born it was horribly dramatic, but I can truly say that with him, my cup runneth over. As a singer I had many moments; Performing live in front of 10,000 people and 24 million viewers was pretty amazing. It was an anniversary for “Fernseh Garten”, a German talk show, and they had pulled everybody in from everywhere to perform. Doing Dancing with The Stars in Europe was again one of the highlights. It was so incredible to be able to emotionally connect to a place inside your heart that your partner also went into, to become one in a dance and to convey that same experience to the audience and even to the viewers. Winning second place didn’t suck . Another performance that stands out in addition to working with Cool and the Gang, Jean Beauvoir and Harry Belafonte, was singing a medley for the Queen of Denmark. That was a highlight and an honor. On July 4th this year I have been asked to be the key note speaker at Rebuild in Demark, which is such a big honor. Following in the footsteps of Victor Borge and President Nixon at this place and time in my life is a little overwhelming.

You were a model before founding your company – can you share with us any highlights or a fond memory from your modeling career?

I was lucky to have started my career as a model and never had to waitress or do anything else to support myself. So that in itself is a highlight . I remember doing a show in Rio in front of 30 million viewers and 3000 who is who in the live audience. One of the models was such a diva. If you happened to be on the runway with her, you had to almost be shaped like a moon in order to keep your feet on the runway and move your body out past the side of the runway and keep your head over your feet so you would not fall of the runway. So one day after she finished her walk and felt she did so amazingly well that she needed to twirl and turn and walk backwards sort of making her last bow and greeting the people. So dramatic and so self-indulgent. She miscalculated the space to the steps that went backstage, and fell off the runway with such a force that she looked like a cat with stiff legs just upside down. It was as dramatic and loud just like everything she did, and so incredible non gracious, non fantastic and straight out clumsy. Everyone back stage were laughing, though trying their best to hide, but some were literally bend over in stitches. I though it was hysterical, but tried my best to hold it in. And now it was my turn on the cat walk. I tried my best, but I could no longer keep it in. I started laughing so hard that I got tears in my eyes, and now I could not see anything. So here you have this model in a dramatic outfit, supposed to look gloom and angry, and I was shaking of laughter, tears were exploding all over my cheeks, I was visibly shaking and totally red in my face. I desperately tried NOT to fall of the runway, and I think the Universe was like: this is your time to shine, I will guide you, and somehow I managed to get back in one piece, only to hear the roars and applause from the audience. …..they thought this was some amazingly directed piece of the show that was meant to touch the audience and make them feel all sorts of things… No, I was just cracking up because the b((*^ fell off the stage….

Can you tell us more about your new company, Malena Belafonte, Inc?

It is an umbrella company that houses my different project and companies. I have a production company, a cosmetics line and an agency. Facebook: Pink Pirate Agency gives international designers representation in the US in a way that they can relate to. Each country has their own uniqueness in terms of how they do business, their culture and even financial structure. We understand that and are able to marry it with the US ways of doing things, which is very different.
My cosmetics company started out as a line for women on the go, multi functional and developed into an easy to use mineral cosmetics collection and skin care line. We have so little time to take care of ourselves that the products we use need to be easy to use yet give a lot of results, and that is what my line does, yet super glam and with awesome colors.
My production company is busy. Last week we just unveiled the permanent Per Hillo exhibit at Reebok Sportsclub and now we have a trunk show for Scandinavian designers at the beautiful 15 Central Park West on Thursday May 29th. I have 10 of the designers and brand from my Pink Pirate Agency showcasing their collections, from raw diamonds to crocodile bags. Pretty cool stuff.

You do a lot of wonderful charitable work and fundraising. What organizations do you work with?

I sort of jumped head first into charity work by taking over Cindy Crawford’s vice president position of an organization called DISHES. This was the first charity out of the fashion industry benefiting pediatric AIDS and HIV. Once we started the Speyer Legacy School, that became my main focus, though I also joined the board of Time In for Kids, which gives art education to the most at risk schools in NYC. I am currently also on the board of The Danish American Society and The Hans Christian Andersen Storytelling Foundation.

What makes Denmark so special and where in Denmark are you originally from?

I am from Jyderup, which is 1 hour from Copenhagen. Denmark is a beautiful country that especially in the summer is so lush and beautiful. Danes are nice and real, generous and fun. I can say that the nightlife in Denmark is something totally unique. Partying is in the genes, but it is not generally destructive partying, it is just all out, dancing, having fun, staying up til 6 am kind of partying. And on the other hand, we invented the word HYGGE, which sort of translates into cosy, and everyone hangs out, gets together and the whole lifestyle is all about hygge.

What time of year is the best to visit Denmark and the must see places when visiting there?

Summer. May and July and August. And of course Christmas. There is nothing like Danish Christmas!

What places do you like best in NYC and why..any favorite cafes, restaurants?

I love the Upper West Side. There are so many great places. It is very cosy. It is sort of where show biz families live, because they are left alone and there is more space than downtown. Shopping on Columbus, Sunday Flea Market, Museum of Natural History, Nice Matin for lunch and of course Central Park and The Hans Christian Anderson Statue.

How can people get in touch with you?

My website: http://www.malenabelafonte.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/malenabelafonte
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PinkPirateAgency

Austin – Gene Todorov from Bulgaria and The Brass House USCM Team

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Last year a bunch of veterans (United States Marine Corps) started a new elegant jazz lounge in downtown Austin. EuroCircle was one of the first groups to have an event there. The lovely and talented SILVIE RIDER (Switzerland) performed with her pianist husband Red Young at the piano. Manja Hossa (Slovenia) from LePA Skincare sponsored appetizers for EuroCircle members. One of the veterans running the club is a fellow European so how about saying hello to “Gene” from Bulgaria (Evgueniy). Jason (Jace)and Gene and their team a re really great people.

Please introduce yourself!

Evgueniy Todorov, known to all my friends as Gene; I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria, graduated with BA degree from the “Karl Marx” Economic University; renamed after 2001 to Sofia Economic University and MBA from Herriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland. Spend most of my time in San Diego, CA, and finally found home in Austin, TX; drawn to Austin primarily for its cosmopolitan and diverse society, live music culture and lay back and friendly attitude. Co-owner and manager of the Brass House, a Jazz Lounge and Blues Tavern.

When and why did you move to USA, where have you loved after that – how did you choose those cities/career?

Moved to the USA in 1991; at the end of the transformation of Eastern Europe from Communist Rule to Democracy. Initially arrived in LA, yet moved soon sought to San Diego.

Is your family in military or restaurant business?

No, I’m the first in both. I started my Military Career on a whim and ended up doing full 20 years of service, retiring last July from the USMC. My initial plans was to travel around the world for a while, but ended up opening the Brass House – a live Jazz Club in Austin.

What kind of music is your favorite?

I love just about any kind of music; obviously, Jazz and Blues are preferred stiles, but I also love Rock@Roll, Country, Alternative, Classical..etc. etc. I believe music is capable of opening borders and bringing people together, regardless of their ethnic, cultural, racial or religious background.

How was it being in the USMC – what did it teach you (good and bad)?

Life in the Marine Corps taught me a lot of things, mainly about myself and what a person is capable when he puts his will towards an end. It was never easy, but the shared hardship builds character and friendship bonds that lasts a lifetime.

Do you try to go back to Bulgaria every year? The language and the culture are different than in TX for sure. What do you miss the most – and the least?

I try to go back and spend time with my parents at least twice a year, particularly Christmas and Easter. Spending time with my parents and friends is important and enjoyable; wish I can go more often.

When you think about what did you think about life in Bulgaria vs USA before you moved to the USA – did you have misconceptions that turned out to be wrong?

Haha no misconceptions, since I did not know what to expect. But my Dad still thinks that everybody in USA wears a cowboy hat!

What is your favorite food/s and drink??

Everything! I enjoy all types of cuisine. I do try to promote various different dishes from around the world in the Brass House Tavern, just so people in Austin can enjoy the richness and variety of European cuisine.

How is the Bulgarian community in Austin vs. USA?

Hmm, I don’t know any other Bulgarian in Austin…

What would you like anyone know and appreciate about Bulgaria? Would you ever return to live their fulltime?

Small, but beautiful; it has a lot to offer in terms of culture, history, tourism and entertainment: from live concerts, lovely summer beaches at the Black Sea or majestic skiing mountain slopes in the winter. The most interesting is the cuisine: a healthy mixture of Eastern Slavic foods, central European meat dishes and many Mediterranean meals.

Could you share with us what are your team’s plans for the BRASS HOUSE?

Well, our initial concept was to offer a classy and elegant venue for life Jazz for the jazz fans in Austin. We felt that there is a greater demand for such a venue and we were right; in a few months we developed a large and dedicated clientele, who loved the elegant surroundings, crafty cocktails and martinis and the best of Austin Jazz musicians on the stage.

Recently we expanded and opened the Brass House Blues Tavern, adjacent to the Jazz Bar, providing yet another venue for Austin music society. And as we keep all the Jazz at the Jazz Lounge, at the Tavern we feature Blues, Bluegrass, Alternative, Country and Rockabilly bands. There is a great patio that links both sides, allowing our patrons to move freely between the Jazz and Blues stages and enjoy both bands in the same night. With the addition of a full kitchen and an excellent Italian chef, we plan to provide the Austin dining community with a variety of Mediterranean cuisine, creating a fine dining venue with live music shows. All in all, the intent is to excel in the two fields that cross borders and bring peoples together: music and cuisine , as well as handcrafted cocktails, martinis and specialty drinks.

Another intent is that we wanted to assist the Veteran society in Austin by any way possible: about 30% of our staff are Veterans and we host numerous non-profit events for Veteran foundations. We also host at least one non-profit event once a month for local Austin charities; recently we hosted a fundraising event for the Children with Altruism Foundation. We strongly believe in supporting and giving back to the community.

And last but not least, we like to promote and support the music society in Austin; we believe that group is what makes Austin unique and beautiful. We like to think that the Brass House Jazz lounge and the Blues Tavern can serve as a patron for the Arts. And we strive to bring the best of musicians that Austin has to offer as well as promote young and inspiring musicians.

Connect with Gene:
www.BrassHouseaustin.com
115 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX (just about 100 m, from Four Seasons)

Philadelphia – Inna Race, Interview with an Artist

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Please introduce Yourself.

My name is Inna Race; I was born and raised in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. Ever since I can remember, I have been creating Art; because, as one wise person said, “The ‘Earth’ without ‘Art’ is just ‘Eh’ ”, and I completely agree. Now my job is “Turning People into Masterpieces’.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your artistic journey.

I remember my childhood as my always being surrounded by colored pencils, charcoal, and clay. I was always busy either drawing, going to art schools, or preparing for an upcoming art show. Then came the intensive task of applying to one of the former Soviet Union’s finest Art Colleges. I was lucky to earn my Master’s Degree in Graphic Arts and Mass Media from the best art professors at the Belarussian Academy of Arts (Minsk, Belarus). Later, I became involved in a number of great projects organizing advertising campaigns for dozens of companies and talented musicians (setting up stages for their shows), TV studio productions, designing holiday decorations for our beautiful city’s streets and parks… The list goes on. It was fun; my art always gives me a chance to meet unique, talented people and see interesting places. My parents gave me life; Art let me live it, as I do, right now.

What did you do before launching your own business?

Experimenting, Learning, Listening to advice from smart people, thinking how and why I want to do things my way

Where do you find your inspiration?

My Inspiration is mostly People. I love people-watching, because I learn so much from it. I often try to guess their personalities and see the world through their eyes. It’s like a game for me sometimes—a learning game, where the result would inspire my next project.

Describe your fantasy project?

I would love to work with someone as open-minded and adventurous as Lady Gaga or Pink. I would love to hear from them what I usually hear from all my clients: “Just do your thing… I trust you!”

What has been your biggest struggle as an artist?

As for all of us, it always takes time to realize who we are and to have others respect for that special quality, whatever it is. As an artist, I believe it’s very important to find out for yourself just how different are you from everyone else and keep proving it throughout your life; keep people being interested in who you are and what you are going to do next.

What advice would you give to a new artist?

Never take criticisms personally. Learn to love being criticized by Professionals. (It’s constructive!) Cherish the fact that a pro has good advice to share with you. Learn. Learn from the best. Never say no to an opportunity of working with somebody, whose craft you respect, even if the work is for free. You can learn from that experience. To see the master in action is priceless. I already invested so much in my education.
I still am investing and will never stop

How do you manage all of your personal and professional life?

I learned early in life that in my case, “working to live” is much better than “living to work”. There are often too many instances, when I need to work 24/7, but I always make sure to reward myself after one project is over. My best reward is fun time with my family. I often have my business trips turn into romantic journeys. Last year, I was lucky enough to travel the world and mix work with pleasure. It takes a lot of planning, but it’s doable–and fun (even if it keeps my saving account empty).

How would your professional life as an artist be if you were still in Belarus?

Honestly, it’s very hard to tell. I was leaving Belarus, when my career was at its peak. I had to leave a lot of prospects and famous, powerful clients behind. It was 18 years ago, when the economy and political situation were better. Everything has changed since then. I cannot imagine, where I would be there right now. But I never regret leaving it all, moving to America, and starting from scratch.

Have you had much experience with EuroCircle (member since 2012), how did you find out about it etc…what ever suits)

I feel very fortunate to be a part of the EuroCircle community. My friend– very talented artist, herself– invited me to a party she was hosting, a few years ago. I loved it. What’s not to like? Intelligent, gorgeous, talented people getting together, and having fun, while making friends and business connections.

Connect with Inna:
InnaRace.com
Inna @ EuroCircle
www.youtube.com/SalonStage

Austin – Ozlem Diker, A Turkish Lady with a Mind for Business

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I have not met many Turkish people who have actually lived in Finland. When I found Ozlem there was no way she could get away without me interviewing her for the website. I absolutely love Turkish food and miss that terribly from NYC. Not the mention all the Turkish connections (including our 3 Turkish DJs in NYC, Gokhan, Murat and Ilker) we made via EuroCircle NYC, the great events we organized with the help of the Turkish community, consulate, Sinem and all. I am getting really nostalgic thinking about it. But let’s meet Ozlem first and learn more about her.

Please introduce Yourself.

I am Ozlem Diker. I was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. My sister and I grew up traveling since my parents owned a travel agency. At the age of 17, I traveled to a small town called Raahe in Finland as an exchange student. There, I have lived for a year with a Finnish family, who has accepted me – a kid they just saw for the first time in their life – as their daughter, sister or grand kid forever starting from that moment. I was not a tourist any more. I have experienced to be Finnish for a year. I have learned that nothing is better or worse, but everything is just different. I have studied International Trade in Istanbul. Upon my graduation, I first moved to Pforzheim, Germany to study MBA in International Management and then to Hamburg, to perform an internship in international marketing. After the MBA program, I moved back to Istanbul and worked in business development and finance department of an international private equity fund for five years. In the meantime, I got married to my beloved husband.

When and why did you move to the USA/left your country? How did you start your business?

I moved to Austin in October 2012 due to my husband’s job. He was offered a position in the US branch of the company he has been working for in Istanbul. It was a good opportunity for both of us. We decided to make the move and I quit my job. All of a sudden, I was transformed into an expat’s wife from a career oriented, hardworking professional. After a year’s time of job-hunting with no success, I decided to start my own business TURQuoise & Beyond, where I sell Peshtemal Turkish bath towels; unique traditional towels used back in hammams and fashion jewelry; designed and produced with care in Turkey. The concept store was born with the passion to introduce unique treasures from my country. The sales are currently in online platforms for individuals and I am working to expand to businesses all over US.

What do you enjoy most about the USA/Austin, now when you have more experience, how’s the quality of life compared to other US cities or Turkey?

The most important thing I like about Austin is that, I find most of the things I would be looking for in a big city. There is always something happening in Austin and you just need to look for it. However, at the same time I still feel that I am living in a small town because people are so friendly and they have the time to talk to you rather than being in a rush like all big city inhabitants. I have never lived in a different US city but I think the quality of life is very high compared to other cities in US or Turkey. People are very friendly, helpful and respectful to each other. People are very open-minded and welcome the differences. There is less traffic. You can find opportunities to perform all kinds of outdoor and indoor sports. Life is not only about work. Social life, family and friends are an indispensable part of it.

Usually there are some negatives, what are the ones for Austin that really stand out for you personally?

Distances are so far away that it is not possible to walk anywhere. Most of the time you would need to drive and if your destination is a close one, then you just prefer to drive.

Usually there are some negatives, what are the ones for Austin that really stand out for you personally?

Distances are so far away that it is not possible to walk anywhere. Most of the time you would need to drive and if your destination is a close one, then you just prefer to drive..

Do you feel Austin is a good place for you as an entrepreneur right now? Are there any areas expats like you might like in the USA in your opinion better than Austin (entrepreneurs/startups WHY?

I think Austin is a great place for entrepreneurs. Starting a business is simple and easy in terms of paper work. Entrepreneurship is very much supported by the city and the state. There are a lot of alternatives for funding. Everyone has an idea and is an entrepreneur within himself or herself that you get inspired by all the conversations around you. For me personally, all of the above is valid. However, the biggest challenge for my business is that Texas is so scattered that it becomes harder to reach to potential business customers in person.

How would you rate the public transport? What are the different options? Do you need to own a car?

There are some busses and one metro line in Austin. You can use them only if you are traveling within downtown or if you are living within a walking distance of the metro line. The metro is very slow and you need to wait for long hours to be able to catch the busses. Unless you are living, working and hanging out in downtown, it is not possible not to use a car.

Which are the best places/suburbs to live in Austin as an expat in your experience?

We have been living in North Austin and enjoy it very much. A lot of technology companies such as Dell, Apple, Samsung, Oracle, etc.. are currently located or in the process of moving to the region. You can find parks, nice shopping centers, restaurants, and events in close proximity. Peaceful neighborhood, low crime, good schools are some of the advantages. As an expat, you most of the time prefer to live in an apartment community until you decide where you would like to settle down. There are also a lot of new apartment communities in the neighborhood.

Do you go out a lot – hobbies? Or is everything about work right now?

There are so many networking events being organized in Austin and I spend a lot of time participating to them. I enjoy meeting new people, making friends, being inspired by the story of each new person I meet. I like biking and jogging in my free time. I also do painting occasionally. Trying new restaurants, trying out new one-time activities and traveling are also my favorites.

What’s the cost of living compared to other cities you are familiar with? What is cheap or expensive in particular?

I am only familiar with California and New York in US, where the cost of living is significantly higher than Austin. Compared to Istanbul, cost of living in Austin would be slightly higher. However, it totally depends on what you include in your own bucket when calculating your own cost of living. Buying cars are way cheaper in US as there is an out rated tax imposed on cars in Turkey. Rents could be considered similar. Meat products are cheaper in Austin, whereas vegetables and fruits are very expensive compared to Istanbul.

What are the locals like; do you feel you mix mainly with other expats?

I attend to a lot of networking events and try to mingle with locals as much as possible. They are very friendly and welcoming. However, it could be harder to get into them because you are the new one out here; whereas they already have an established life, friends and family circle. It is easier to get into other expats because they are all foreigners, share the same feelings and try to establish a life and friends network just like you.

Did you think it is easy meeting people/other startups and making friends in Austin?

That’s a tricky question. Meeting people is very easy in Austin because people are friendly and open to making friends. I believe you can meet people while doing anything in Austin very easily. Making friends is a deeper step as you are actually intervening with a currently established friends’ network. Therefore, you should be the one to make the first move most of the time.

In most of the networking events, you come across to Sales, Marketing and HR people. However, meeting other startups or meeting entrepreneurs, meeting investors who invest in startups, new businesses, finance professionals are a bit more challenging as those people do not hang out in regular networking events. They prefer to socialize in organizations with members, which makes it harder to get to them.

How does the work culture/life style differ from other countries you have lived in?

Both work culture and life style in Austin is much more casual than Turkey, Germany or Finland.

In Turkey, work life requires more procedures and a more formal dress code. You would need at least two years to get promoted in a position. People working in the same work environment tend to have similar academic and professional backgrounds. Work hours are longer and people are expected to be a good team member, problem solver, out of the box thinker.

In Germany, life is more structured. Everything is planned in advance. People would hardly get personal on work related issues. You could be great pals in social life even if you are fighting to death at work. Titles are very important and people are very distant. Most of the time you work as an individual and you would resist doing anything, which is not in your job description. It is highly important to have a photo in your resume and speak standardized German with no dialect “hoch Deutsch”. Work hours should be highly efficient with less socializing and long holidays are valued.

Whereas in Austin, work and social life are very casual. Socializing with your co-workers, partners, customers are a key point in your success. Titles and hierarchy is not important at all. Average promotion time within a position is 6-9 months. Putting a photo in your resume is very uncommon to prevent any kind of discrimination.

Did you have any misconceptions about Finland or Texas that have turned out to be super wrong….or vice versa, you thought something will be great and it is exactly the other way around?

I did not have any misconceptions about Finland or Texas. The only thing is that I have found Texas greener than I have expected.

Do you think your career (business) would be the same in Finland/Turkey – or does this work better for you? Either way, please explain more.

Working in Turkey or US has both advantages and disadvantages for me. Your resume tells a lot about your background in Turkey (schools, scholarships, work places) before you even need to start telling yourself. However, those do not mean much in US, as people do not recognize the name of the institutions or work places. The biggest challenge in Turkey is to switch between different industries or departments as most of the jobs require work experience in that specific industry. It is more acceptable in US to switch jobs between different departments or industries. That’s why as a business development and finance professional, I was confident to look for jobs in the same field but in different sectors other than real estate/ private equity. However, the two biggest challenges here were unrecognized academic background and having no network at all when we first moved. Applying online was like throwing a stone to a dark whole. Most of the people find their jobs within their network.
When we dive into the entrepreneurial world, it is easier to start a business in Texas/ US compared to Turkey. There is less startup costs and less procedures, paper work along the way. People are supported to be entrepreneurs and start-ups are supported by the state, non-profit organizations in their infancy in terms of funding, training, etc… I could have continued my career path in Turkey in the same field but I feel there are more opportunities here both in corporate and entrepreneurial means.

What are your favorite restaurants/bars in Austin – why ? If you know of any great Turkish restaurant we would love to know as I love Turkish food. SipSak in NYC was one of my favorite place and Orhan catered a huge party for EuroCircle @ Turkish consulate in 2006.

Rudy’s has the best BBQ I have eaten. I love the Tex-Mex foods and the open-air restaurant by the lake in Hula Hut and the pizzas in Backspace in its cozy environment. Turkey has a huge delicious cuisine. Unfortunately, there are no Turkish restaurants in Austin. However, there are similar tastes in fast food; VERTS and Kebabalicious

There is something you would like everyone to know/understand about Turkey, its culture and people, what would it be?? I know from my own experience how little people really know about Turkey and its core culture – and even about the amazing cuisine.

Turkey is a unique country, which is located where east and west meets. It connects Asia and Europe with its bridges over the Marmara Sea. Turkey has a large cultural heritage, several natural beauties and amazing cuisine. Turkish people are very hospitable, friendly and generous. I would recommend everyone to visit Turkey. I assure they will find more than they would expect.

Besides all the great things about Turkey, I would like everyone to know that due to the agenda of the current government, Turkish people have been facing significant problems: restriction of freedoms including freedom of speech, freedom to get information through media, freedom to protest… Turkish People have been protesting on the streets since June 2013 and they have been facing with extensive means of police violence resulting deaths of several innocent young people. In order to stop this, it is extremely important to get the outside worlds’ support. Please support the Turkish people and let the world know what is happening in Turkey!

Is there any advice you would like to offer new expat arrivals or contemplating a move to Austin – especially for a startup/entrepreneurs/freelancers??

My biggest advice for the new expat arrivals would be to join networking events and hobby groups and connect with as much people as possible. Austinites are very friendly, helpful and easy to meet.

For start-ups or entrepreneurs, there are great organizations, which are dedicated to help you. Some of them are Small Business Administration (SBA), Small Business Development Program (SBDP), PeopleFund. Do not hesitate to ask for help or info or to pick someone’s brain.

If there are other startups that you would like to connect within the European community – who would they be?

I would love to connect with start-ups especially in retail, online market place and marketing. I enjoy meeting new people and get inspired by the story of every person or business. That’s why; I would love to connect with all start-ups in the European community in Austin as it would be great to meet them face-to-face.

Connect with Ozlem:
Ozlem Diker at EuroCircle
Ozlem Diker @ LinkedIn
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