Relocating to our LA offices - Dom and Jules

What motivated the move asides from the beautiful sunshine?

[Juliette] I’ve always wanted to experience living in America, especially LA. Lifestyle aside, the opportunity to build out my own market and team was too good to turn down. The Life Sciences industries in America are huge, and there is a massive opportunity to replicate the success I’ve had in Europe on an even larger scale. Having been with the company for 5 years, it felt like the right time to make a change.

[Dom] My main motivation was to step out of my comfort zone and really challenge myself. Capital Markets & trading is always something I’ve been intrigued by as well as the idea of living in America, so it seemed like a perfect match. I also liked the idea of being one of the 1st members of a new office/team/department, as I can have a big impact on the direction of the office and hopefully help to mould the culture.

What was the process of relocating like?

[Juliette] The relocation process hasn’t been difficult, Thor has been supportive and made sure that our travel and accommodation were looked after to take away some of the additional stress that can come with moving country. The team have all been extremely helpful and made it easy to move and feel comfortable. Having Dom also move from London has been really nice as we are both in the same boat.

[Dom] The main challenge with relocation I found is just getting settled and getting all of my new documents and necessities sorted in the right order. Although, I am adjusting and settling in really well and a lot of that is due to the fact that I’ve received a lot of support in many ways from Thor, my family, friends and colleagues as well as all the new connections I made in the states!

What has your experience been like so far in adapting to a new city, culture, and work environment?

[Dom] I’ve tried to listen and look out for how things operate and work over here. In the same way, I feel like there are also positives in the way that we do things in the UK & Europe, which I’ve been sharing with the team in order to help improve some areas too, so it’s a good mix. Regarding the new city, I’m just trying to explore as much as possible and try new things.

[Juliette] Moving from the London office which is well established and has around 80 people compared to a small office of 6 has been a big change, but one that I was actually looking forward to. I can’t wait to see how we build out the team, knowing that I have been here from the start! Our office complex is great, we are in a shared working space on a beautiful complex with a lot of outdoor space which is amazing at lunchtime.

How has this move impacted your every day and how will this help you grow professionally?

[Dom] My day-to-day is fairly similar work-wise, it’s just a lot nicer having a much shorter commute with the sun out most days and palm trees everywhere. There is a lot to do here outside of work too, which makes it a fun place to be.

[Juliette] This is probably one of the best decisions I have made, living in LA so far has been a dream. The support I’ve received has made a huge difference and it has been an easy transition for the most part.

On a professional level, building out my own team and function here will fast-track my progression and I can already see a lot of opportunities out here. I am also looking forward to being able to expand my relations from my time in Europe, to be a global provider for our clients in Ireland and America.