“It’s wonderful to see how the 4flow culture thrives in the United States."

Jessica started at 4flow management in Berlin, Germany, in 2014. In 2022, she took a big step and moved to the United States. Now she’s part of the planning team for a 4flow customer in the US. In this interview, she shares her experiences after her move, her favorite American expressions and her advice for others who dream of working abroad.

You changed your location at 4flow and moved to the United States. How did that happen?
I was always interested in living abroad. After graduating high school, I spent some time in New Zealand on a work-and-travel visa, and later I studied in France. Even after starting my career, I remained curious about other countries and cultures. Business trips to other European countries helped my curiosity grow. So when my husband got a job offer in the United States, I decided to move with him.

How did 4flow support you in that decision?
My manager supported my plan from the very beginning and helped me look for an opportunity to change my location. In the end, we found a position that worked for me. My role and tasks changed slightly – in Berlin, I worked in supply chain planning and then in solution management. Now I’m in planning again. But I also have responsibilities that go beyond the typical planner role and help me grow in other areas. For instance, I support sales activities and help onboard new team members. I bring lots of know-how from Europe and help bridge both cultures. It’s wonderful to see how the 4flow culture thrives in the United States.

What is the 4flow philosophy to you?
No matter who you talk to, you’re always met with positivity and openness. Everyone does their best to support one another. Because I live in Wisconsin and work mostly remote, it’s important for me to know that I can always depend on my colleagues for support. When I visit my team in Detroit or Atlanta, I can bring that kind of exchange to life and get to know the American culture better. I really value face-to-face meetings with my 4flow colleagues!

Have you noticed cultural differences?
Yes, definitely. For example, the passion for sports is something I’ve noticed. People follow many different kinds of sports, and it’s even gotten me excited, even though I’m not usually that into sports. Another difference is the small talk. You’re brought into conversation here in all sorts of day-to-day situations. For me, as a German, that was new at the beginning, but now I’ve come to really enjoy it. In general, I think you can learn a lot from every culture. I’ve made a hobby out of learning American expressions. My team uses a lot of them, and I always try to write them down and remember them.

Do you have an example of an expression you really like?
A really funny one to me is flying by the seat of my pants. It means to do something difficult just based on your gut feeling, even if you don’t have any experience. That really fits with my decision to move abroad. I didn’t know exactly what I could expect, but I followed my gut feeling and just did it. A change is as good as a rest is another one I like. Sometimes, you just need a change to find new inspiration. At 4flow, there are always new challenges, like this move, so there’s never a dull moment.

How long to you plan to stay in the US before you return to the Berlin office?
Originally, I wanted to be here for just two years. Then I liked it so much that I extended my stay by another year. I found it really exciting to see everything we achieved in that time period, and I wasn’t ready to go so soon. At the end of my time here, I want to take a sabbatical and travel. The United States has so many national parks I want to see. At the moment, I plan to go back to Germany after that, but who knows? Maybe I’ll still like it here so much that I’ll want to stay.

What would you advise others to do if they want to work abroad?
My best tip is to tell other people about your dreams and goals – whether that’s going abroad or something else. I’ve found it’s helpful when the people around you know what you want to achieve. That creates opportunities to talk about it, and it commits you to achieving your goal. And it gives others the chance to support you, which often creates new opportunities.