A Year of New Beginnings: How I Found My Place at Miebach as an Expat

Insights into the practical challenges of our move to the USA

Over the past year, my family and I relocated from Germany to the USA due to my husband's work. While we were settling into our new surroundings, I initially continued working remotely in my position in Germany. In April of this year, I then began my role at Miebach USA, marking a new professional chapter while we continued building a new home for our family in the USA.

An international move means far more than packing boxes and boarding a plane. We had to find and rent a house, enroll our children in school and kindergarten, arrange health insurance, and navigate daily life in a completely new system. Even buying a car was more complicated than expected, as we initially had no credit history in the USA.

Many things that had been straightforward and simple in Germany suddenly required additional research, more paperwork, and above all, patience.

A new professional environment and new family routines

This adjustment naturally affected my professional life as well. After more than 10 years of professional experience at German agencies, I was now communicating daily in English at a global company, getting to know new colleagues and different ways of working. I had to learn to ask more questions, stay open minded, and cope with not immediately knowing how everything works. That was not always easy. At the same time, this experience has made me more confident and helped me act more flexibly and solution oriented in unfamiliar situations.

As a mother of two children, the move has also changed our family routines. In Germany, we had grandparents and close friends nearby who could help when needed. Not because we depended on them, but because their support was simply readily available.

That kind of spontaneous support does not exist here. When plans change or one of the children needs us, my husband and I have to organize and coordinate everything ourselves. This usually requires more planning and flexibility. At the same time, it has also made us more aware of how valuable our family and friends in Germany are to us.

How we have settled into our new life in the USA

Despite all the challenges, we were very fortunate to gradually build a sense of belonging here. Neighbors became friends, and colleagues have also supported us well beyond the workplace. They gave us tips about the area, helped us navigate unfamiliar new cultural situations, and included us in everyday moments. Through these relationships, our new surroundings feel less and less like a place we moved to, and more and more like a second home.

New connections through my work at Miebach

This sense of connection has also shaped my experience at Miebach. In my role in Marketing and Communications for the USA and Canada, I collaborate with colleagues from across the company. An important part of my work involves bringing the right people, ideas, and information together so that our expertise can reach the clients who can benefit from it.

I particularly enjoy bringing structure and momentum to projects. Drawing on ten years of project management experience, I like developing ideas from the initial conversation through to a concrete, actionable plan. It is important to me to involve the right people, clearly define responsibilities, and agree on next steps together.

Flexibility and support have helped me feel at home

The flexibility at Miebach also makes a big difference for me. Family commitments cannot always be planned far in advance, especially when family does not live nearby and cannot step in at short notice.

Being able to communicate openly, organize my work independently, and still be there for my family has made this transition significantly easier. Precisely because I started at Miebach during an important personal phase, it was especially valuable to receive support as I settled into my new role and found my place within the company.

I am grateful for the people who welcomed me so warmly, proud of the work I get to contribute to, and excited about everything that still lies ahead.

With the right support, this new chapter already feels a little like home.