Summary
What is it like to build a career and a life in another country? Four BENEO colleagues share their experiences of working abroad, from discovering new markets and ways of working to finding a home and making friends. Juliana, Noëmie, Felipe and KC reflect on the opportunities, everyday surprises and adjustments that shaped their moves. Their stories highlight the importance of supportive colleagues, curiosity and patience, offering a personal view of international mobility at BENEO and practical insights for anyone considering a similar step.
Personal stories of career moves, cultural discoveries and finding a new home.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to move to a completely different country, or even continent, for work? Some BENEO colleagues did more than wonder: they took the leap and started a new chapter abroad. From Brazil to the US, Belgium to Singapore, Chile to Germany and Singapore to the US: four BENEO colleagues share what motivated them to work abroad, what surprised them along the way and how the experience has changed their perspective, both professionally and personally.
In this blog, you’ll discover:
- What motivated four BENEO colleagues to take their careers abroad.
- How colleagues, family and local connections helped them settle in.
- The differences they encountered in everyday life and at work.
- The habits they adopted, the things that surprised them and their advice for others considering a move.
What motivated you to take the opportunity to work abroad with BENEO – and what has the experience brought you professionally?
Juliana Hirata, Area Sales Manager North America (from Brazil to the US):
Moving to the US was motivated by my desire to experience a new market and take on a new challenge. I’ve always enjoyed change and pushing myself outside my comfort zone, so it felt like the right opportunity for both my professional and personal growth. The US team was incredibly welcoming and supportive. I learned a lot from them about the market, while also bringing my own long-term BENEO experience to the team.
Noëmie Cosemans, Head of Customer Technical Service Asia Pacific (from Belgium, to Germany, the US and to Singapore):
After graduating from university, I wanted to start my career abroad. I had completed an internship in Canada and loved the experience, which made me want to live and work overseas for longer. When I came across a job opening for a bio-engineer in Germany, I applied straight away. Seven years and four locations later, I can confidently say that applying for the Customer Technical Service (CTS) trainee program was a good decision.
Felipe Zuniga, Toll Manufacturing Manager (From Chile to Germany):
The opportunity was about moving to Germany and starting the operations of the BENEO Proteins line. This included factory construction, building the operations team and organizational structure, and integrating Meatless. A dream for any engineer! I wanted to challenge myself, continue growing within the company and gain a broader understanding across countries, factories and functions. It was a huge challenge, but the support and openness of the team we formed were especially important in making the transition possible and successful. Working with colleagues from different countries, visiting BENEO sites and experiencing different ways of solving similar problems have broadened my professional and personal perspective.
Kwee Choo Ng (KC), Regional Product Manager, Rice Ingredients and Functional Proteins, North America (from Singapore to the US):
My interest in living and working abroad began years ago, when I was inspired by a TV programme about Singaporeans pursuing their dreams in different countries. After five years with BENEO in Asia-Pacific, I felt ready for my next career challenge. When my manager asked whether I would be interested in taking on a role in the US, I was excited to embrace it. Adjusting to unfamiliar systems and a new environment was challenging at first, but colleagues and friends who had been in similar situations made the transition much easier.
What helped you settle into your new home?
Juliana:
Having a home arranged before we arrived and being able to settle in as a family gave us stability from the beginning. What helped most, though, was allowing ourselves time to adjust. Some things took longer than expected, but I accepted that as part of the process. Being patient and focusing on one step at a time made the transition much smoother.
Noëmie:
I worked with an agent I had met during an earlier business trip to Singapore. They helped me find an apartment, and I was able to sign the lease before arriving.
It also really helped that I already knew many of my Singapore colleagues, so I felt welcomed and supported from day one. To top it off, my Belgian best friend was on a project in Singapore when I moved, so we spent my first three months exploring the city together.
Felipe:
Having already been part of BENEO for many years helped a lot. Although the country and role were new, the company and many of the people were familiar. At the same time, I had to adapt to a new city, language and way of doing things. Being curious, asking lots of questions and trying to understand the local culture gradually helped me feel at home.
KC:
The team at the Parsippany office played a big part in helping me settle in. They supported me at work and with practical aspects of everyday life, from utilities and banking to setting up internet at home. Outside work, local hiking and community groups helped me meet people, while WhatsApp made it easy to stay connected with family and friends in Singapore.
What differences have you noticed – in everyday life, culture or the way people work together?
Juliana:
The cultural differences between Brazil and the US were greater than I expected – from food and school schedules to the way people interact. But I never saw one way as better than the other. Seeing differences as something to learn from rather than compare made it much easier to adapt. At work, I found more similarities than differences: BENEO has a strong company culture that goes beyond local customs. The biggest adjustment was working with a geographically dispersed sales team rather than regularly meeting colleagues in one office.
Noëmie:
Singapore offers such a wide range of delicious and affordable food that many people prefer eating out to cooking at home. You even see this reflected in the compact kitchens in many apartments. For lunch, we often go to one of the nearby hawker centres, where different stalls serve a variety of dishes.
Felipe:
One of the biggest differences I noticed was how direct people can be. In Chile, the underlying message may be exactly the same, but we tend to “embellish” it a little to be empathetic. In the beginning, the directness was a bit of a culture shock! I also encountered different approaches to flexibility and change. Some ways of working were less familiar to me and took time to understand. Learning to navigate those differences has been an important part of my experience. Learning to understand and navigate these differences has been an important part of my experience.
KC:
In the US team I work with, I’ve found communication clear and direct, with colleagues comfortable expressing different opinions and challenging ideas. In my experience in Singapore, ways of working were more structured and process-driven, and feedback was often expressed more indirectly. Adjusting to these differences has helped me reflect on how I communicate.
Finally, a few quick-fire questions…
Biggest surprise?
Juliana: All the small differences in everyday life.
Noëmie: The efficiency – everything seems to work fast and well!
Felipe: The directness of the culture in Germany and the Netherlands.
KC: The complexity of the US healthcare system.
One local habit you’ve adopted?
Juliana: Dinner at 6 pm.
Noëmie: Eating out for lunch.
Felipe: Taking my shoes off at home. I couldn’t go back now!
KC: Driving everywhere – can’t live without a car.
A local word or phrase you use a lot?
Juliana: “It is what it is.”
Noëmie: “Can” – it means “yes” in Singlish, Singapore’s colloquial English.
Felipe: “Keine Ahnung!” (= no clue)
KC: “Hi, how are you doing today?”
What do you miss from your new country when you’re back home?
Juliana: The peace and quiet of New Jersey.
Noëmie: The amount of sunlight.
Felipe: German bread.
KC: Four distinct seasons and lower humidity!
Your advice to someone considering an international move?
Juliana: Take your time, embrace the challenges and have a blast!
Noëmie: DO IT! You won’t regret it.
Felipe: Listen, be open and learn from the people around you.
KC: Be patient, stay adaptable and open-minded and give yourself time to settle in.
Thank you to Juliana, Noëmie, Felipe and KC for sharing their experiences. Their stories show how patience, curiosity and support from others can help people settle into a new country and learn along the way.
Key takeaways
✅ Working abroad brings new perspectives.
Different markets, teams and ways of working gave our colleagues opportunities to learn and share their own experience.
✅ Support makes a difference.
Welcoming colleagues and practical help eased the transition into unfamiliar surroundings.
✅ Feeling at home takes time.
Patience and realistic expectations helped make everyday adjustments more manageable.
✅ Connections matter beyond the workplace.
Family, friendships and local activities helped our colleagues build a sense of belonging.
✅ Curiosity helps people adapt.
Listening, asking questions and staying open to unfamiliar habits were recurring themes across the four stories.
Further reading
Curious to learn more about these experiences? Check out our previous interviews on the BENEO blog:
Juliana’s move from São Paulo to New Jersey
Noëmie’s earlier experiences of living and working abroad
KC’s move from Singapore to New Jersey