Alice Tynan, who works in EMEA sales at Dropbox Dublin, tells us why she chose Ireland as a place to live and work, and how she adjusted to a new career and a new country.
Where are you from?
I shipped over from Sydney, Australia: the splendid city of sunshine, beaches and barbies (barbecues, not dolls).
How long have you been in Ireland?
We made the move nine months ago, in September 2013 – only to be told by all and sundry upon our arrival that we had missed simply the best summer!
Why did you move here?
I was keen to live in Europe again so, when my partner was offered a position in Dublin, I jumped at the chance to make the move. And, given there are so many Irish living in Sydney, I figure we’re also doing our bit for quid pro quo!
What work do you do?
I work in the core sales team at Dropbox Dublin, helping to bring Dropbox for Business to EMEA customers, from Düsseldorf to Dubai.
How would you describe your working environment?
Energetic! Dropboxers in general are enthusiasm incarnate, and the sales team is certainly evidence of that. You’ll hear us before you see us; a veritable cacophony of phone calls and conversations going on in various languages. Indeed, I am in awe of my multilingual colleagues, who can jump off a call in French to answer a question from a colleague in German, all while typing an email in English.
What do you like most about your job?
I love hearing stories and tackling problems. Getting to know customers and their business needs is obviously a large part of the job, but one that never ceases to fascinate. Every day I chat with people from all over Europe and in all kinds of industries, from a theatre director in Helsinki, to an architect in Edinburgh, to a university professor in Cape Town. It’s always intriguing to piece their professional jigsaw puzzle together in my head, and to see if there’s a place for Dropbox for Business in the finished product.
Then, of course, problem-solving is a leitmotiv for any start-up and, at Dropbox Dublin, it’s no different. It’s as challenging as it is rewarding to be faced with myriad operational, logistical and strategic questions. But it’s downright thrilling to find yourself shoulder-to-shoulder with a team of brilliant and bubbly people, all working together to effect change.
Was it difficult to adjust to living and working in Ireland?
Back home I worked as a freelance writer and professional film critic so stepping into the tech industry was a big adjustment, let alone doing so in a brand new city! That said, Aussies have a couple of sayings that continue to hold me in good stead: ‘I’ll give it a go, no worries!’ and, ‘She’ll be right (mate).’
What surprised you about moving to Ireland?
I’m loath to mention the weather, but the buffeting horizontal rain certainly raised my eyebrows! Other than that, and the odd bureaucratic curio (card readers are a thing?), our move to Ireland was gratefully smooth. I think it helps that there are so many ex-pats in Dublin so, in addition to the warm welcome we received from locals, ex-pats came with a wealth of additional advice on how to settle in this lovely city.
How does your working life help to make you feel at home here?
The camaraderie and general comedy that goes on day-to-day at Dropbox immediately made me feel at home. Having lots of interesting work to do, and smart, fun, goofy people to do it with pretty quickly transforms colleagues into friends. Dropboxers are definitely huggers, too, which was a surprising win.
What do you like most about your adopted home?
Right now? The grand aul stretch in the evenings, to be sure.
