I didn’t start in tech, I didn’t come from a shiny academic path. My first job was in the Danish countryside, in a pig farm.
I spent a year there, managing four different farm units on my own (birth, small, medium, and adult pigs), under strict hygiene and animal welfare laws. What I gained? Discipline, execution in high-stakes environments, and a level of grit most people never experience.
At the same time, I began learning English on my own, every evening, after 10+ hours of physical labor. It wasn’t glamorous, but it built my foundation.
I moved on to a seasonal job at a Danish campground, helping behind the bar. That’s where I learned to read people, quickly. I had to. Every new customer was a different culture, a new challenge.
But I wanted more. So I took a risk and moved to South Korea for 8 months. There, I created a small English-learning group from scratch, helped 3 students pass IELTS and learned what it means to teach in fast-moving, and how to adapt instantly to the person in front of me.
One call from a friend changed my path: a chance to work in Zurich at Cantinetta Antinori, an institution for business leaders, tourists, and public figures.
I started as assistant bartender. Within 6 months I was running the bar, mentoring new hires, managing supplier logistics, and offering refined service to people like the CEO of Swatch Group and the Prime Minister of Georgia.
Zurich taught me how to build trust, fast, even when stakes were high. And how to navigate complex human dynamics without ever breaking professionalism.
After a short break to reflect, I realized:
I don’t just enjoy helping people. It’s what I do best. Understanding expectations, building trust, adapting communication, these aren’t soft skills.
They’re strategic tools, and I wanted to apply them somewhere that rewards that mindset.
SaaS and tech startups are built on logic, curiosity, and trust.