‘Fast feedback loop and flat hierarchies: the Dutch working environment fits my style’

First as a student and now as a worker. Maastricht was the first stop, and Eindhoven is the second and current one in Federico Pisano's experience. He moved to the Netherlands in 2020 from Italy and has appreciated the local culture and approach to life ever since.

Pisano is an investor at the Eindhoven-based venture capital firm LUMO Labs. Although he misses the food and sun of his home city, Cagliari, he has embraced Dutch culture. In this episode of Dutch Diaries, we spoke about his experience living in the Netherlands.

Dutch Diaries

Getting a job opportunity, moving to a new country, and settling in are three moments every expat has experienced. But how does the Netherlands look in the eyes of the foreigners who move here for work? In our new series, Dutch Diaries, we bring the stories of expats who moved to the Netherlands to work in the tech and innovation sectors. Why did they decide to come here? What do they like the most about the Netherlands? What would they change?

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When did you first move to the Netherlands?

“I moved to the Netherlands in 2020 to study for a master’s in business and innovation at Maastricht University. During my bachelor’s studies, I lived for a period just across the border in Germany, visiting the Netherlands a few times. Back then, I saw it was the best for me to move there.”

How were your first days here?

“When I moved, the world was still basically shut down. Despite the context, I remember being happy about this move, which was, to me, a life-changing opportunity. Although not many people were around, I felt a very welcoming atmosphere at the university.

I had a great time in Maastricht. In addition to the one-year-long study plan, I extended my stay with a curricular internship. This brought me to Eindhoven, as I joined Signifiy for a few months.”

How did you join LUMO Labs?

“It’s always a funny story to tell (chuckles, ed.). Online applications can be a massive bottleneck in the hiring funnel, especially for companies like VCs, which are small and often lack a dedicated recruiting department. They receive many applications; identifying the right candidates can take many weeks.

After my studies, I wanted to work at a VC firm, and LUMO was on my list of companies to reach out to. Getting in touch with them was tough, but I was confident I could land an interview and was impatient to get my chance. So, I literally just knocked on their door to introduce myself and hand in my resume—an approach that, in the online era, is often overlooked and may seem unusual but still allows candidates to stand out and make an impression. It eventually worked! After a few interviews, we had a great connection, and we started working together. Now, we jokingly refer to that moment as my 'pizza delivery.'"

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What do you enjoy the most about living in the Netherlands?

“The working environment is one of the things I appreciate the most. I enjoy the flat hierarchies and the fast feedback loop that comes with direct communication; it matches my style and is a great way to empower people.

At the same time, I like how open-minded people are and keen to embrace change. This is also true for the many internationals you can meet here, who always have interesting stories to tell while they are trying to change their lives for the better.”

Is there a Dutch habit that you don’t get?

"I’ll play the cliché card, but only because it’s a fun way to bond with my colleagues. Even after all these years, when my (rushed) homecooked meal meets their boterhammen at lunch, it’s still a moment of mutual perplexity. We look at each other in disbelief. Jokes aside, I really like Dutch culture, although learning the language is still a challenge for me."

What is your take on the Dutch innovation ecosystem?

“It is an interesting space to look at. Innovation is happening in many areas, and you really feel that is something that people care about. especially like that, by definition, a Dutch startup needs to think as a global firm from the beginning since the internal market is not big enough to support the venture case."

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What is that one thing you always tell back home about the Netherlands?

“Something I always tell them is how the Dutch are ahead in striving for efficiency and adopting technology. An example that comes to my mind is the widespread use of automatic checkout in shops. Back home, they are rare, and it takes you a good six or seven steps to get it done; you basically need someone to help you out. While here, you barely need to click or do anything. As a digital native, I appreciate seeing even basic technologies seamlessly integrated into everyday life."

Do you see yourself living in the Netherlands in the future?

"The future never unfolds until it happens, so it is hard for me to say. I will always consider the Netherlands a great place to live, yet I also aspire to contribute more to my home country in the future"