Working From Home – Traveling While Working
Working for Theobald Software comes with many perks: Flexible hours, European PTO policies, company events, and even the occasional international trip. While the company values in-person interactions, Seattle-based employees are only expected to be in the office up to three days per week. We also have employees based outside of Seattle who work entirely remotely. In this article, Lila Faria, Summer Nanpooya and Brian Smoot from our U.S. office discuss how they have utilized Theobald Software’s hybrid office policies to travel the world.
International experience and wanderlust
My name is Lila, and I am the U.S. Marketing Manager at Theobald Software’s U.S. office. Having grown up on the East Coast, I am not a stranger to international travel. Over the course of my life, I’ve visited France, Italy, Denmark, Austria, and many other places. I have even had the opportunity to live in Germany and the United Kingdom.
When I moved to Seattle in 2018, however, the distance between myself and Europe grew twice as wide. I loved investing in my local community, but I missed the ability to explore Europe at the drop of a hat.
Balancing work and Life
Joining Theobald Software in 2023 changed this for me. Since the company’s headquarters are based in Stuttgart, everyone on the U.S. team is asked to visit Germany at least once per year for our annual “Strategy Days” gathering. This is an incredible opportunity to connect with our global team.
Outside of my day job, I am a prominent blues dance instructor in Seattle who enjoys traveling to teach. This spring, a couple of dance scenes across the United States asked me to teach. At the same time, Theobald Software attended multiple conferences (including SAPinsider 2024).
By the time February rolled around, my schedule was as follows:
- Weekend: Teach at Rose City Blues in Portland, Oregon (USA)
- Week 1: Attend our annual “Strategy Days” meet-up in Stuttgart, Germany
- Week 2: Attend a dance event in London (United Kingdom)
- Weekend 2: Teach a workshop in Austin, Texas (USA) as part of Austin Blues Bash 2024
- Week 3: Road trip (while working) from Austin, Texas to Las Vegas, Nevada
- Week 4: Attend SAPinsider 2024 as part of the Theobald Software team
- Week 5: Road trip (while working) from Las Vegas, Nevada to my home in Seattle, Washington
A hybrid institution
While my manager was a little surprised to hear my plans, it didn’t come as a huge shock: Remote work is integrated into the Theobald Software employee experience. I took a couple of days off so I could spend time with old friends while I was in London, but otherwise was able to work from a variety of locations during my adventure. These included:
- The upper deck of a Portland tea house built out of a train’s caboose,
- A UFO-themed town in the middle of New Mexico,
- A German shoe store… which contained a secret “2D Café” and Instagram photo studio,
- Dunstan in the East Church Garden in London,
- …and a wide variety of AirBnBs, hotels and coffee shops across the country.
Experiences like this remind me why I value working at Theobald Software. I am grateful to work for an institution that recognizes the value of its employees’ lives – both inside and outside of the office.
Flexibility and job satisfaction
I absolutely love my company’s work-life balance culture. It allows me the flexibility to work in a way that suits my lifestyle, including the ability to set up my workspace in a cozy coffee shop. This not only boosts my productivity, but also makes my work experience more enjoyable and fulfilling. The freedom to choose where I work truly reflects the company’s commitment to fostering a supportive and adaptable work environment. — Summer Nanpooya, Account Manager at Theobald Software Inc.
Traveling and team bonding
Working remotely for Theobald Software is pretty awesome, especially if you love a mix of working from home and traveling. While most of the time you can work from wherever you are, there are plenty of opportunities to get out and see some cool places. The company’s home office is in Seattle, so you might find yourself heading there occasionally. Seattle’s a great city, with lots to see and do, and it’s fun to connect with the team in person.
But the travel doesn’t stop there. We often head to Las Vegas for conferences, which is always a blast. Vegas is lively and there’s always something happening, so the work trips can be a mix of productive meetings during the day and exciting events at night. Plus, we have a lot of conferences there, so it’s a regular stop for us.
And then there’s Germany, where the company was originally founded. Traveling to Germany is a unique experience—it’s amazing to see where it all started. The culture, the food, and the people are fantastic. These trips not only give you a chance to bond with colleagues from around the world but also to soak in some European vibes. So, while working remotely gives you the flexibility to work from home, there’s plenty of travel to keep things interesting and keep you connected to the team and the company’s roots. — Brian Smoot, Technical Account Manager at Theobald Software Inc.
Lila Faria, Summer Nanpooya, Brian Smoot
Lila, Summer and Brian are responsible for the success and growth of Theobald Software in the U.S. As Marketing Manager, Lila is responsible for all marketing activities, Summer looks after our US customers as Account Manager and Brian advises companies on all aspects of SAP integration as Technical Account Manager.
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