Umberto (Umbi) is more than just a beard. He is a really great, passionate, and hard working. He embodies the #PFR spirit. We’re going to miss him a lot. Which is why we created #TheShavening video at the end of this blog.
In The Beginning
When I finished my economics Bachelor in Italy, I was looking for a concrete experience. Something that might give me a real view on how a company works, other than what a boring book might say or what I’ve learned from my family business. I was eager to learn more about marketing and business and an internship abroad for 3 months seemed like the best way to do it. I went through a couple of Skype interviews and luckily PassKit offered me a position. It was out of my comfort zone since I had no previous experience in marketing or technology, apart from my Macbook, iPhone and GoPro. When I was told that I would be apart of PassKit I quickly said: “Yes, I’m down”!
Arriving In Hong Kong
Moving to a new place is always scary but at the same time extremely exciting. I left Italy in January to go to Sydney. I lived in Sydney until April, I then moved to Hong Kong to start my next new adventure. This was also my first time in Asia. It was a big change from kilometers of beaches to massive skyscrapers.
I have to admit that the first couple of weeks were a bit tough for several reasons; I was told about how small the apartments were in Hong Kong but was surprised when I arrived at my place. I could barely fit into my little bunk bed and my top bunk was used as storage for all my things because there was no other furniture or space. It would take me ages to finish a meal until I got used to eating with chopsticks. Having someone else wash my clothes was another foreign thing to me. I had about dozen of t-shirts shrunk from the laundry. The MTR(train) was always packed with people in such close quarters at any time of the day. Lastly I had to get myself in the company’s mind-set, which came gradually over time.
At PassKit
An internship isn’t about bringing coffee and making copies, at least not at PassKit.
I still remember my first day, April 8th, when I had been assigned a task that required writing content for the product landing pages, because you’re not an intern, you’re a Passkiteer!
Then everyday has been different from the other, especially if you have to move from desk to desk or eventually working on the couch – I even sat on the CEO and CTO’s desk – waiting for the new office to be ready. I’ve also watched the NBA final in the office with my colleagues from SFO, supporting the Golden State Warriors, however my laptop was always on me to keep on working while having a sneak peek at the game, never forget what we are at PassKit for.
Surrounded by a dozen experts, especially during my first weeks, I tried to absorb as much information as I could. Looking around me I was always focused on what was going on because I couldn’t afford to miss such a big opportunity – to learn how to do business while having fun at the same time. That’s what we do here at PassKit.
I got it, but I won’t tell you the exact secret, only the story to achieving it. I’m sorry.
Here you’ll be able to learn by doing something new every single day. You’re learning by just listening to Paul’s speeches or picking up valuable tips from the Nick’s very concise words as well – and at the same time you feel fully embedded in this huge engine that runs continuously to simplify the world’s mobile wallet. And that’s exactly what helped me wake up every morning, pumped and bright to face a new problem and hopefully come out with the solution. If not, I was driven to try again the day after. Even though the night before you were drinking and singing at your favourite bar until 2 am with your co-workers, the same people that will offer you to stay at their places – special thanks to Tayler and Patrick – when you are homeless in Hong Kong. In all this, I found more than just colleagues. I found friends.
Yes, be ready to be active both in the office or outside, that’s a must if you wanna work at PassKit.
And if you are still a bit sleepy, speak to Wendy or Tayler and put on their spotify playlist, otherwise help by yourself and grab some beer from the fridge to cheer you up. It’s equal work and play at PassKit.
I would say so many things but now my blogpost has to be finished (also English isn’t my first languages, so it’s not so easy to write so much). I just want to say thanks to everyone who made my stay and my internship in Hong Kong, thank you.
How I would describe my internship in 3 words? PassKit F***ing Rocks! #PFR
#THESHAVENING
Ps: People say that my unconditional love for Hong Kong is gonna let me stay here forever since I still have no flight out…let’s see what happens.
