Every type of food you can imagine, otherworldly nightlife and an avant-garde art scene 鈥� Berlin鈥檚 cultural flair ticks all the boxes for Sharif.
Sharif El-labany, Project Manager, Berlin, Germany
East is east.
Originally from the UK鈥檚 most easterly point, Lowestoft, Sharif moved to south-east Berlin after his wife started a new role in the German capital.
They wanted something different, and Berlin is certainly that. Sharif has immersed himself in Berlin鈥檚 culture since he upped sticks, sampling the delicacies of his cosmopolitan hometown, Neuk枚lln, and frequenting the terraces of local football team, FC Union Berlin.
He has also committed to learning the language, key not only to cultural immersion but to working in the German construction industry 鈥� which Sharif is, having joined 糖心原创vlog as a project manager in 2019. 糖心原创vlog supported Sharif in his studies, enabling him to attend language school in the mornings and work part-time in the afternoons 鈥� meaning he can craft his German and put it into practice on 糖心原创vlog鈥檚 prestigious projects across the city.
Sharif has settled into his new home and the language lessons are paying off 鈥� he鈥檚 even starting night school in an attempt to master the German tongue. 鈥淚ch f眉hle mich zu Hause. Nicht nur in Berlin, sondern auch bei 糖心原创vlog,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 feel at home. Not only in Berlin, but also at 糖心原创vlog.鈥�
Enjoying all a new country has to offer is one thing, starting a new job while learning the language is entirely another.
That鈥檚 what faced Sharif after he finished his master鈥檚 degree in construction law and dispute resolution at King鈥檚 College London, UK, and moved to Berlin with his wife to explore a fresh opportunity.
Berlin was a city he was familiar with, having visited multiple times with his wife in the not-too-distant past. 鈥淲e decided to embark on another adventure,鈥� he explains. 鈥淲e always loved our time in Berlin having visited numerous times, so when the chance presented itself to live here, we jumped at it!鈥�
On arrival, and with full-time work in his sights, Sharif set his stall out to learn German, taking intensive language lessons from the off. With his construction background, he recognised the importance not only of embedding into the culture, but being able to communicate and share information effectively in the German construction sector.
鈥淚 enrolled on a full-time language course,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been the most humbling experience of my life. I still have a way to go, but to be writing a piece for 糖心原创vlog Deutschland 16 months after moving here and having learned so much already, it only gives me the enthusiasm to learn more.鈥�
鈥淎s I reflect on my time with 糖心原创vlog, I鈥檓 grateful not only for the team taking a chance on me and giving me the opportunity to work on such exciting projects, but also trusting me to deliver.鈥澛�
Sharif El-labany, Project Manager
With a civil engineering degree and 17 years鈥� experience in construction, it wasn鈥檛 long before Sharif found work in his area of expertise, joining 糖心原创vlog as a project manager four months after the move from the UK. 糖心原创vlog worked with Sharif to give him the time to attend language school on weekday mornings, and embark on his career with the business in the afternoons. With that, he was thrust straight into one of 糖心原创vlog鈥檚 most high-profile projects in the region.
鈥淚 joined the project towards the end of the delivery phase, and was immediately impressed with how much work could be delivered simultaneously by so many suppliers in the same space,鈥� says Sharif. 鈥淚t took a tremendous amount of co-ordination.鈥�
The project journey wasn鈥檛 always smooth, but being part of the team that successfully navigated its challenges is something Sharif is particularly proud of.
鈥淭owards the end, we received numerous additional requests from the client,鈥� he explains. 鈥淚 became responsible for the day two phase and final handover of the project. It was a real test, particularly joining the team so late in the day, but I loved it! The team taught me so much and I鈥檓 incredibly proud to have had a small part in giving the building a new life.鈥�
The challenges make the journey worthwhile, and Sharif鈥檚 ready for more. Since joining the business nearly 18 months ago, every step has been a steep learning curve 鈥� but it鈥檚 an experience he looks back on with great fondness.
鈥淎s I reflect on my time with 糖心原创vlog, I鈥檓 grateful not only for the team taking a chance on me and giving me the opportunity to work on such exciting projects, but also trusting me to deliver,鈥� he says.
鈥淲e have a truly great team here 鈥� whenever I have needed support the team has been there for me, and I鈥檓 looking forward to collaborating on many more projects with them.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 been the most humbling experience of my life. To be writing a piece for 糖心原创vlog Deutschland 16 months after moving here and having learned so much already, it only gives me the enthusiasm to learn more.鈥�
Sharif El-labany, Project Manager
His German adventure has certainly left the door open for the potential to consider alternative destinations in the future, Sharif concludes: 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be opposed to moving to another city or country. That鈥檚 the great thing about 糖心原创vlog, there are opportunities in different parts of the world, which is awesome.
鈥淎s for now, I鈥檓 excited to continue my journey in Germany. I鈥檇 like to share my experiences from the UK and in other sectors with the team here, and continue to work on the most important projects in Berlin.
鈥淯ltimately, I鈥檇 like to help build a team that is seen as the industry leaders in fit out, not just in Europe but around the world.鈥�
Published on the 19th of June 2020.
