“When you’re thinking about moving to a place it’s the people, that’s the most important thing. You get to see how they live, what it actually means to live there versus just staying on the surface. I was drawn to the beauty of this place and then had this immediate sense of what a community here is like.” Emma Boutcher
Emma Boutcher is a young U.S. expat and engineer who decided to take the leap and make the move to Italy just about a year ago. I was lucky enough to be by her side through some of the process and sat down with her a couple of months ago to talk about her path to where she is right now, how it’s been going so far, what kind of challenges she’s faced, the work culture in Italy vs that in the States, how to find community, and so much more. Anyone who knows me know just how much I love talking to Gen Z and Emma, and her story, are delightful and inspiring. I find her perspective intriguing and insightful especially in light of the fact that so many of her Italian counterparts are still fleeing the country in record numbers. So, how does a talented young engineer from the U.S make her dream of living and working in Italy come true? What role did her passion for cycling, WWOOFING, and trying to save the planet play in her decision? And what’s next for Emma? Tune in this week to find out! Biography and Links After graduating from Northeastern University in 2019, Emma has lived many lives – English teacher in Vietnam, product manager for Specialized Bicycle Components in Colorado, and now, by a combination of luck, determination, and being in the right place at the right time, as a Product Development Manager for MET Helmets in Northern Italy. Her move to Italy in 2024 was inspired by a desire to live life with more balance. She now calls the shores of Lake Como and finds joy in the big and little adventures that come with living in a foreign country. You can find her (at all months of the year) in the lake, on her bike in the mountains, or soaking in a shared meal with friends at home.
You can follow all her adventures at the links below:
https://www.instagram.com/emboutch13?…
https://strava.app.link/VDXIg8icUTb
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Podcast Producer: Andrew Niklas Curtis
Recorded via Zoom, post-production, Lorenzo Maiani, Fa Minore