From Iran to Italy: A Journey of Personal Growth and Discovery. Meet Mahshid Zare

Mahshid shared with us what it meant for her to come to Italy:

"It was a journey of personal discovery and individual growth that went through many significant stages. At the beginning of my career, I was determined to emigrate from Iran, but after starting to work for my country's largest industrial company, I began to fear losing my job and social status, thus giving up my dreams of travel and adventure for several years. 

However, my passion for exploring the world and pursuing my professional ambitions never faded. In 2022, I made the decision to seek job opportunities in Europe and found myself faced with a difficult choice between countries with advanced economies and those I had always deeply loved. Italy was one of the top choices. In addition to its rich culture, fascinating history, and delicious food, I have always admired the Italian people for their generosity, warm spirit, and joy of life. I believed that among such welcoming people, it would be easier to endure being away from my homeland and to face the loneliness that would inevitably accompany the first steps toward realizing my dreams on my own. So, the path that led me to pursue a career in Italy was a journey of personal discovery, love for a culture, and a burning desire to fulfill my dreams, all seasoned with a generous dose of courage and determination."

How would you describe yourself?

"I introduce myself as a dreamer and responsible person, with a great passion for adventure and exploring the world. I consider myself a curious individual, eager to learn and discover new things in various fields, such as craftsmanship, foreign languages, and some sports activities. However, due to my inclination toward contemplation and reflection rather than systematic activities, I rarely manage to achieve long-term results in these fields. I am someone who has lived in different cities with diverse cultures, which has provided me with a unique perspective in understanding different lifestyles. I often tend not to attribute excessive importance to unwritten rules and prefer to take a direct approach to issues that may seem complicated to others. Additionally, I sometimes believe that certain issues are of great significance to me, even if they may seem insignificant or meaningless to others. I am passionate about studying philosophy and love participating in discussions and logical arguments."

What aspects of your work do you like the most, and specifically what do you do in the Document Management department at Sefin?

"I have always derived great satisfaction from working on large-scale projects, as I have always preferred challenging and stimulating tasks to routine and fragmented ones. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to turn this inclination into reality when I was assigned to participate in the MMS Paperless Project. This experience allowed me to enjoy greater freedom of action at work, enabling me to express my creativity and tackle analytical and conceptual challenges that I am particularly passionate about."

You have a great relationship with your colleagues; what are the characteristics you like the most about your team?

"I have a great relationship with my colleagues, and indeed, how could it be otherwise? Claudia, the CEO, and Simone Grippa, my boss, are extraordinary and incredible people who have always helped me not to feel alone. I cannot fail to mention my other colleagues, equally friendly, warm, and professional. Being here gives me a sense of family belonging."

 MMS (Document Management) Department of Sefin SpA

Do you have any suggestions on how to manage cultural differences at Sefin?

"I have not encountered any particular problems at Sefin in managing cultural differences. As far as my personal situation is concerned, although there may seem to be significant cultural differences between Iran and Italy, in reality, there are many similarities. For example, both countries attach great importance to family, friends, and social relationships. Both have a warm and welcoming population. However, organizing a series of diverse cultural programs could help us improve and strengthen our relationships. For example, organizing meetings on various cultural topics and celebrating different festivals and events could contribute to creating a dynamic and enriching work environment."

What do you miss the most about your country?

"In March, Iran celebrates an ancient and very suggestive holiday called Nowruz, which unfortunately I could not participate in this year, but my spirit and my heart are there. Nowruz is a lively, vibrant festival full of joy to honor the new year, followed by two weeks of holiday during which we meet with relatives and friends, exchange gifts, and share precious moments. I miss my family the most and the foods and delicacies that are not available here."

Tell us a bit about your hobbies, interests, or passions.

"In the past, I have attended various courses such as artisanal goldsmithing, piano and violin, gymnastics, skating, and horse riding. My biggest passion is traveling. I love to travel and have always seized every opportunity to take long or short trips. I moved to Italy with my cat, and now that I don't have my family nearby, no one can take care of her when I'm not there, so my opportunities for travel are very limited, and I spend most of my time doing my second favorite activity, which is watching TV series and occasionally reading books. On weekends, I enjoy cooking Iranian dishes and try to do some cycling or skating, and I hope to soon resume learning to play the violin."