From an Iranian rice company to new opportunities in the Netherlands

Amirhossein Farahaniolia (29) came to the Netherlands from Iran. Unfortunately, he had to leave the country because of disagreements with the government. “I was working in Iran for a modern bank and had set up a successful company in Mechanical Engineering for the rice industry with my fellow students. But because of COVID, our business completely collapsed,” Amir says.

He came to the Netherlands, determined to become successful again. He ended up at Motopp, where his talent stood out. After an intensive training program and subsequent boot camp, Motopp gave him the opportunity to work at FrieslandCampina. “For me, it was actually a perfect match,” says Amir. “My background in Mechanical Engineering and IT fit seamlessly with FrieslandCampina’s OT challenges.

“In the Netherlands, I have the freedom to grow, both personally and professionally. That has completely changed my future prospects.”

Amir adds: “I am especially incredibly grateful for the opportunity Motopp has given me, and the support I have received from my supervisors Bert Nijbroek and Ron Veldhuizen. I have been welcomed with open arms. ServiceNow’s new modules give me the opportunity to further expand my knowledge and learn new skills.”

”For Amir, it helps that we are now an international department where English language communication at the coffee machine is very common. This makes him feel more part of the team. This inclusive approach is evident in daily interactions, Ron said.”

Amir praises Dutch work culture

“In Iran, I worked at a company where I never spoke to my boss. Here the work culture is very different. As a Junior, I can just talk to my supervisors. The accessibility is really a big difference from what I was used to in Iran. In my opinion, the Netherlands has one of the best work cultures in the world.

“The Dutch work culture is all about openness and equality, and that has made me feel like I really belong here.”

Everyone works together equally here, which is nice. The Dutch are very friendly and open, also in accepting other cultures. You can say everything you think here, which is hugely important. I feel safe here.”

Building further thanks to Motopp

Amir has a positive sense of the future. ”What makes this experience special is the personal attention we received from Motopp. I really liked the weekly conversations. Thanks to Motopp, I was able to develop myself and build a network to continue building my life.”