Hey everyone,
It’s been a while! The past few months have been a journey. After building up Matera’s German team and business, I left this summer and took some time to reflect on that wild, colourful chapter. I will attempt to do it justice without self-absorption or pride and be as frank as I can.
Looking back, my biggest takeaway is gratitude. I got to work with talented, driven, and genuinely good people. There’s something uniquely powerful about being part of a community where you can truly be yourself. When you feel safe to be fully present, you know you’re in the right place - and that feeling is just as important outside of work.
Side note: I think we all have a deep need to belong, though it shouldn't come at the cost of worrying too much about what others think. (Tim Urban has an excellent piece on this called ""Why you should stop caring what other people think about you. Taming the Mammoth" - worth a read!)
For me, Matera resembled that trusting environment. From the beginning, I had an honest relation to the founders Raphael, Victor and Jeremy and it is true to this day. I am equally grateful for the wonderful people I was able to work with. Anthony and Laurent as my guides and sounding board in finance matters, Simon, Robin, Justine, Pierre, ... my German team to whom I feel closely connected. Moritz who’s now leading the charge in Germany and destined for great things both within Matera and beyond. I do miss our sparring sessions; to our tenacious landing team of Rapha, Marcus aka Ilkay G., Sophie, Momo, Max, Flo, Janine, Finn...I could go on for a long time.. I say to you: I'm past patiently waitin' I'm passionately smashin' every expectation. Every action's an act of creation! (#GottaLoveYourHamilton. Check out their cast performing live at Obama's White House with an awesome intro by the MC himself, Mr. Obama)
Of course, startup life has its share of bumps and dilemmas. Growth in a fast-paced environment means constant change, and Raphael does an excellent job navigating through this with a clear idea and strong hand. There were tough calls, as we balanced growth with real-world urgencies (imagine water leaks and disputes among building tenants). After building the German business to a solid shape, I realised I wanted to shift from an operational leaning role back to my natural focus on commercial work. We agreed on my transition earlier this year, and I remain convinced that Matera is absolutely the right solution for a market in desperate need of change and transparency...
… I will stay an avid evangelist and supporter. I think fondly of the hundreds of tricky homeowner meetings where we helped people make big decisions, and I know there will be many more where Matera will be making a real difference.
Since moving on, I’ve been connecting with some inspiring people and projects. There’s a world of opportunities out there, and I’m being mindful about where to invest my time – in the spirit of “lagom,” that great Swedish concept of balance. As for my own routine, sticking to daily structure, setting small goals, and keeping sports in the mix has been key. I’ve kept up my weekly football match, after which I return home to gaze contentedly at a white wall (or dive into a good book). Swimming has become a favourite again too - nothing like it for letting your mind wander. I'll do a piece on sports business analogies soon, I am sure.
For what’s next, I’m still exploring, but I’ll share updates soon. Kobe once said he wasn’t driven by the desire to win or fear of losing - he simply wanted to figure things out in the moment. I’m embracing that approach - focusing on what I can control and adapting to what I can’t.
If you’re working through similar questions or just want to chat, reach out anytime. I’m always happy to share whatever I can.
Best,
Gero
Comments