A Galician in Glasgow

It's hard to believe it has already been a year since I joined Goal7! Coming from the mountains of Lugo, in Galiza, the Scottish hills and cities have been quite a change. Ever since I first visited Scotland in 2021 I wanted to move here to experience the country as a resident instead of a tourist.

I am very passionate about topics such as sustainable development and growth, the energy industry, and environmental affairs from an economics perspective. For that reason I applied to study an MSc in Environment and Sustainable Development at the University of Glasgow. When I graduated, I wanted to work in a company which enabled me to stay involved in those fields, which is why I applied for a role at Goal7.

During the past year I have had the opportunity to expand my knowledge of financial modeling, as well as European and British policy in the energy sector, particularly with regards to hydrogen and CCUS. If I am honest, a year ago barely knew about these technologies, and they would go over my head when hearing about them in the news once in a while. However, since learning about their value chains and unique economic challenges, I have developed a strong interest in the topic.

Working on projects alongside leading companies in the industry has given me a broader perspective. My preference in economics has always been the macro side, this is (more or less) understanding the economy as a whole through concepts such as inflation, GDP, or the balance of payments, but in the past year it's been all about prices, externalities and opportunity costs. In addition, working with other professionals such as chemists and engineers has expanded my knowledge beyond my usual area of expertise, which is very motivating as I have the opportunity to continue learning.

Until recently, I was living in Aberdeen as the Graduate program required me to stay there for at least 6 months. This allowed me to get to know the team, work alongside other graduates who were also learning the ropes, and ensure I had adequate support early on. However, those who know me well are aware that, as a Galician-Glaswegian, my heart belongs to Glasgow. That is why a few weeks ago I moved back to Glasgow, where I share the office with my colleagues from the central belt.

Thanks to the flexibility offered by Goal7, I have had the opportunity to work from three different locations over that past year! As someone who came to Scotland from abroad, the possibility of working remotely 30 days a year has given me the chance to visit my homeland regularly. Being separated from loved ones is always hard, but having the opportunity to work from Galiza for a few weeks a year makes it more bearable. This allows me to balance my life in Scotland with my family, friends, personal projects and hobbies such as cycling… and of course to not forget the taste of delicious Galician style octopus!

My biggest adventure this year was taking part in the Ancares Cycling Marathon (please do not check the results). For my next adventure I'm thinking of touring the Balkans whilst working remotely, but that is something I haven't planned yet… until then I will continue to learn more about this industry from the three places I call home.