Paperjam: Please, tell us about yourself.
Alessandro Scioli: I’m 37 years old and I’m from Italy. After graduating law school in Rome I decided to pursue a career in international business that led me to live and work abroad for many years. I was based in Tirana, Albania, for six years until the end of 2023, when I accepted a job offer that brought me to Luxembourg at the beginning of 2024.
Why Luxembourg?
A former colleague and friend of mine, Enrico, who used to work with me in Tirana, had moved to Luxembourg with his partner. When his company here [digital property manager RentYourNest] opened a position compatible with my profile, he proposed my CV and in one week I had a job interview--and in another week a job offer. Everything happened pretty quickly but I felt that, after several years in Tirana, I was ready for another adventure. So here I am.
What were your first impressions of Luxembourg?
The first impact was tough: Albania and Luxembourg are different from many points of view. Language, food, culture in general are poles apart, but I have to admit that I have always found incredible people on my path who helped me in many different ways. The difference in weather (I know it’s banal to mention!) hit me especially hard during the first year, but 2025 has already been amazing.
How has the settling in process gone?
Finding accommodation can be tricky, especially in a foreign country, but my research was lucky and I found, pretty quickly, the right place for myself. I opted for living outside the city and really enjoy commuting via train during the whole week. During weekends I use my car to visit interesting places nearby, often across the border.
How about cultural integration?
Luxembourg is a truly international place, with an incredible variety of nationalities in such a tiny space. I’m an English speaker, so cultural integration means feeling suddenly part of this huge melting pot, where beyond language you can find and discover endless different background, origins, cultures and traditions. As an Italian I understand French but my resolution is to study it and become proficient soon. That will also help with integration and networking.
Networking, you say? Have there been opportunities for that?
Yes, absolutely! The WEO offices are located at the Luxembourg City Incubator, where a lot of young professionals work every day in high-tech fields. This friendly environment makes it easy to meet and connect with people, and also my job profile requires me to travel a lot and make new interesting connections.
Any extracurriculars?
I love to swim and I see amazing swimming pools here. I like also to hike in nature and I’m always trying to discover the best green spots in the country. In my leisure time I enjoy also visiting castles and picturesque towns in the region. I find these cultural spots charming and timeless.
What restaurants or other hotspots have you discovered so far?
Konrad Café and Ënnert de Steiler are hands down my favourite spots. Great atmosphere and impeccable service.
Do you plan to stay long term?
When I decided to accept my first job offer I intended to move to Luxembourg to stay in the long term, to settle down and maybe start a family someday. I think this country has a lot to offer for families and kids. After the first year, this intention has gotten even stronger after joining WEO [in February 2025], a Luxembourgish company that battles climate change by leveraging AI technology applied to earth observation and remote sensing. This new start gave me a lot of enthusiasm and it makes me feel more than ever involved in the local professional scene.