Citizens of the world: Ben Cohen

As the sun-soaked shores of Cyprus become the preferred base for a growing number of multinational companies, the island is turning into a magent for foreign employees. Here, BridgerPay's COO, Ben Cohen, talks about the challenges involved in relocating to Cyprus and the benefits of having a multicultural workforce.

General info

Name: Ben Cohen
Job Title: COO
Company: BridgerPay
Office Location: Limassol
Country of origin: Israel
Years in Cyprus: 1.5 Years
Other countries you have lived/worked in: Israel
Favourite restaurant in Cyprus: Golden Monkey
Favourite bar in Cyprus: Gin Garden
Activities you enjoy in Cyprus:  Travelling and exploring the island with my family

Describe your current job in Cyprus.

As the COO of BridgerPay, I oversee all the operations of the business to keep the company culture and vision on track. This includes implementing business strategies, plans and procedures, as well as measuring the efficiency of operational processes and taking steps to improve them.

What led to your move from Israel to Cyprus?

What led to my move from Israel to Cyprus was a job opportunity to join the executive team at BridgerPay, a rapidly growing fintech company based in Limassol. The role was an exciting opportunity for me to take my career to the next level and work with a dynamic team of professionals.

I found that the country had a lot to offer both professionally and personally. And now that I've been here for a while, I can say that it was definitely the right decision for me. The people are friendly, the culture is welcoming, and the work-life balance is fantastic. I'm grateful for the opportunity to have joined BridgerPay's executive team and to experience all that Cyprus has to offer.

How does the professional environment in Cyprus differ from that in Israel?

There are definitely some differences in the professional environment between Cyprus and Israel. For one, the two countries have different cultural backgrounds that affect how people interact in the workplace. In Cyprus, building relationships and personal connections is important, while Israelis tend to be more direct and focused on achieving results.

Communication style is another area where there are differences. Israelis tend to be very direct in their communication, whereas Cypriots value diplomacy and often use indirect language to get their message across.

Another big difference is the emphasis on work-life balance. In Cyprus, there is a strong appreciation for maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and people generally work reasonable hours. In Israel, however, it's common for professionals to work long hours, and work can take up a significant portion of their life.

Overall, while there are differences between the professional environments in Cyprus and Israel, it's important to remember that every workplace is unique, and it's important to be adaptable and open-minded.

How do you view the business environment in your particular industry?

As the COO at BridgerPay, I have a unique perspective on the business environment in the payments industry. Overall, I see a lot of exciting opportunities for growth and innovation, but there are also plenty of challenges to navigate.

One of the biggest challenges is keeping up with rapidly changing technology. As the industry evolves, it's important for companies to stay up to date with the latest trends in order to remain competitive.

Another challenge is attracting and retaining top talent. The fintech industry is highly competitive, and there is a high demand for skilled professionals. At BridgerPay, we prioritize creating a positive work environment and offering competitive compensation in order to attract and retain the best talent

I'm very optimistic about the future of our industry. The pace of innovation is accelerating, and there are so many exciting new technologies emerging. At BridgerPay, we're constantly pushing ourselves to stay ahead of the curve and offer our clients the best possible solutions. Overall, I see the business environment in the fintech industry as both challenging and full of potential. It's an exciting time to be in this industry!

How do you find working and living in Cyprus? How easily did you adapt to life here? 

I love living and working in Cyprus - the warm weather, gorgeous beaches, and having family that lives close by make it a fantastic place to call home. Adapting to life here was pretty easy for me, as the people are friendly and welcoming, and English is widely spoken. I highly recommend considering Cyprus as a place to live and work!