Because creativity needs freedom

At home in the world: Andrea Fichtl supports Westend61 clients as a “digital nomad”

The stock photography business isn’t just about good photos. It’s also about working with clients to find a cohesive visual concept. That’s why we at Westend61 place great value on individualized, personal support. This, too—just like photography itself—is a creative process. And creativity needs freedom. A freedom that Andrea Fichtl from our sales team lives out as a “digital nomad”: For about two years now, she has been working for us almost exclusively from abroad, primarily from Southeast Asia.

Someone who lets the winds of the wide world blow through their hair fits right in with the Westend61 team. After all, our photographers live and work all over Europe. And good stock photography should be as colorful and inspiring as an exotic journey. Our business thrives on trying something new every now and then. Nevertheless, it was an exciting experiment for both sides when, about two years ago, we agreed with Andrea that she would handle client support for us from abroad going forward. Since then, Andrea has proven to us that work can be good even when it feels (almost) like a vacation.

A change of scenery as a way of life

“I’ve always been someone who needs something new every now and then. For as long as I can remember, I’ve never stayed in one place for long, even though I’ve spent most of my life in Munich. I just need that basic excitement of traveling,” says Andrea. Since 2021, the certified office communications specialist has been part of the Westend61 sales team. Before that, the 43-year-old worked for six years at another major stock photo provider, following eleven years in project management at a Microsoft subsidiary.
A change of scenery as a way of life: “After a maximum of five years, I’d move from one apartment to the next, and at some point I realized that there’s a nomad inside me who needs freedom and constant change.” Still, a few years ago, it wasn’t foreseeable that Andrea would one day combine the two ways of life—that of a German employee and that of a permanent traveler. The impetus for this came from a sabbatical three years ago: five months of full-time work for half pay, followed by five months of paid time off.

Many miles and a self-discovery

“Those five months shaped me,” Andrea says today, looking back. She used the career break for a long trip through Asia, as she had always had an affinity for that cultural sphere. Nepal, Bangkok, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sumatra, Bali, Borneo, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti… Bustling cities, foreign cultures, nights in the jungle, new experiences, countless encounters—satisfying her thirst for adventure and wanderlust.

It was a long journey, not just in terms of miles; it also led Andrea to an important self-realization: “I realized how well this lifestyle suits me, because I need change and personal growth.” It wasn’t just the friendly serenity of the people in Asia, the new friendships around the world, and the many powerful impressions. “Traveling also changes you as a person,” says Andrea, “and there isn’t that constant, hectic background noise like there is at home.” Added to that is the realization that even with just 14 kilos of belongings, you don’t miss anything—and you can gain so much!
Once you’ve fully savored the freedom of being on the road, everyday life in Germany can become difficult. That’s why it soon became clear to Andrea after her return: she wanted to combine travel and work in the future.

The sound of the sea is simply motivating

Andrea works in the afternoons and early evenings, which corresponds to the hours of 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Germany; so the time difference isn’t an issue. Work—even in a place where others are on vacation—remains work, of course. But it just feels different when you do it somewhere where it’s always warm, perhaps with the sound of the sea, the sun shining, and birds chirping. “I’m motivated in a completely different way then,” Andrea has found.
So Andrea’s sabbatical agreement with Westend61 turned into a part-time “remote work” contract. Work location: somewhere in Southeast Asia. An experiment for both sides that has proven successful. “Since I’ve had the freedom to choose where I live, my numbers have improved,” Andrea noted. After all, generating revenue in sales is a very measurable activity. “My surroundings relax me and stimulate my creativity.”

A touch of the exotic that benefits everyone

And communication with clients—most of whom are based in Germany—also benefits from remote support: “They often find it very interesting, and when you share a little bit about yourself, it’s easier to build a personal connection,” says Andrea. She’s glad to have found an employer in Westend61 that values the satisfaction of its employees and offers her the opportunity to work from abroad: “That kind of trust in a professional setting is something valuable, but unfortunately also rare.”

So while Andrea is now on the road for about nine out of twelve months a year, she mostly lives and works in hotels—often the most affordable accommodation outside the peak tourist season—and sometimes with friends. Even though she has since sold her car and apartment in Munich, she hasn’t completely left Germany behind. From December to March, she gets a taste of home—until the wanderlust strikes again.

You can connect with Andrea on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreafichtl/