This episode is part of our Dating Series — a series dedicated to our dating experiences, because as we talk about building our lives as young women abroad, our personal life is just as important as our career, professional connections, and integration. Dating, relationships, and the way we navigate them are a big part of how we grow, what we learn, and who we become.

In this episode, we dive into expectations in dating, especially when dating abroad and navigating cultural differences in Austria. Tal interviews Elena about her dating journey as a Russian woman who moved to Vienna, and together we unpack how culture, upbringing, and personal values shape what we look for in relationships.

We talk about:

✨ the contrast between progressive career views and more traditional dating preferences

✨ what Austrian and European men often expect when dating foreign women

✨ how stereotypes, fantasies, and “the Russian girl image” influence dating dynamics

✨ emotional depth, effort, and what actually sustains a connection (vs. surface-level attraction)

✨ red flags like men who want the idea of someone, but not the emotional work behind it

✨ why consistency matters more than fireworks

✨ how our roles in relationships evolve as we grow more independent abroad

Elena also shares stories about three “main characters” of her Austrian dating experience — Mr. L.A. 🌴, Mr. Technician 🔨, and Mr. Cheese 🧀 — and what each of these connections taught her about needs, expectations, and emotional compatibility.

We reflect on how cultural background shapes dating styles, how quickly things can burn out, why slow and stable is underrated, and why not every exciting start leads to a meaningful relationship.

This is just the beginning of our Dating Series, and trust us, there is so much more to uncover 🤭

Being new at a job — we’ve all been there. Especially when you are starting your career in a new country. Your first day, a new office, new colleagues… you are introducing yourself while still remembering everything it took to get here.

In our very first episode, we share our personal experiences and thoughts on taking your first steps in climbing the corporate ladder. This episode was recorded a while ago, back in summer, so some things have already changed in our lives (and we’ll tell you all about that in our next episodes!). But the emotions with which we recorded this one were very real.

The recording has some flaws, as it’s our first episode ever, but that’s exactly how we learn. Nothing first is ideal.

So, enjoy the episode and keep climbing the corporate or whatever-else ladder (and the cringe ladder too!). ✨

Pilot Episode: Why We Started "Climbing Gracefully"

Welcome to Climbing Gracefully! In our very first episode, we are opening up about why we decided to start this podcast, and what it truly means to us.

Two international women in Vienna, two different backgrounds, one shared journey: navigating careers, cultures, and connections while building a meaningful life abroad.

We talk about where this idea came from, the challenges that pushed us to grow, and how taking imperfect first steps (like recording this episode!) can lead to the best adventures.

Because it doesn’t have to be perfect, you just have to start!