Meeting Takhyung, a Colleague Who Has Watched Nota Closely From the Farthest Distance
- Nota Team Blog
- 21 hours ago
- 3 min read
Takhyung has been running the Nota Europe office on his own for five years. Even from eight thousand kilometers away from the Seoul headquarters, he has experienced Nota’s changes and growth more closely than anyone.
From his first day at a startup he knew nothing about, to the early days of the Europe office when he had to build everything without a fixed structure, and all the way to the company’s journey toward listing, the moments he remembers reveal Nota’s path exactly as it unfolded.
As a member of the Operations team, a colleague at the Europe office, and someone who observes Nota from afar, he shared the experiences and changes he has lived through.
ㅣBeyond the First Unknowns, Building His Own Way of Working in Europe
Hello. Could you briefly introduce yourself.
Hello. My name is Takhyung Kim, and I work on operations at the Berlin office.
We heard you have already spent more than four years in Berlin office. What moment stands out the most.
Many moments come to mind, but my first day is the most memorable. I had no startup experience and had never worked in an IT company. I even arrived about ten minutes late because I got lost commuting from a place an hour away from Berlin. But the colleagues there welcomed me so warmly.
Thinking back, that atmosphere really helped me. At the time, we did not have our own office and worked from Deutsche Telekom’s Hubraum, where various startup teams shared an open space. Watching people naturally talk and exchange ideas was refreshing. It felt less like a single company and more like stepping into an open ecosystem of new ways of working.
We heard that in the beginning there were no clear rules or standards. How did that affect you.
At first, the lack of structure felt confusing. There were no fixed rules or defined ways of working, and everything felt unclear. But over time, I understood that it was not neglect but a culture based on autonomy and responsibility. I had to build the skills I needed and grew as much as I filled those gaps. Looking back, that period expanded my capabilities and work mindset the most.
ㅣNota’s Present and Future Seen From Europe
What is the work atmosphere like at the Europe office.
It is not completely different just because it is in Germany. We join Alignment Week and try to stay aligned with the headquarters. But since the team is small, we often eat or have tea together. It is natural to talk outside of work, and that has become part of our culture. I think that is the charm of the Europe office.
How would you describe Nota as a company.
I would describe Nota as “a place where dreams become real.” Nota did not always have a smooth path. There were uncertain periods. When I saw the roadmap explained during Town Hall, I sometimes wondered if it was really possible. But time passed, and the company actually followed that roadmap. Watching the leadership’s vision turn into reality, built together with colleagues, left a strong impression.
I also see the leadership team as people who look far ahead instead of getting stuck in small details. They always seem to be running toward the distant future.
What do you hope the Europe office will look like ten years from now.
It is an ideal vision, but I hope we build strong local business, achieve Series A and B scale growth, and become a presence in Europe similar to the headquarters. I dream of the Europe office becoming one of Nota’s key global hubs.
Lastly, is there anything you want to say to the Europe team or to Nota.
We achieved a big milestone with the IPO, but I do not think this is the end. I see it as a starting point. I hope many good things follow.
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Takhyung’s story reflects a time when he had to build his own path in an unfamiliar environment, turning a lack of structure into new opportunities. Even from a distance, his trust in Nota grew stronger. The daily life of the Europe office, where each person took responsibility without being watched, the support built within a small team, and the shared effort to bring long-term roadmaps to life all became meaningful foundations for the company.
These years in Europe will remain valuable as Nota expands into broader markets and new industries. And when the next ten years bring new moments across different parts of the world, experiences like his will continue to support the journey.
