𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗮 our 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘀 is a sincere and dynamic person who always uses her sense of humor to make people's lives better. She is a big fan of music and starts her day with a quality coffee.
If you'd like to get to know more about her, continue reading this interview.
If you could be a crayon, what color would you be? What’s the meaning behind it?
I would be a pink crayon because it is representative for me and my personality. The meaning behind my choice is that by default the color pink in our society represents innocence and always having in your eye the bright side of life.
What do you think about when you’re alone in your car?
When I hop in my car by myself for a ride I usually hit the “Play” button on my favorite playlist and start singing. This activity is split in two: the first being my awareness to the road and all traffic participants and the second ( my favorite ) is the feeling of disconnection from my usual train of thought that helps me relax and sometimes it shows me another perspective of things that I couldn’t have seen before due to the stress and usual pressure.
What’s your favorite ‘90s jam?
My favorite 90’s jam is “Under the Bridge” by Red Hot Chili Peppers. I used to listen their music when I was in high school. It brings back good memories from a time when all I had to worry about was getting a good grade in math and the rest of it was invested with no shame into gathering great experiences along with my friends, experiences that I cherish even to this day.
What’s the last tv show you watched?
The last tv show I watched is “Grace and Frankie”. I usually watch comedy shows and the action that revolves around these old ladies is just hilarious. They enjoy life to the fullest and redefine what we think about when we imagine how our journey will look like when we are 80 years old. When I get to this respectful age I hope I would be with my best friend, enjoying a Pina Colada on our beach house porch and making the most of our time left.
What are you known for?
I am known for being vocal and not afraid to speak up. I am brutally honest and speak my truth regardless of the situation that I am in. Sometimes this gets me in trouble but I strongly believe you need to speak your mind and not let anybody think less of you. In addition to my point of view I bring out a very well thought argument to support my point of view and listen to the other persons opinion regarding the subject of the discussion, always trying to find a middle ground to suit both.
What’s the most interesting thing about you that it’s not put up in your resume?
I consider myself a big fan of the Sims franchise. Besides building up relationships and stories between the various Sims ( created by me or the ones given by the developer ) I love building houses and decorating them, acting as these Sims own exterior and interior architect.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
My go-to productivity trick is a large cup of coffee and blocking all the distractive activities and noises. I stop for 5 minutes and analyze what I have to do and prioritize my tasks by urgency. This way I make sure everything is delivered on time and without mistakes.
As an advice to people that still struggle with finding the trick to be productive and focused on the task at hand, I suggest taking 15 minutes before work in order to relax with some breathing exercises of their choice. I do this when I have an exceedingly stressful day and it helps me block out the thoughts and problems that could interfere with my business day.
What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy day?
My favorite way to unwind after a busy day is curling up on the couch with my boyfriend and watching a good comedy. It relieves all the stress that I accumulated during the day and recharges my internal batteries to be ready to face the new challenges that await me the next day.
What three words would your friends use to describe you? Why?
Indecisive – I take a very long time to decide what I want to eat or where to do that.
Sincere – I always hit my friends with the truth when they ask for my opinion and they seem to appreciate that I don’t sugarcoat anything.
Cheerful – I tend to laugh at anything and I believe my laugh is contagious.
If you could add one thing to the DataDiggers office, what would it be?
I think it would be a relax room with all kind of pleasant activities where me and my colleagues could take a break from our activities to enjoy a ping pong game or a board game. I think it would help us with our productivity, it would rise up the morale and it would strengthen the bonds of our team.
What’s the first concert you ever went to?
My first ever concert that I had the pleasure to attend was held by the band “Alternosfera” and it was held a gigantic warehouse near my home. I loved the concert so much that I pushed myself onto the first row but hated this decision afterwards because my ears wouldn’t stop ringing for two days in a row after the event. This decision of mine is the perfect representation of the quote “totally worth it”.
If you had to pick one age to be permanently, which age would you choose? Why?
I would pick 18, because I feel like I did not appreciate the summer vacation as much as I should have. At 18 my level of energy was at its peak, I had more free time and less things to worry about and the thing that I considered most important at that time was that by law I was viewed by society as an adult.
If you could write a book about your life, what would the title be and why?
The book would be titled: “Great life choices and how to make them”. When the reader would open up the book, he will be greeted by a blank pages in order for him to understand that no decision in life is great or poor, there are only decisions and every person should stand by their own and cherish them as experiences or things to learn from.
What was your first job?
I was stripper … now that I got you attention, I was really a check-in agent at the airport. This job has given me the opportunity to interact with clients first hand and enhanced my abilities to mediate conflict and treat the customer with the respect that he deserves.
The mediate conflict part was driven by having to handle difficult passengers that did not know or did not agree with the airport’s strict regulations.
The respect for passengers and guidance part was obtained by helping persons that were new to the airport even if I had to do this action several times a day.
What’s one professional skill you’re currently working on?
One skill that I would like to master, and when I say “master” I refer to have expert knowledge in the subject would be Excel. Currently in my spare time I love to follow guides that I find on the internet in order to resolve specific Excel issues that require advanced knowledge like generating a pivot of pivots commonly known as a cube.
What do you do at DataDiggers and in what circumstances would I come to you for something?
I am part of the Sales team on the NA shift. If you would require a quick and accurate quote based on a survey of your own or one of your clients, I am up for the task and would gladly help.
How do you prefer to start your day?
When I wake up I go straight for the coffee machine and start to prepare a nice cup of coffee with sugar and milk. While the coffee is made I take a long and relaxing shower while thinking what activities I need to do today. When I finish the shower I take my coffee and watch Netflix.
What’s one thing that surprised you about working at DataDiggers?
When I joined DataDiggers I was surprised by the warm welcome I received from my new colleagues. They were very nice to me and made me think like I belong to the workspace even though it was my first day.
As the question described that is one and the first thing that surprised me at DataDiggers but every day I find new surprises that help me do my work at the level it is expected from me and more.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position?
They do not understand what I do because the term “quotation” or “quote” in the business line is mostly unfamiliar to them.
What’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to and why?
Keeping count that I am not a travel fan my favorite country I’ve traveled to is Bulgaria. Every time I went there, I have encountered only pleasant experiences. The seaside in Bulgaria is the perfect place to unwind and relax in my point of view.
Who is your hero?
This is an easy question as I definitely would pick my Mom. She raised me on her own and gave her everything, especially her unconditional love and care. Everything I have I owe it to her. She raised me to be the strong and confident woman I am today.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
I never visited this place but I would like to live in Paris. In my opinion it is an elegant city and it is full of history. I know about its beauty only from movies and pictures but I am in love with this city and its people. Someday I would like to at least visit it.
What’s your favorite podcast show and why should I listen to it?
MCN podcast.
What’s your favorite quote from a tv show/movie/book?
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
-Albus Dumbledore, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”.
What’s the phone app you use the most?
Facebook.
How do you take your coffee/tea?
I like to take my coffee with a lot of sugar and milk. I remember one time a bartender asked me if I would like a hot chocolate instead, as the way I am preparing my coffee, it’s not coffee.
Do you have a work best friend? Who is it?
Here I met the most wonderful people. I am not able to pick just one person as in my eyes all my colleagues are my best friends.
How do you pick yourself back up after making a mistake at work?
I first tell the truth to my colleagues or my manager and we analyze what can be done to repair the mistake or at least minimize the damage done. I always try to not come only with a problem but with a solution as well. After the mistake has been remediated, I check what I could have done to avoid this situation in the future. We need to learn from our mistakes.
Have you ever had the “imposter syndrome”?
I have this syndrome almost every day. What is helping me to get through it is that my colleagues notice my hard work and appreciate me for it.
What’s the best thing you’ve learned in your current position?
I learned that anything is manageable with the help of my team. We work together and do our best to always deliver what is asked from us.
What’s the best clothing item you’ve ever bought?
I bought a pair of pink sneakers 2 months ago. I love them.
What’s the most stupid thing you’ve ever bought?
I bought a unicorn ashtray a few months ago and I don’t allow anyone to use it.
If you could recommend me 5 movies, what would those be?
-Deadpool;
-Mr. Bean Holiday;
-Ace Ventura;
-Harry Potter;
-Alice in wonderland.
What’s your motto?
Don’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today.
Can you tell me a good joke?
Three vampires were having an argument about who is the better vampire.
The oldest one became angry and flew as a swarm of bats and came back after 6 seconds with his mouth bloody.
Other 2 vampires: What did you do?
Oldest vampire: See that house?
Other 2 vampires: Yes
Oldest vampire: I sucked the blood of all of the residents and came back here!
The middle vampire grew enraged and flew in a swarm of bats and came back after 3 seconds with his mouth bloody.
Other 2 vampires: What did you do?
Middle vampire: See that village?
Other 2 vampires: Yes
Middle vampire: I sucked the blood of all of the residents and came back here!
Finally the youngest vampire became enraged and flew in a swarm of bats and came back after 1.5 seconds with his mouth bloody and with a black eye.
Other 2 vampires: What did you do?
Youngest vampire: See that tree?
Other 2 vampires: Yes
Youngest vampire: Well…I didn’t!