filipa | b-side #3

Getting Down to Business

1. What is your job profile?

I work for a dental clinic chain as a Business Unit Manager.I supervise and manage all operational aspects, such as, the agendas from the doctors and the commercial team. I have to control the budget and the targets. I am responsible for developing partnerships with other external entities for business purposes and I also have some HR related functions, like recruiting.

2. Name one professional skill that you are currently trying to develop?

Leadership and coaching.

3. What led you to this career?

What led me to this job were my leadership skills. What brought me to this particular sector I believe has to do with my mom and some friends of mine, that work in the health sector.

4. What energizes you at work?

Challenges.

5. Talk to us about something unexpected you have encountered in your company?

The company has grown but the family environment has been kept. Another aspect is that you are always paid on time and there are no surprises at the end of the month - maybe this shouldn’t be something to be emphasized, but unfortunately, for Portuguese standards, this is still something you might, sometimes, consider unexpected.

6. What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re proud of?

I am proud to have had, consistently, exceeded the goals and, consequently, expectations.

7. What’s your biggest work pet peeve?

Heavy breathing and people that have to say what they are doing out loud, for example when they are typing something.

8. If you could add one thing to your company office, what would it be?

I wouldn't say that this is a misconception only about my position, it is more about people that work in IT, in general, which is that we are lab rats and nerds, with no social life.

9. What’s your go-to productivity trick?

When I am studying I like to have the TV on. At work my productivity trick is to set priorities. By doing this I am capable of deciding what to do immediately and what I can postpone. I like to work under a certain amount of pressure and by setting my priorities I can play with the pressure and the deadlines, to my advantage.

10. What have you learnt from your worst job experience?

I rather work hard in something that I like, than hardly work at something that I don’t like.

11. How do you prefer to end your day?

I am not doing it yet.. but I would like to start my day preparing the work for the next day. Unfortunately, I don’t have time.

Let’s get Personal

12. What do you do to improve your mood when you are in a bad mood?

Sometimes I eat, sometimes I smoke.

13. One trip that has changed your life and why?

I don’t think any trip has really changed my life. But the one that has impacted me the most, due to the cultural differences, would have been perhaps the one to Vietnam. The pilgrimage of Santiago de Compostela, that I did for 5 days, also has stuck with me, because of its intensity and effort.

14. What’s something that you’re good at?

Improvising.

15. What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?

Some people might think that I've had everything easy, but I always had to work really hard.

16. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A Pharmacist.

17. If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would you choose?

Anyone that has seen a Queen concert, at the Wembley Stadium.

18. What three words would your friends use to describe you?

Funny. Good at heart. Hypochondriac.

19. What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?

That I am very intelligent, emotionally and socially.

20. Do you think you rely too heavily on your phone? Why or why not?

Of course. Reality is I have developed a big dependency! I have to be in touch with the biggest number of people possible, at all times. I am always reachable and I can assure you that it never takes me more than one hour to reply back to someone.

21. What’s one thing you’re learning now, and why is it important?

Change starts from within.

22. What’s one of your favorite memories from the past year?

A couple of trips (Vietnam, Andorra, London, Malaga, Routes of Santiago de Compostela) that I have done and all the hangouts with my friends. Summer is also a time of the year were I always make long lasting memories.

Time to have fun

23. Do you have a hidden talent? What is it?

Dancing!

24. If you could only eat one item for every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Teleportation.

25. What book are you reading now?

Book of Joy - Dalai Lama.

26. Would you rather always be 10 minutes late or always be 20 minutes early?

Ten minutes late (unless its work related). I hate to be early.

27. What’s one totally irrational fear that you have?

I am scared of flying, I always think I am going to die.

28. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or seen this week?

The Netflix movie – Two Popes.

29. What’s one hobby you’d love to get into?

Dance classes and fashion design.

30. Would you rather be fluent in all languages and never be able to travel or be able to travel anywhere for a year but never be able to learn a word of a different language?

Travel anywhere for a year but never be able to learn a word of a different language.

31. What’s the top destination on your must- visit list?

Peru.

32. What’s your favorite TV show—the one you’re always watching on repeat?

Breaking Bad.

33. If you could only eat one item for every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

A toast.

34. Do you think it is important for companies to get to know people beyond their job profile?

Yes.