Behavioral Flashcards
- Describe a challenging project you worked on and how you managed it.
Ik deed in 2021 mee aan een hackathon rond Web3 en Innovation. Slechts 3 dagen ervoor kreeg ik te horen dat ik geaccepteerd was met mijn idee. In die 3 dagen heb ik 2 vrienden samen gekregen om dit idee onder een immense tijddruk uit te werken. Tijdens de 3 dagen hebben we onderzoek gedaan, gesproken met een aantal mensen in de markt, het idee aangepast, business plan gemaakt en taken verdeeld. Tijdens de 2 daagse hackathon heb ik taken verdeeld, het idee duidelijk gemaakt, gesproken met ieder die interesse had en zo het idee kunnen omzetten tot een uitgewerkt Proof of concept die de hackathon won en toegang verleende tot de Accelerator. Het waren twee dagen overuren draaien, informatie absorberen en netwerk maken maar alles is goed uitgespeeld.
- Have you ever faced a conflict within a team? How did you resolve it?
Tijdens mijn consultacy stage bij viva translate was mijn job het analyzeren van de onderliggende Machine learning protocollen. Cascade model of End 2 End model was de kwestie. Binnen het bedrijf was er lichte oneenigheid over het vroegtijdig veranderen van model. Mijn taak was dan ook een duidelijk advies geven door het luisteren naar de verschillende opinies en deze te onderzoeken in de markt analyse. Door alle perspectieven te kennen en data te analyseren kon ik een presentatie geven waar er een middenweg werd gegeven maar door ook duidelijk te maken dat een End 2 End model uiteindelijk toch de nodige route zou zijn. Zo was iedereen tevreden en wist iedereen waar heen het bedrijf ging.
- Give an example of a time you had to explain complex financial data to someone without a financial background.
I’ve had few encounters with explaining complex financial information, of course I’ve had the explaining of Cryptocurrencies in schools and enterprises. However at CFO rent I co-led meetings where we had to explain our financial data to CEO’s of start-ups. The recommendations and our way of working also had to be carefully explained.
- Tell us about a time when you worked under pressure and met tight deadlines.
To be fair I’ve had a lot of encounters with tight deadlines. During my academic career especially during COVID19 it was very hard to understand if there was home work to be done in groups or not. Most of the time I had only a few days to complete whole case studies. This meant reviewing all the lectures at 2X speed and working together closely to make the most of it. Also at assetpshere we had to create a whole pivoted version of a startup in less than 2 days.
- How do you prioritize tasks when working on multiple projects?
I use a combination of urgency and importance to prioritize tasks. I break down larger projects into smaller tasks and tackle the most time-sensitive or resource-dependent items first. I also ensure ongoing communication with team members and stakeholders to adjust priorities as needed.
- Describe a time when you took initiative in a project or task.
Assetsphere, I had a complicated idea and a few friends who were very good in other related things. I had to explain not only the idea but also the market, the technology and the tasks. I made a document for each one of them of the tasks that had to be done. These tasks were marked by priority and timeline. Eventually we were able to finish our Proof of Concept leading to the win at the hackathon.
- Have you ever identified an opportunity for improvement in a process or project? What did you do?
At Solvio I identified huge problems when one of the lead accountants was not present for a week. Other accountants had to take over her work and clients which was hard as she used different ways for the bookkeeping. The clients also had questions where the other accountants weren’t able to answer. I spoke with the second lead accountant and the manager and proposed to make a SOP. They were very excited and I was able to lay the whole framework together in between my tasks.
- What is your greatest professional achievement so far?
Assetsphere waar ik de hackathon won, in de accelerator ben geraakt en het idee mocht presenteren voor europese comissionarissen.
- Can you provide an example of a mistake you made and what you learned from it?
In 2019 I came with an idea to create QR codes inside restaurants to replace waiters and make a whole application to ease the pressure on restaurants and orders. I’ve made the mistake choosing my team. My team was as inexperienced as me with less network and less credentials, they were good friends. It took us over 8 months to create a prototype and have a few interested parties. Unlucky for us the Covid pandemic created a clear market for this idea, few months later we were seeing the QR codes everywhere. Further more I was not well prepared during talks with potential clients and investors. Never again!
- How do you handle feedback and constructive criticism?
Ik sta altijd open voor feedback en stel er graag vragen over. Zonder te weten wat ik fout doe, is de kans groot dat ik dezelfde fout opnieuw maak. Ik waardeer eerlijke meningen en gebruik deze om mezelf verder te ontwikkelen. Daarnaast probeer ik inzicht te krijgen in wat er misging, hoe ik het beter kan aanpakken en wat de mogelijke gevolgen zijn.
- What motivates you in a fast-paced work environment like M&A?
Ik ben jong, ambitieus en gedreven. Hoewel een goede werk-privébalans belangrijk is, haal ik veel energie uit hard werken en groeien. Ik wil impact maken en blijf graag constant bezig, in plaats van een standaardbaan waarin ik me zou vervelen.
- Do you prefer working independently or as part of a team?
I enjoy both working independently and as part of a team, depending on the situation. Independently, I can focus and take ownership of tasks, while teamwork allows for collaboration, learning from others, and achieving shared goals. I believe a balance of both is key to success.
- How do you deal with setbacks or failed transactions?
I view setbacks or failed transactions as opportunities to learn and improve. I analyze what went wrong, identify areas for improvement, and apply those lessons to future situations. Maintaining a positive mindset and focusing on the next opportunity helps me move forward effectively.
- What does success mean to you in this role?
Success in this role means consistently delivering strong results, building meaningful relationships, and contributing to the growth of the company. It’s about making a positive impact through my work, learning from challenges, and continuously improving to exceed expectations.
