Oval Birthdays - October 2020
Benedetta
4 min read
A little over a year ago we inaugurated our new Turin office, toasting and celebrating with many new team members. Let's get to know them better on their first Oval Birthday!
Filippo - Partnership & Marketing Manager
What is your superpower in the workplace?
Aha, that's a question! Mmm, let me think, I'd say to have a wider view of what's happening and look for possible future opportunities coming from our daily job! I do think that keeping a constant eye on what's happening in the world and exploring environments completely different to the one in which we use to work will help us think out-of-the-box and look for alternative and amazing new ways of solving problems.
What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
When it comes to food, I have plenty of knowledge! I'm passionate of great food actually, don't have this wide knowledge about strange food. Anyhow, I'd say...brain of lambs! (no worries, I'm not like the Anthony Hopkins in "The Silence of the Lambs", is actually quite common to eat from the place where I come from)
What was the biggest challenge you’ve faced in Oval?
I came here after launching and running my own startup, an amazing journey that lasted almost 6 years! At the very beginning, I was a bit scared of this radical change but the passion people within Oval put everyday in developing an outstanding product made me more than happy to have accepted this amazing opportunity!
Denis - Data Engineer (and Oval Voice 🤫)
What is your superpower in the workplace?
Creativity! Data is everywhere and it is useful to everyone. Also, as Data Engineer, everyday I’m facing challenging situations to find, transform and store data to optimise our products.
What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
This is hard to say, because I've eaten a lot of food in Oval! :P
Once, I found in the office a bowl full of "ciccioli" (a beautiful concoction primarily made of pork shoulder braised in lard). It Sounds weird but it tastes delicious. It’s a speciality from Piacenza, in Emilia Romagna, where my father is from.
What was the biggest challenge you’ve faced in Oval?
The great and tough thing about working in a startup like Oval is the absence of limits! There aren't any barriers between you, your goals and your dreams. But this means that you have to be versatile and able to take ownership of your area of interests... if you can do that, you can innovate without any limit and learn something new everyday! :)
Paola - Customer Support Specialist
What would you sing in a karaoke night?
Karaoke is not really my cup of tea, but if I had to, I would definitely sing some of my favourite pop songs. My playlist would definitely include some Kate Bush because her music is quirky and peculiar, and also fun - singing 'Wuthering Heights' out loud while trying to dance to the choreography of the original video is really good FUN, I can testify :)
What’s the strangest talent you have?
I can do a pretty decent Cockney accent. I can also move some bones in my ankles. I'm not sure there are talents, though :) Although being able to move my ankle bones is definitely strange. Also, I can learn a new language pretty quickly - but I wouldn't say that's strange considering I have studied foreign languages for a long time and it is one of my strongest interests!
Which aspect of the team impressed you the most when joining Oval? Why?
Easy - I was very glad to find that Oval is an international team, made up by people from various parts of Italy and the world, and who have varied experiences and backgrounds. Also, there is a connection to the UK as Oval's HQ is there. After 14 years in the UK, I was thrilled to find a workplace where I could keep a connection with my adoptive motherland, and also where I could work alongside people who, like me, have travelled and lived abroad. I think this makes for a variegated, interesting mix of people.
Lavinia - Customer Support Specialist
What is your superpower in the workplace?
Positive thinking. I believe any goal can be achieved by using the right strategy and I am very optimistic, even too much sometimes.
What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?
Stinky Tofu, one of Taiwan's most famous street food. It smells like wet socks, but tastes delicious.
What was the biggest challenge you’ve faced in Oval?
Adaptability. Oval is an ever-changing working environment: You need to learn constantly, in order to face new challenges every day.
