Catalina Peltecu, Data Quality Analyst on one of the most significant and exciting projects we’re currently working on, was just tagged by Alexandru Puiu, Technical Director at mindit.io, to be the next person to take part in the “mindit chats” series.

Let’s get to know Catalina a little better. Shall we?

1. What’s something that happened to you that can only happen here?

Something that stands out for me is the attention all the team members receive at any given moment. There’s a lot of focus on training courses and workshops, not just from a technical standpoint but also from a personal one.

For example, during the pandemic, we had the chance to take part in mindfulness, nutrition, and yoga classes. I haven’t encountered something like this anywhere else.

Before mindit.io, I was part of a multinational company, and you couldn’t dream about receiving this kind of attention as you get from everybody in mindit.io.  

2. What was the moment you knew you’d made the right decision to work here?

At my former workplace, I was a Subject Matter Expert, meaning I was the link between IT and business. After a while, I felt the need to do something else: try new things. To get back to my roots, if you will. And that meant I wanted to go back to development.

I had to step out of my comfort zone when I first joined mindit.io, given that I had to learn many new things and refresh my memory from a technical viewpoint. It was challenging but productive.

The day I knew I made the right move coming here was when I had a chat with Irina Arsene, mindit.io Founder. She suggested that the sky is the limit, and not even that. We can go even further and achieve our goals if we’re willing to take baby steps and put the hard work in the right direction.

I immediately felt inspired. I felt a connection and realized that this approach and communication is rare, and you can not find it inside most corporations.

3. What was your best day at work?

One of the best days that first came to mind since I joined mindit.io was when I had my first business trip to Basel with my team.

We met our partners from Switzerland for the first time, and it was amazing to finally get to know these wonderful people with whom we had been working so hard for the past couple of months.

We had a wonderful dinner near the Rhine, got to know each other, shared a couple of laughs, and talked about everything, both work and non-work related, while the sunset was closing on us.

I felt fortunate to be there, at that moment, together with my team and our partners.

4. What are you most proud of at mindit.io?

As I previously mentioned, I came to mindit.io to join the technical side of operations. And now, I handle the data quality aspects of the project, assuring our partners that they have the correct data at any given moment.  

I’m proud of the team I am working with, and I really enjoy watching us grow, evolve, and improve our technical and social skills.  

I also take pride in how the Data Quality area is evolving for our project, being sort of the flagship for other projects. And this is all due to our team efforts, constantly going the extra mile.

5. What is your team like?

Amazing. I’ve been in mindit.io for almost four years now and have met some truly outstanding and incredibly talented people. Not only were they talented, but they also took time to teach and help you whenever needed. And that hasn't changed since.

I loved that the entire team focused on helping out anyone who needed advice or guidance, but they also let you figure out your path. Your contribution was always welcomed and appreciated, and you were not limited to what had been done until then.

You were given the freedom to explore and try new things and ideas. Your initiatives were always encouraged, and that’s why my team is so amazing.

6. Which benefits are your favorite and why?

minditNomad is my favorite benefit. It’s fascinating that you can work from anywhere without having to be tied to a physical location. Your location no longer defines your workplace; I am truly amazed by this.

We proved that we have the professionalism and maturity to work from anywhere, to create our schedule, and being from Constanta, from Romania’s seaside, I really appreciate having that extra flexibility during summertime.

Sure, I wouldn’t have progressed as much if, in the beginning, I didn’t have my team with me at the office. It’s wonderful getting to know your new colleagues, but it’s equally amazing being able to work from anywhere in the world or simply from home. 

You can even go to minditNomad houses from Cluj, Iasi, Sibiu, Constanta, Comarnic, and Bucharest to meet new colleagues and work alongside them from those offices and homes.

I tell everybody about this awesome benefit we have at mindit.io, and everybody is like, “Wow! Really? I’ve never heard about such a benefit!”

7. How have you grown professionally while on our team?

At first, I was a BI developer, but after a year, a partner came up with a proposal for me to explore data quality. It was a new field, and I could choose to explore it as an experiment to see whether I liked this new role or not. Today, I have a mixed role, and I enjoy the whole process.

I am more of an introvert, but I try to connect more with people through this new role. I feel like I naturally get back to what defines me as a person, and the need to connect and work with people is something that I’ve always had.

My motto is: “Improve your skills, share them with others, and always be kind.”

8. What’s a unique part about working here?

What’s unique is the attention and support people are given here in everything they do. You are encouraged to grow, take ownership, and become a better professional.

For example, through a hackathon, people get the autonomy to develop and innovate something they are passionate about. This motivates them to do something they like while having all the necessary support and team members to achieve their goals.

Countless studies show that if you give people 24 hours to develop something they like, to improve a process or anything that can solve a problem, they will become more productive. They are motivated to bring out the best in themselves.

They get to discover their reason for waking up in the morning. Even if hackathons are not only specific to mindit.io, how you are encouraged to try new things, be yourself and grow both professionally and personally that’s definitely unique to our organizational culture.

9. What advice would you give to anyone thinking about joining mindit?

I would tell them that this is the place where they can improve their skills and discover their qualities in a kind environment, where they will feel appreciated and get all the necessary support.

If you want to work in such an environment, then this is clearly the place for you! Have a look at our open roles right here.  

10. Who would you tag next to be interviewed by us?

I would tag Silviu Balaci because he is excellent at what he does, and a very helpful colleague. For me, it’s mind-blowing how much energy and resources he invests in helping others, giving you all the clarity and details you need.

Personally, for me, he is fascinating to work with. Silviu, TAG, you’re it!