Coffee Break with Catalina Anton

This week we present to you the strong woman who steers the HR department.

How did your career in EveryMatrix start? What’s your favorite thing about working here?

I applied to a job ad and then stalked the recruiter at the time on LinkedIn and sent her a message :). I guess they liked me because a few months later I joined the company. From the first moment I stepped into the office, it felt like home; I can’t really explain why.

EveryMatrix has always been the first job in my career where I felt I could be myself, I could try new things and not be punished for failing and I’d be encouraged to put my ideas into action. But most of all, I love the people here. Authentic, smart, fun, dedicated people who do their best to help their colleagues and do a good job.

What was your first job?

My first job was to wander around every street in Bucharest in search of restaurants and apply a questionnaire (Sociology student). This was before Google maps was a thing. I’ve discovered an amazing diversity of ethnicities and met people passionate about sharing a piece of their culture through food.

What’s one of your biggest work pet peeves?

That’s a tough question. I guess I would say that if there are things I don’t like, it’s my responsibility to try and find a solution to that or to simply open my mind enough to understand the other perspective.

Are you an early bird or a night owl? Give us your top productivity piece of advice.

Sadly I’ve always been a night owl. But I found that starting my day by engaging with my colleagues or working on something constructive always gives me a boost of energy. Planning your day, setting goals, and keeping an overview of your overall tasks is also a useful thing to have for me. Tools like Trello or Monday are appreciated.

What personality trait do you most attribute your success to, and why?

Success is not a word I would use. But keeping calm and focusing on the end goal and the reasoning behind it always seems to get the job done.

What would you tell your younger self?

“Perfection is a myth. Deal with it and just do your best”

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?

Cotton candy and amusement parks. Embrace your inner kid!

Name one thing everyone should add to their Bucket List.

I will name three: caring for a pet, spending time immersed in a different culture and making someone smile on purpose.

What would you do if you were gifted a million dollars, no strings attached?

I’d hire a lawyer and a tax consultant 😊 With my skepticism appeased, I’d use some for myself and my loved ones and invest part in a research institution focused on saving the environment.

Share a photo of your favorite pet!

“My chair. Hooman can sit on the floor” 😀

What are your most-used emojis?

😃​🤗💗

Name 3 apps you couldn’t live without.

Audible (because books), Youtube (because reasons), Glovo (because food).

And finally, give us an idea for our upcoming Summer Party. Pick a theme!

“No alcohol September” … just joking 😊 Would be nice to celebrate diversity in EveryMatrix although not exactly sure how such a party would look like.

Thank you, Catalina, for sharing some of your tips and experiences with us and giving us the chance to learn from them!