Where are you from?
I was born in a small city in the middle of Ukraine called Cherkasy. The city is well-known in my country mainly because of its local beer brand (a nice one but can’t be compared with Belgian sorts) and several local resorts along the river Dnieper.
What’s your role at Kambr?
I am a Senior Product Manager — a person who engages closely with customers, engineers, and designers to make the life of the users easier.
How did you end up at Kambr?
In December last year, Bob reached out to me on LinkedIn and suggested a product role in Kambr.
When did you start working at Kambr?
My first working day was January 23, 2023.
What do you like to do in your free time?
My free time “what to do” framework is very straightforward:
- When the weather is good, I prefer traveling and seeing unfamiliar places, active tourism.
- When the weather is bad, I prefer staying at home, reading books, and cooking something delicious.
What’s your superpower?
Asking questions and structuring things both at and out of work. Sometimes it pisses off my friends and colleagues, but I try to control my “power” and stop myself from being too annoying 😛
What makes you nervous?
I feel insecure and anxious when I must deal with extreme heights and there is no fence/protection from falling. I would not call this “a fear”, it is rather the “I’d better avoid climbing high or staying for long on viewpoints” principle.
What are you most proud of?
My true belief is that my biggest achievements are ahead.
What’s your favorite Kambr value and why?
I would answer Trust. When you deal with a lot of people across the globe and work on something big, it is hard to overestimate the importance of building trustful relationships in the team. This is a foundation for me.
What’s your life philosophy?
If you want to change something — start with yourself.
Have you ever missed a flight (and why)?
The most recent one was in Morocco, I was together with my wife and we were looking for a nice gift for my parents in one of the Duty-free stores. We entirely lost track of time and somehow missed the late invitation to board.
When we finally arrived at the gate, we were told that the boarding was completed, though the plane was still there, and we saw the last passengers entering a bus. Eventually, it extended our stay for one additional night in Casablanca, and it was a lesson.
What’s your dream destination to fly to?
My #1 country to visit is Japan. I have always been attracted by this country’s beauty, peculiar culture, and pace of industrial progress.
What’s the last thing you Googled?
Holland tax boxes 2023
What’s the most interesting (or unusual) job you’ve had?
Nothing unusual, just corporations. However, before I started my career in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, I worked for a couple of months as a salesperson in a clothing brand store. That job taught me how to fold shirts fast and avoid having them wrinkled. That also helps a lot when I have to pack my baggage in the most compact way possible.
What’s your favorite book and why?
“The Alchemist” is a very philosophical book by Paulo Coelho. It helped me to find my way and stop being scattered and live by other people’s expectations.
Thanks to the author, I learned to pay attention and catch the signs that come my way. This book always helps me get back on track!
Have you had your 15 minutes of fame yet?
I can’t recall something special. As a speaker, I took part in several tech conferences / Clubhouse (hello, corpse) podcasts, but that was long ago.
Favorite show to stream.
Breaking bad and Better call Saul is the best I’ve ever watched. I would love to see a continuation of the Albuquerque saga.
