10 Questions with Andras Novak

Meet Andras Novak, our multicultural Business Development expert and a driving force in promoting DQPro’s benefits. Prepare to be intrigued as he unravels the hidden facets of his life and career in this Q&A session. Get ready to delve into his daily duties, goals, phobias, and even the unusual skill he yearns to master.

1. What’s something that most people don’t know about you?

Despite my North American accent, I’ve never been to the US. My accent comes from going to international school and growing up in Hungary, Vietnam, Czech Republic, Serbia and Austria, and now in the UK.

2. What’s the focus of Business Development role?

My day-to-day involves reaching out to new clients, speaking with companies who are interested in DQPro, informing them of the benefits and efficiencies that DQPro can bring. Part of my responsibilities also encompass planning various events that help promote DQPro to a larger audience, such as webinars and industry events.

3. What is the most unusual aspect of working here?  

The most unusual aspect of DQPro is that with such a small team, all working practically fully remote, we’re able to have effective and productive conversations internally with each other and externally with existing and potential clients. I think it speaks volumes to the maturity and competence of the team!

4. What’s something that puts you in a state of flow?

Waking up early, going for a quick bike ride and having a clear plan for the day allows me to be plugged in for the whole day.

5. What goals are you currently working towards outside of work or at DQPro?

 I’m currently learning SQL and Python on Code Academy.

6. Do you listen to music while you’re working?

Since lockdown, I’ve stopped listening to music while at home. Instead, I prefer to listen to podcasts. My current regulars are FiveThirtyEight (An American political podcast that’s hosted by a polling aggregator company), KnowledgeFight (A comedy podcast dedicated to debunking conspiracy theories) and the Fall of Civilisations Podcast (Examines various collapsed empires and their rise and fall from power).

7. What’s your biggest irrational phobia and why?

I wouldn’t think it’s irrational, but I have a fear of freezing in a situation and not being able to react and handle the circumstance correctly.  

8. What’s a common piece of advice you don’t agree with and why?

The prevalence of “hustle culture”. I learned early in my career that overworking will lead to exhaustion which will lead to mistakes, and oftentimes you won’t have the capacity to correct or understand the root causes of the problem. It’s incredibly important to take time for yourself and switch off.

9. What’s a common phrase used in your family that nobody else uses?

It translates a bit awkwardly from Hungarian, but “Tidiness/ order is at the soul of everything”. It speaks to the freedom that having structure in your life; by not having to search or waste time on basic actions, a person is granted more capacity to focus on detail and important activities.

10. What’s an unusual skill you would love to master?

I’d love to be able to chop food as fast as professional chefs do. There is something very oddly satisfying about the precision and speed.