Water Cooler Conversations

How are you amidst the pandemic?

Like everyone else, I'm just trying to cope with the situation - making the most out of what I've been blessed with and thinking about how to improve other people’s lives in the same process.

Coming from an MIS background, how did you end up in Operations of a tech startup?

To be honest, I didn't consider my course or my "background" as I was assigned to handle Operations of Booky. I guess you can say that there’s a connection because of the word tech in it but it’s actually more of my personality that pulled me towards taking charge of this aspect.

What do you love most about Operations?

I'm naturally process-oriented and I hunger for efficiency. These big factors are the same factors that I love about the nature of Operations in any industry.

What’s the hardest thing about Operations?

If everything is going well (or above and beyond), that’s normal (that’s how it should be) but when something goes wrong (even if it’s a small thing), it’s like everything is your fault.

What are the top Operations principles that you uphold?

EFFICIENCY. EFFICIENCY. EFFICIENCY.

Any advice for newbies in the Operations field?

You have to make sure you’re able to separate your subjective biases from your objective decisions.

What‘s your favorite part about managing people?

I get to play a big part in helping them achieve their goals (personal and professional).

What are the top management principles you execute or wish to uphold?

Treat your team members as real people - not robots (or merely resources).

What’s the hardest thing about managing people?

You need to understand different backgrounds and perspectives all at the same time (sometimes all in the same minute i.e. during a team meeting).

Any advice for people new to being a manager?

If you’re not willing to do the dirty work, don’t be a manager!

What‘s your favorite part about being a DJ?

I aim to please... so I love that I get to entertain people for “work”.

What‘s the hardest part about being a DJ?

Most of the time, people underestimate your skills because they don’t realize what’s behind all the talking and mixing that you do. For most people, you’re just talking and pressing buttons.

Any advice you would give for a beginner in the DJ-ing field?

It’s not for everyone. Know why you want to do it first before considering trying it out. If you get in it for the wrong reasons, you won’t be happy.

How is that you communicate so well?

I would like to believe this is because of a level of empathy that I have. I always consider what the other person would feel or hear before uttering my words.

You're a DJ at 99.5 Play FM from 6 to 9 in the morning, Head of Operations of a bustling start up Booky throughout the day, and you even ran 360 Sky Lounge (a rooftop bar) at night before the pandemic happened. How did you handle that? What keeps you going?

I honestly haven’t reflected to know how or why I was able to handle all of those. I just kept on going without considering stopping. This, in a way, might be unhealthy but I just kept on going until I could physically and emotionally handle it. This also helped me be more self-aware and determine my limits - to know how to push them further.

How do you handle adversity?

I give myself time to acknowledge this, time to react to it internally, and proactively tell myself what to do. What’s important to me is that I give myself time to be human - to cry and agree with my feelings. After that, I'm able to catapult myself better because I was kind to myself.