Meet Merix: Anita - PR Manager

Oh, how the tables have turned! You are finally able to read a Meet Merix interview with Anita! I couldn’t have a better Team Leader – her organization, friendly approach and excellent knowledge enable efficient management of all PR activities in our software house. And I’m not trying to be a suck-up! :) The thing I especially value in our daily cooperation is how she combines reasonable approach with creativity and having the head full of fun ideas. There is no time or place for sulking or stressing about something - in the case of crisis (which thankfully doesn’t happen often) the problem is always quickly addressed, resolved and forgotten. After hours, Anita is a big fan of Lech Poznan (what is clear when you look at her picture with white and blue scarf) and dogs of all kinds, about which you will read more in the interview.

• Tell us something about yourself.
  Now I know, standing on the other side of this interview, which already the first question is terribly hard to answer. To be honest, it's crushing! I don't like to talk about myself. But I have to... so I'm outgoing, smiling football fan who like great fun. I like to think of myself as a creative person.
• What are your main responsibilities at Merxistudio?
  I am responsible for Public Relations. The main part of my job is to work on the content and the brand image. The communication - inside and outside the company - is also my job. I'm a one of our social media channels admins. So it is me who's hiding behind posts. Moreover, my responsibilities include the edition of all articles published on our blog. Devs rather prefer writing code than articles, so just imagine how much I have to do. Just believe me, it's quite difficult when you get extremely tech text, and your job is to make it readable.
  From time to time, me and my creativity, try to help Maciek with his HR job.
  For some time, I'm honored to hold the position of PR Team Leader. Therefore, I have some extra tasks such as the organization of team works. Fortunately, I work with the best, and I don't need to point the finger at anybody.
• How do you work? What is important to you while working?
  I've always though that the order is important for me. I think I've got it from my father who is a well-organized perfectionist. Really, he reads all the instructions (and this is something for what I love him!). However, it turns out that the German Ordnung does not always go hand in hand with creative work. Every day, I try to plan my day I write down my tasks. The rest is only my imagination.
  I also keep in line and add that atmosphere at work is one of the most important things. Of course, we don't sit here every day all 8 hours and just looking at our monitors not talking with anybody.
• Tell us something about your beginnings in the company.
  I've been working at Merixstudio for over a year. I remember my first day mainly because of a little misunderstanding, by which I was at work one hour earlier causing amazement. What is more, for starters I got flowers! Unfortunately, it's not a tradition... it just was a few days after Women's Day.
  My start at Merixstudio was quite painless. Mainly because I had known at least one of the folks before (thx Ania!). Besides, this is the team with which you get in sync immediately. The most difficult thing at the beginning was to... remember all names and embrace if this Kamil, Marcin or Maciej is the right one. It always seemed difficult to me to remember names.
• What have you learned while working in Merixstudio?
  The backstage of the Internet.I had some tech background when I came here. But the lion's share of what I know about new technologies, programming languages, frameworks and other mysterious things, I know thanks to working in Merixstudio.
• What do you like about working at Merixstudio?
  I wanted to point something else than 'people' and 'atmosphere', but it's the first impulse that comes to my mind. Merix is a rag-tag band of fruitcakes: geeks, nerds, trolls, jokers, and even superheroes... everyone will find something for himself. Moreover, I like the possibility of self-development and developing your ideas. It's a good thing that the boss takes care. Free English classes, workshops, conferences, etc. - like it so much! We also have the integration budget, what is freaking awesome. We can spend that money on whatever we want. Of course, these meetings are also very... eventful.
• What was the biggest challenge you faced while working at the Merixstudio?
  Hmmm... it could be understanding devs and the way they work. Getting caught up in IT industry and web development may be a big challenge for typical, non-zero-one humanist. I hope I got through it.
• What cool things have you worked on at MerixStudio?
  I'm the PR Manager, so I'm not working on specific projects. Almost each of them ends up in my hands when it's time to show it off. But here is Merix and even I had the opportunity to be a PM for a while and oversee some project. So, together with Maciek, we created from scratch the recruitment campaign based on Star Wars. We called it MerixWars. It was splendid. Before, I had had only the general idea of the saga. Working on this project forced me to make up for my grubby neglect. And the effect was incredible!
• What was your first contact with web technologies? When did you make a decision that you want to work in IT?
  This is not a love story that began in childhood when I was getting to know the first internets by sounds of the modem. OK, I always knew something. Often it was something more than my friends. But I have never thought that I'll be working in the heart of IT industry. I was bitten by the IT bug a little in my previous role as the PR Manager in the startup industry.
• What do you think is most difficult (and most interesting) in your work as a PR Manager?
  The most difficult part can be (but don't have to!) coping with tech articles written by others. In this industry, especially at the beginning, it could be something frightening. The tricky aspect fo PR work is also harnessing all the social media channels that are unpredictable. The communication with your target can make anxiety.
• The first thing you do when you arrive at the office.
  I either start the computer, or I take off my shoes and put my slippers.
• iOS or Android?
  Android. In my opinion, this little green creature is more flexible and... cheaper.
• What do you do in your free time after work?
  When the weather is nice, I go for a walk together with my boyfriend (XOXO!) and doggy to the Citadel (or the Żurawiniec) or we meet with our friends (a picnic blanket, a BBQ, a beer and I'm in heaven). Thank God for tv shows, movies, and books which help us in bad days. Besides, running is what gives me a pretty good dose of endorphins.
• The best hero from your childhood is...
  It's not a single hero but the anime as a whole. It's unquestionable 'Dragon Ball'. I have never missed one episode, and even now I watch all series sometimes (I always raise my hands to send my energy to Goku's Genki Dama). If I were confronted with a choice 'one hero or your life!', it would be Piccolo. I don't know why... he's just freaking awesome!
• Where is your favorite place in Poznań?
  Bulgarska street! ;) I don't have just one favorite place. Sołacki Park is lovely; I like a nature reserve Żurawiniec and Morasko. I will not refuse to some BBQ by the Warta or to walk around the Old Town. I recommend Olszak ponds and all the trails around them for nature lovers. Don't forget about the New ZOO! Poznań is great!
• Beer or vodka?
  A beer and then some vodka ;)
• Sport?
  I was born in Poznań, so I have 'blue' blood and love for Lech Poznan. It's something natural.
  For my part, I like running - with my dog or alone.
• Dog or cat?
  Dog! It must be from an animal shelter. The best is of course mine! ;)
  

• Which website do you visit the most?
  At work, it is Merixstudio's website. But it doesn't count... so, it will be probably Facebook. Less and less but still.
• Favorite app.
  Endomondo with Spotify. The possibility to record and analyze my workouts motivates me. Running without music sounds really dumb. About of the most commonly used, I think it's Messenger.
• The light or dark side?
  How about the green one? Such as Piccolo's skin :D
• If you could only visit one website for the rest of your life, what site would that be?
  I'd rather do something else than web surfing. But maybe YouTube? I could watch funny animals all the time!
• If you could have your dream job, what it would be?
  When I was the little girl, I wanted to be a vet. Now, I would rather choose to travel (with my doggy!). So maybe travel journalist/blogger with a dog at my side? ;) After all, when I'll get bored by any job, it 'd be nice to earn a lot of dough and just become the Hollywood wife!