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Cromatic Geek of the Week: Alexandra Popescu // Client Management

Hey there! If you’re here, you know the drill. This is our official blog where we promote our projects and talk openly abut stuff.
This section of our blog will be dedicated to promoting our team, in any way they want to. We’re going to question them about themselves, their life, their hobbies.

After more than two months of quarantine, we’re still separated from each other, working from home, trying to adapt to a new way of living while keeping our team together. One of the core members of the team is Alexandra, since she’s the one dealing with clients directly alongside Daniel and Cristian. Client management in a creative agency is not something everyone can do, since it requires a lot of patience, understanding in detail the field while not being an actual designer, mastering the communication skills and, if it were to be really honest, knowing psychology, cause you need to understand people’s needs while guiding them on the right path.  So, let’s see how Alexandra manages to manage all this.

CS: Hello Alexandra! Let’s get right to it. How was quarantine? How did your routine change?

A: Things have definitely changed in the past weeks. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of working from home. It’s harder for me to focus on tasks when I’m by myself versus having the team around. Some days are good, others are crappier. It’s a period of changes for the entire humanity so I think it’s kind of difficult not to get affected by the global vibe. Anyways, on the bright side, I find I can see more clearly the points in which I need to work and improve in order to be in accordance with my own standards – work related mostly.

CS: You blended into the Cromatic Studios team from day one. What kind of sorcery is that?

A: Sorcery, you say? 😲 It’s kind of plain and simple. I believe we’re all on the same page and we have things to share with one another, things that help us evolve, discover new subtleties about us and, therefore, getting us closer to becoming the best version of ourselves. Daniel and Cristian are very good at reading people and bringing those with the same values and quests together. 

CS: Describe your job with one song.

A: This one turned out to be quite difficult. So my answer might also be difficult to decipher. 

CS: How is it for you to work in a creative environment with such funky spirits? Is it very different from the environment you used to work in?

A: I love being around these guys. I used to think I’m not a creative person. Being around them helped me slowly discover some creativity in me. I do believe all human beings have it all, it’s just a question of digging it up. I also love listening to music at the office and laughing. I laugh a lot with my mates and I’m grateful for that (laughter heals any soul). My sense of humour grew even more the past year. It’s about what I mentioned earlier – we all have things to share with one another, we learn from each other and we help each other evolve.
Cromatic Studios is so much more than a workplace – it’s a community, a family with heart, soul, circulatory system – it’s truly an ecosystem. And it is indeed very different from the environment I previously worked in.

CS: What’s the best thing about your job? What gives you those satisfaction points?

A: Come to think about it I’m probably most satisfied when my colleagues/friends at Cromatic Studios are satisfied. Happy with the results of a certain project, receiving appraisals – those tiny things of happiness and satisfaction that I sometimes observe on their faces: a smile, a light in their eyes. You know, that happens pretty often – stalking my colleagues 😬
I’m also satisfied when I manage to build a relationship with a client. One can really feel when it’s a relationship and not just a collaboration. Satisfaction comes also from learning new things and I did learn a lot the past year!
And one more thing, truly satisfactory – when clients are happy with the products/results we deliver and they have no reservation in sharing their thoughts and enthusiasm with us. It’s really great when we get that kind of feedback.

CS: We’re all trying to discover our role in this crazy journey we call life. Mind sharing your vision about that?

A: I tried to find my role in this life for quite some time, but poor results and the dissatisfaction that followed generated frustration. So, one day, something hit me and I decided it would be probably best to stop searching and just be. It turned out it was quite easy for me to do that. I do believe there’s a way that suits each of us, but we often find ourselves judging the methods other people use. All of us should try to be more understanding 😊
Basically, nowadays I’m trying to follow the advice of a very dear friend, who departed from our dimension, who used to tell me: “Sit back and enjoy the ride!”. I do forget sometimes and I get stuck in life’s problems but it’s part of the process.

CS: You seem to be very mature and in control. Do you recall any key moments in your life that led you here?

A: I’m trying to be in control, I’m sort of a control freak although I know that I can’t really control anything. That’s one of the issues I’m working on letting go. Embracing the fact that sometimes the results don’t depend on my actions and I should take it just as it is and not worry so much about it.
I think I was in the 1st grade when I first heard someone telling my mom: “She’s so mature for her age.” So, as it happens most of the time, the key moment can be found in my early childhood. But let’s not get too much into psychoanalysis. I would’n want anyone to cry 😀

CS: Apart from Cristian and Daniel, you’re the one that deals with our clients the most. How did you develop these great communication skills and how do you cope with stressful situations?

A: My communication skills didn’t need so much digging up. I think it’s a blend of several things. My astrological sign is Virgo, I always felt comfortable in Romanian Language and Literature classes during school and I can empathize with others most of the time. Also, my first boss paid a lot of attention to communication issues and that shaped me.
With stressful situations I don’t cope that well – I usually take it home with me and let it bite some more during the not so good night sleep. I’m allowing myself to dedicate too many resources in trying to find ways of solving the issue or blaming myself for not doing a good job. I can say, from my own experience, that’s not a healthy way to approach difficult situations. It only brings additional stress.
@Stefan: You do remember the stressful measurement issue, right? 😃

CS: We know you love electronic music. Was it always your favorite genre? Was it love at first listen or did you slowly grow to love it? Tell us the whole story!

A: I’m a late bloomer when it comes to electronic music. I started listening to progressive house (mostly) in my late 20’s and it was, indeed, love at first hearing. The same very dear friend of mine who is no longer with us took my hand one day and embarked me in this journey called electronic music. May the Universe bring him Joy!

CS: Do you have a playlist we could check out?

A: I don’t exactly have playlists, I mostly listen to dj sets. Here’s a few of my favourite DJ’s: Hernan Cattaneo, Guy J, Nick Warren, Lee Burridge, Guy Mantzur, Moshic, Sasha. These days I’m stuck on The Great Escape.

CS: How does your activity at Cromatic Studios impact your personal development?

A: It’s not so much about the impact of my activity as it is about the impact of the people in Cromatic Studios. And that’s huge. I mentioned earlier the impact they had on my creativity and humour. And I’m also starting to be less self judgemental.

CS: Going back to #selfisolation period, do you have any fears or anxieties you didn’t have before? What do you do to keep your mental health in check?

A: I had some pretty tough days. I have experienced states of anxieties completely new and powerful. It helps when I focus on breathing (if I remember to do that :)), it helps a lot staring at the sun (eyes wide open) and listening to life (nature sounds – birds, thunder, you name it). It also helps hugging someone dear.
It’s just a phase – we shall all overcome it.

CS: Tell us about some moments you hold dear regarding Cromatic Studios.

A: I loved our Bărcuț team building escape last year and seeing each of us from a different perspective. It had a huge impact on our team and I keep it in my memory.
It happens sometimes that there’s a discussion on a topic, I’m being asked something, I answer that I wasn’t around at that time and pretty often I get the same reply: “That’s not possible, you’ve been here forever”. That makes me feel damn good cause I understand the conscious efforts I make in order to be really present in the Cromatic Studios community are showing. Yeah, that’s the EGO talking! 

CS: Tell us two things about your amazing self that your mates don’t have a clue about.

A: 1. I’m a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and James Bond.
2. My favourite place in Bucharest is the Botanical Garden.

CS: Share some wise words ready to print and deliver.

A: I was thinking of quoting Osho or maybe Neale Donald Walsch. But let’s save that for another time.
Meanwhile, I’ll leave you with this one. Or maybe this one.
Thanks for having me here, I do feel honoured.

Lots of love, A