Everyone, meet Timo Baier, our resident Software Product Manager. We recently caught up with Timo to discuss life and business (and elephants) during the “new normal”. He definitely had some interesting things to share so we hope you’ll enjoy this one.
When asked about the biggest changes he noticed in his day-to-day since the pandemic (and the lockdown) started, Timo reminisced of “maintaining personal connections face-to-face as well as traveling. It’s getting harder to stay connected in person. We’ve all gotten a bit more closed off lately. I think this has become very noticeable.”
Personal connections aside, Timo points out one thing as particularly positive during the corona times, and that is Collaboration. “I noticed how people are working better and more remotely together. When Work From Home first started, I know it took a while for everyone to get used to it – both colleagues and customers – but now I’m noticing how effective collaboration has truly gotten. It’s all about Collaboration – calling for an important topic: Collaborative Business Intelligence.”
Ahh… music to our ears! Yes, Collaborative Business Intelligence is definitely an area more businesses should be investing in at a rapid rate. Sorry, Timo, go on…
“Everybody’s talking about the Cloud and implementing Cloud-based solutions, with one big focus being on data analysis and visualization. More data is being shared. More insights are being generated, which is great. Entire teams are starting to collaborate around data now. To all businesses and partners out there, I’d say keep doing and intensifying that! This is the biggest trend I see moving forward in basically any industry!”
Glad we agree, Timo! So, how have you persevered through all these changes so far? Did you perhaps pick up any new hobbies since the pandemic started? We heard you were quite the music aficionado.
“Yes, I am an avid collector of vinyl records but it was always something I did on occasion. Now, I find more time to listen to the music I own, exchange records with friends, and also expand my library with some new ones. I also bought a rowing machine for my living room to stay fit. Lockdown lifestyle!”
Seems like positivity and optimism are still a thing in 2020, as per Herr Baier! Speaking of which, what are you going to remember 2020 the most for, Timo? Any positive events you can highlight?
“I will remember 2020 as the year I completed my Master’s education. I also accepted a new role at the HICO-Group as a Software Product Manager so that’s been extremely exciting. Because my thesis is now completed, I am actually enjoying my free weekends for the first time in a while!”
And suddenly, 2020 doesn’t seem so dull after all. Thanks, Timo! To wrap this great conversation up, we asked Timo a bunch of #RapidFireQuestions just to see how well he performs under pressure. Ready? If you could use only one word to describe 2020, what word would it be?
Transformative.
Work or sleep – which do you do more nowadays?
Work, still work.
In one word, please describe “life at HICO” in 2020?
Adaptive.
Best movie or TV show you’ve recently watched?
Altered Carbon.
You’ve been given an elephant. You can’t give it away or sell it. What would you do with the elephant?
“I’d keep it, name it Theodore, and invite it for coffee! I live in a great community with very friendly neighbors. Theodore could stay outside in the courtyard. I know my neighbors would come and feed it or play with it every day. Sometimes on a Sunday, I would go on a stroll with my elephant buddy.”
Okay, hold your horses there, Indiana Jones! It was a trick question! Seriously… anybody knows where we could buy an elephant? Seems like Timo is really fond of the idea! On behalf of the #HICO-Group, we’d like to thank Timo for the great conversation and insights. We hope you enjoyed it too! More #PeopleOfHICO stories coming soon!
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