Interview: Donatella’s Journey at Int4

Donatella Nezereab joined Int4 on 6th July 2020. It has been almost 5 years of full commitment, following the Mentorship’s ideas and values, bringing value along with the Kenyan and Eritrean vibes to the table.

Fredrick Mumali: Hi Donatella and Edyta. I have been with Int4 for a year already and I would love to hear Donatella’s story about joining Int4. How did it all start, Donatella?

Donatella: Hi Fredrick, thank you! I joined Int4 after searching for a job that was less physically demanding than my previous factory work. I decided to send my CV to many places, even for roles I felt unqualified for. One of those was for a junior sales manager at Int4, even though I had no sales experience.

Fredrick: No experience? That’s brave, I admit. Can you elaborate on the recruitment process itself?

Donatella: Sure! I applied through my school’s website (Merito University in Poznań) after seeing the job posting there. Edyta contacted me for an interview as Int4 was looking for someone with sales knowledge and good English skills for the junior salesperson role.

Fredrick: I am curious what you remember about the interview process?

Donatella: It’s been a while, but I remember that I was happy to get a response from Int4, even just for an interview. I remember Edyta asking about my experience, including my internship in the UK, and I shared how my former boss taught me to be resourceful. He would tell me that my generation should have no excuses for not having knowledge as we have the Internet. Edyta was transparent about another candidate being more qualified, but she somehow saw potential in me and recommended me to the other managers.

Fredrick: Current generations are left with no excuses at all with AI available 🙂 Edyta, from your perspective, what stood out about Donatella during the recruitment process that led to her successfully landing at Int4?

Edyta Kazmierczak-Pawlak: Values – curiosity, openness, and a willingness to learn – stood out. I was impressed by Donatella’s initiative, her experience in the UK, and her former boss’s advice about using the internet for knowledge. My empathy told me at that point that the challenges Donatella might have faced as a Kenyan studying in Poland would only have made her stronger, more courageous, and not someone who would “give up,” if you know what I mean. She did not have the skillset, but I am always looking for what I call a “doer” quality in people, and I felt Donatella had it.

Fredrick: Doer?…I get it. Back to you, Donatella, how did you feel when you got the job offer?

Donatella: I was surprised and pleased. I joined Int4 working between sales and HR.

Fredrick: What was your experience in those early roles?

Donatella: Oh, that’s a very good question. I made a lot of mistakes initially in sales. I learned that recruitment wasn’t for me; I prefer a role with more social interaction. I found my strength in customer success, where I can build relationships and support the company.

Fredrick: Interesting, I thought recruitment was about social interaction. Anyways, it sounds like you’ve had a varied career path at Int4.

Donatella: Yes, I’ve also worked in operations and had a crash course in legal, thanks to Kornel’s mentorship. All these experiences have shaped my current role in sales with customer success support. I’m grateful for the patience and belief of my colleagues. Coming back to recruitment, you know, getting to know as much as you can about another person during one or two hours is very exhausting, and I definitely would not call it social interaction (laughter).

Fredrick: I understand, so what would you say has been the most important “part” of your journey at Int4?

Donatella: Good teammates and mentors are crucial. They’ve helped me grow and encouraged me to take on new challenges. I value the opportunity to learn and adapt.

Fredrick: From your perspective, Edyta, what is Int4’s approach to mentorship?

Edyta: Well, the Mentorship Culture we follow at Int4 is a holistic approach to the company’s and its people’s development, enabling each one of them to be happy and successful in their roles. When it comes to the mentorship relationship itself, I always emphasize that it is a two-way street. It’s not just about the mentor giving advice; the mentee also brings value and a fresh perspective to the dynamic. Mentorship is a long-term process, not a short one. If it is short, that is called training. Most importantly, mentorship is about understanding that both sides want to learn from each other, and whenever harsh things are said, it is not to destroy the other’s ego but to have a moment of reflection in a safe environment without hurting anyone’s feelings. If you feel hurt by your mentor-mentee relationship, it is not a mentorship environment; you only want to learn and gain a one-way learning experience.

Fredrick: Yes, now that I have joined Int4, I have a view of what you mean, from Annual Learning and Development meetings, through learning by playing and having fun, to Int4 Academy and Friday workshops. Donatella, a tough question for you 🙂 How do you see your future at Int4?

Donatella: I want to further develop my customer success skills, particularly in B2B. I enjoy the challenge of showing companies the value we bring. I love coming to work! The people are amazing, and we have a strong team dynamic. I want my future to be like my present, with a focus on the company’s values that align with mine, which is lifelong learning. At Int4, the team is so educated and knowledgeable that I know I can still learn a lot.

Fredrick: Yeah, so how do you feel about working with such a skilled and experienced team, considering you joined as a graduate?

Donatella: I hadn’t really thought about it until it was pointed out to me. I see it as an opportunity to learn and grow. The culture is one of mutual respect and mentorship, and I do not feel that I am less educated than the rest of the team. I feel that I am being directed by the managers to the fields in which I can use my natural skillset to the best of my ability and to the company’s benefit.

Fredrick: What’s your overall reflection on your journey at Int4 so far?

Donatella: To cut a long story short – Int4 is my first IT job, and I’ve grown immensely here, both professionally and personally. I feel privileged to be part of such a positive and supportive environment.