KASKO Team Interview with Sergej Tolz
What is your name and where do you come from?
My name is Sergej and how much time do you have? I was born in Russia, my dad got kicked out when I was one, a tale for another day, so we moved to Munich in Germany, where I grew up until I was 13. Then I was in Boston in the US for a brief stint before we moved to Manchester in England where I finished school. University and most of my professional career were subsequently spent in England, but I have also lived worked and studied in China, Singapore and France.
What do you do at KASKO? And what do you love the most about your job?
My job title is COO and what I love most is that this gives me a huge amount of variety in my day to day job, continuous change and learning opportunities. I usually say that I manage the part of the business that doesn’t do the coding. So, I set up, try to put structures around and do hiring for departments like Business Development, Project Management, Marketing and HR. My ambition is to ensure that people feel empowered to get their work done and providing them with the freedom and confidence to decide how best to do that. I try to make sure that teams and departments are prepared for continuous growth and self-improvement. And I also do some sales and fundraising work.
What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
Hmmm… not sure… maybe trying to break into the secret floor in my hotel in North Korea to see if they actually had a camera room there, maybe it was backpacking through central Asia by myself and getting censored, maybe losing my group on a night dive during my PADI and deciding to go on, rather than go up… maybe… this isn’t an easy one.
What’s the coolest thing you’re working on at the moment?
I get the most joy out of doing something new, so right now that’s fundraising, since I haven’t done that before.
Who would you most like to swap places with for a day?
At KASKO or generally? At KASKO probably with Martins or Arturs because I’d like to understand how the platform actually works. Not that I feel I could do what they do. Outside of KASKO? Maybe Ivanka Trump… sure that would be pretty interesting.
Who is your most inspiring colleague and why?
Everyone is equal, but some are more equal than others… yes, it’s our office dog Chewie.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
Just try to get things off my plate as quickly as possible. Don’t leave things hanging. Either make decisions and answer questions or specify why you can’t at this stage and what other inputs you need to make a decision.
What’s the first thing you do when you get to the office?
I usually get a tea or coffee.
What was your first job?
Hmmm… my dad worked at a radio station in Prague and I was helping out in their library, but I’m not sure I got paid for that, so maybe it was actually English teaching in China or answering phones for Ticketmaster in Manchester.
What is your highlight from the last KASKO trip?
I think either sprint planning in the pool or when we took over karaoke bar and rocked Nena’s “99 Luftballons”.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas…
I’m not sure…
Does the fact that I broke my elbow two times count?
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
Not sure who came up with it but I think these two sketches have been a great guide for me
What’s one thing that surprised you about working at KASKO?
How everything does eventually work out if you’re patient and hard working enough.
If you could add one thing to the office, what would it be?
Even more amazing people. Or a massage chair…
What’s one of your favourite memories from the past year?
I really enjoyed my holiday to Svalbard!
What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?
Travelling and/or hanging out with friends.
What is your favourite acronym? Seriously, tell me.
ACRONYM — Alphabetical Code for Remembering Odd Names You Make up.
