Meeting Title: BF Interview: Rico <> Elizah Date: 2025-12-03 Meeting participants: Rico Rejoso, Elizah Joy, Elizah’s Notetaker (Otter.ai)
WEBVTT
1 00:00:19.320 ⇒ 00:00:20.660 Rico Rejoso: Hey, Eliza.
2 00:00:21.040 ⇒ 00:00:22.510 Elizah Joy: Hi, can you hear me?
3 00:00:23.780 ⇒ 00:00:24.720 Rico Rejoso: Can you hear me?
4 00:00:25.680 ⇒ 00:00:26.979 Elizah Joy: Hi, how are you?
5 00:00:27.390 ⇒ 00:00:28.810 Rico Rejoso: Good. How are you?
6 00:00:29.360 ⇒ 00:00:30.700 Elizah Joy: I’m good.
7 00:00:31.540 ⇒ 00:00:34.130 Rico Rejoso: Great. Did I pronounce your name correct?
8 00:00:34.380 ⇒ 00:00:36.410 Elizah Joy: Yeah. Eliza.
9 00:00:37.300 ⇒ 00:00:37.910 Rico Rejoso: Alright.
10 00:00:38.510 ⇒ 00:00:43.440 Rico Rejoso: Okay, I’m sorry I can’t have my camera turned on for now.
11 00:00:45.540 ⇒ 00:00:46.750 Elizah Joy: Oh, that’s fine.
12 00:00:47.540 ⇒ 00:00:56.019 Rico Rejoso: Yeah, just to give you a quick intro, my name is Rico, so I’m from the Philippines, located here in Laguna.
13 00:00:56.660 ⇒ 00:01:00.419 Rico Rejoso: I’ve been with Brainforge for around 6 months already.
14 00:01:00.910 ⇒ 00:01:03.450 Rico Rejoso: So, I’m assuming you’re Filipino as well, right?
15 00:01:04.060 ⇒ 00:01:06.030 Elizah Joy: Yeah, yeah, I’m Filipino.
16 00:01:06.970 ⇒ 00:01:08.330 Rico Rejoso: Wonderful. Where are you from?
17 00:01:08.690 ⇒ 00:01:12.209 Elizah Joy: Oh, I’m from Manila. Metro Manila, actually.
18 00:01:12.330 ⇒ 00:01:13.070 Elizah Joy: Yeah.
19 00:01:13.370 ⇒ 00:01:16.460 Rico Rejoso: Okay. Manila’s a big place. We’re in Manila?
20 00:01:16.460 ⇒ 00:01:20.969 Elizah Joy: Oh, I live in Las Vinas. It’s near Alabang, if you’re familiar.
21 00:01:21.970 ⇒ 00:01:24.389 Rico Rejoso: We have a house in Pinar Village.
22 00:01:24.630 ⇒ 00:01:28.999 Elizah Joy: Oh, yeah, that’s great. I actually live in Pilar as well.
23 00:01:29.160 ⇒ 00:01:30.429 Elizah Joy: In the.
24 00:01:30.430 ⇒ 00:01:31.040 Rico Rejoso: Didn’t be, Laur.
25 00:01:31.690 ⇒ 00:01:34.010 Elizah Joy: Yeah, Las Vinas? Is that right?
26 00:01:34.010 ⇒ 00:01:34.560 Rico Rejoso: Yep.
27 00:01:34.960 ⇒ 00:01:38.390 Elizah Joy: Yeah, I live in Donyhosep, actually, so that’s…
28 00:01:38.390 ⇒ 00:01:40.290 Rico Rejoso: Wonderful.
29 00:01:42.070 ⇒ 00:01:49.289 Rico Rejoso: Alright, yeah, I’m currently based in Laguna at the moment, currently residing at my parents, but yeah, I go to Las Penas every week.
30 00:01:50.710 ⇒ 00:01:52.200 Rico Rejoso: Stay during the weekends.
31 00:01:52.370 ⇒ 00:02:02.050 Rico Rejoso: Yeah, this will just be a quick interview. Again, I do thank you for joining this interview. Again, my name is Rico, and I’m part of the operations at Brainforge.
32 00:02:02.120 ⇒ 00:02:19.270 Rico Rejoso: I basically am, assisting Utam with everything, currently, and I’ve been here for 6 months, as mentioned. Today’s interview is just a quick screening, just to get to know you better, and to ask you a few questions, and at the end, you will have the time to ask me any questions that you have in mind.
33 00:02:19.490 ⇒ 00:02:21.159 Rico Rejoso: Does that sound good to you?
34 00:02:21.720 ⇒ 00:02:22.979 Elizah Joy: Yeah, sounds good.
35 00:02:23.750 ⇒ 00:02:37.810 Rico Rejoso: Wonderful. Alright, to start off, yeah, actually, we’ve read through your resume already, and we’d love to get started with, like, a few, with, like, some questions not related to it, like, what are your career goals for now?
36 00:02:38.590 ⇒ 00:02:54.500 Elizah Joy: Oh, my career goals for now, personally, for me, because as I’ve mentioned, and I think, yeah, I think you saw that in my resume, so I’ve been an operations manager for more than, 6 years now, and
37 00:02:54.640 ⇒ 00:03:01.799 Elizah Joy: Now, especially in the AI age, I know AI is continuously evolving.
38 00:03:01.910 ⇒ 00:03:09.390 Elizah Joy: And I think I see myself for the next 2-3 years, getting…
39 00:03:09.930 ⇒ 00:03:17.000 Elizah Joy: like, better when it comes to AI, especially in the operation… from an operations standpoint. I think…
40 00:03:17.110 ⇒ 00:03:18.409 Elizah Joy: Because there’s…
41 00:03:18.790 ⇒ 00:03:31.189 Elizah Joy: a lot of things to be explored and developed using AI, so I think that’s one of my goals, career goals, for the next, 2-3 years.
42 00:03:31.190 ⇒ 00:03:40.449 Elizah Joy: Then, alongside with that would be, stability when it comes to my role as an operations manager. So, yeah, I think it ties well with that.
43 00:03:40.610 ⇒ 00:03:48.209 Elizah Joy: AIPs, because we know that AI is not going anywhere near in the future, so…
44 00:03:48.520 ⇒ 00:03:54.649 Elizah Joy: Thank… yeah, those two for my career goals. And of course,
45 00:03:54.960 ⇒ 00:04:06.249 Elizah Joy: Yeah, that’s long-term goals, and of course, continuously evolving, especially, and, upskilling my knowledge when it comes to operations and
46 00:04:06.630 ⇒ 00:04:14.890 Elizah Joy: Yeah, operations, AI, and data as well. The previous, role that I’ve had is I was the one
47 00:04:14.990 ⇒ 00:04:21.549 Elizah Joy: managing the data. Not sure if you’re familiar with it, but we used to do the EOS
48 00:04:21.800 ⇒ 00:04:32.900 Elizah Joy: system in the previous work that I’ve had, and yeah, I’ve been the one managing that, and I think, I would like to explore that further, and of course, AI.
49 00:04:34.190 ⇒ 00:04:40.169 Rico Rejoso: Wonderful. Yeah, if you did do a quick research about our company.
50 00:04:40.510 ⇒ 00:04:47.329 Rico Rejoso: you might as well figure out that we offer AI and data consultancy to U.S. businesses, right?
51 00:04:48.040 ⇒ 00:04:50.849 Rico Rejoso: It’s a great thing that you are looking into
52 00:04:51.460 ⇒ 00:04:56.700 Rico Rejoso: you know, proceeding with, innovating your work with AI.
53 00:04:56.850 ⇒ 00:04:57.440 Elizah Joy: Hmm.
54 00:04:57.440 ⇒ 00:04:58.720 Rico Rejoso: an AI sub.
55 00:04:58.950 ⇒ 00:05:01.360 Rico Rejoso: Right, and what motivates you?
56 00:05:02.590 ⇒ 00:05:07.869 Elizah Joy: For me, what motivates me the most is, growing.
57 00:05:08.060 ⇒ 00:05:18.559 Elizah Joy: like, when I say growing, so it’s, like, growing my knowledge. So, for example, in my career, like, growing my knowledge as an operations manager.
58 00:05:19.260 ⇒ 00:05:24.879 Elizah Joy: And of course, I think it motivates me because I’m a type of person that
59 00:05:25.150 ⇒ 00:05:36.840 Elizah Joy: likes to improve herself, and whenever I feel like I’m not improving myself, I feel stagnant, and I feel stuck, and alongside that, I feel
60 00:05:39.440 ⇒ 00:05:47.529 Elizah Joy: I don’t feel good, basically, so yeah, one thing on that is, what motivates me is growth, because it’s basically, it’s one of my…
61 00:05:47.620 ⇒ 00:06:03.939 Elizah Joy: purpose as well. So I do have here my purpose. It’s, to, to fulfill the highest version of myself. So, with that, that means I love growing, not just as a person, but also in my career, and of course, my family and my loved ones, so…
62 00:06:04.120 ⇒ 00:06:18.210 Elizah Joy: Yeah, I think those two, is what, motivates me, and alongside with that is, of course, my, mission, which is my mission in life, which is, again, mission and vision, which is to grow.
63 00:06:18.640 ⇒ 00:06:25.970 Elizah Joy: Not just as a person, but also in my career, in whatever I do, so it’s also to make a positive impact
64 00:06:26.210 ⇒ 00:06:34.010 Elizah Joy: in whoever I need on a day-to-day basis, or every businesses that I’ve worked with, so…
65 00:06:39.590 ⇒ 00:06:44.139 Rico Rejoso: Alright, great family and growing in the field, right?
66 00:06:44.580 ⇒ 00:06:45.590 Elizah Joy: Yeah.
67 00:06:47.360 ⇒ 00:07:02.099 Rico Rejoso: Wonderful. Yeah, moving on, what are you really good at professionally? You mentioned operations, right? Can you, like, elaborate what tools have you been using to, you know, really make a name in the field when it comes to operations and management?
68 00:07:03.480 ⇒ 00:07:07.290 Elizah Joy: Like, are we talking about, like, tools specifically?
69 00:07:08.790 ⇒ 00:07:12.710 Rico Rejoso: I mean, in the operations side, how do you… I mean…
70 00:07:13.500 ⇒ 00:07:16.449 Rico Rejoso: How do you get good in the profession that you’re in right now?
71 00:07:17.970 ⇒ 00:07:20.029 Elizah Joy: Mmm. Like, how do I grow?
72 00:07:20.030 ⇒ 00:07:20.620 Rico Rejoso: Yeah.
73 00:07:21.140 ⇒ 00:07:25.599 Rico Rejoso: I mean, you already mentioned that, professionally, you’re really focused on growth.
74 00:07:26.030 ⇒ 00:07:31.170 Rico Rejoso: improving and innovating, professionally in the operations, right? So…
75 00:07:31.290 ⇒ 00:07:38.590 Rico Rejoso: I want to know, how do you see growth? In what way? Like, do you adopt more tools? Do you adopt on the trend?
76 00:07:40.040 ⇒ 00:07:43.870 Elizah Joy: Mmm, yeah, I think, for me, it’s a combination of…
77 00:07:44.190 ⇒ 00:08:03.469 Elizah Joy: First, for me, like, things that have helped me grow, this is just me looking back in the… my… on my experience for the past 6 years. I think for me, books have, helped me a lot with growing, so that’s, starting with learning, of course.
78 00:08:03.690 ⇒ 00:08:17.940 Elizah Joy: And then I do have, at the moment, I do have several, like, coaches. I can, I… yeah, like, coaches, and I’m not sure if you’ve heard of it, but I did see, saw this job post in the tribe.
79 00:08:17.970 ⇒ 00:08:29.209 Elizah Joy: So, yeah, I’m a part of that. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with it, but, I do, think that… and I do believe in the power of
80 00:08:29.470 ⇒ 00:08:33.230 Elizah Joy: People who has already
81 00:08:33.950 ⇒ 00:08:39.510 Elizah Joy: in the place where I want to be, if that makes sense. So, basically,
82 00:08:40.010 ⇒ 00:08:57.769 Elizah Joy: having coaches who guides me in what I do, and at the moment, I do have, and I not have, but I’m planning to enroll in this one course. It’s basically, it’s an integrator role, so a combination of, like, a higher level of an operations manager, so…
83 00:08:58.010 ⇒ 00:09:06.760 Elizah Joy: I do have that in my list this week, so yeah, basically, learning from books, coaches.
84 00:09:06.880 ⇒ 00:09:09.869 Elizah Joy: courses as well.
85 00:09:10.020 ⇒ 00:09:15.940 Elizah Joy: And then, of course, knowledge is nothing without doing, right? So, for me, it’s…
86 00:09:16.060 ⇒ 00:09:19.190 Elizah Joy: applying all those skills that I’ve learned
87 00:09:19.680 ⇒ 00:09:32.669 Elizah Joy: through books, through the coaches, or courses, or whatever learning materials that I get, applying that in, the businesses that I’ve worked with, and of course.
88 00:09:33.710 ⇒ 00:09:37.790 Elizah Joy: now with AI, so it’s… for me, I think it’s very helpful.
89 00:09:37.890 ⇒ 00:09:42.940 Elizah Joy: For me, because it keeps me in trend, So…
90 00:09:43.080 ⇒ 00:09:48.530 Elizah Joy: yeah, it keeps me on trend, and I think that’s very important, not just, you know, learning, because
91 00:09:48.880 ⇒ 00:10:03.159 Elizah Joy: information and data in the industry, right? It will always be evolving, so it’s important as well to be able to keep up with that, so that’s why I believe in, continuous growth and continuous learning, so yeah.
92 00:10:03.470 ⇒ 00:10:05.440 Elizah Joy: And being able to adapt.
93 00:10:05.800 ⇒ 00:10:16.270 Elizah Joy: as fast as I can with the industry and ever-evolving, trends and… Updates, especially in technology.
94 00:10:17.410 ⇒ 00:10:18.510 Rico Rejoso: Great answer.
95 00:10:19.690 ⇒ 00:10:35.939 Rico Rejoso: Right, so those, like, a few, questions that I have. Now, going deep, we’re gonna dive into the operations side of it. How do you, like, introduce structure without, slowing down innovation or creating, you know,
96 00:10:36.470 ⇒ 00:10:40.080 Rico Rejoso: a bureaucracy in the business. Because…
97 00:10:40.390 ⇒ 00:10:45.019 Rico Rejoso: AI and data, our business is a fast-paced business. We…
98 00:10:45.570 ⇒ 00:10:52.880 Rico Rejoso: I mean, we learn, we improve, we fail fast. And how do you, like, introduce a structure that will still go through at that pace?
99 00:10:53.420 ⇒ 00:11:00.390 Elizah Joy: Mmm, yeah. So I think, first and foremost, it needs to be, at least in my case, whenever I
100 00:11:00.530 ⇒ 00:11:07.160 Elizah Joy: Start working with a business, right? For me, it’s important for me to understand the business
101 00:11:07.440 ⇒ 00:11:21.590 Elizah Joy: At its core, so the business and understanding the team, if there’s already, like, team members working in the business. I think, that’s… those two are important, learning the…
102 00:11:22.030 ⇒ 00:11:31.349 Elizah Joy: Basics of the business and the team, how they work, how they operate, and what the current standing of the business, and then the team, like, where they are currently at.
103 00:11:31.480 ⇒ 00:11:36.090 Elizah Joy: So that I can know which and… Which…
104 00:11:36.440 ⇒ 00:11:47.880 Elizah Joy: like, how do I approach, like, introducing a new, let’s say, a new system to the business? Because, let’s say, like you’ve mentioned earlier, AI is a fast.
105 00:11:48.120 ⇒ 00:12:08.009 Elizah Joy: an ever-evolving, like, in your business, right? So, data and AI, so it’s always going to be fast. But, for me to be able to introduce, a good and efficient, system, especially in the operations side, is, yeah, assessing that, and then
106 00:12:08.390 ⇒ 00:12:12.090 Elizah Joy: Having that clarity and focus.
107 00:12:12.270 ⇒ 00:12:24.540 Elizah Joy: With the systems or the processes that I introduce, especially as an operations manager. Because, yeah, as an operations manager, I think it’s important that
108 00:12:24.720 ⇒ 00:12:28.980 Elizah Joy: We keep the business being efficient as much as we can.
109 00:12:29.080 ⇒ 00:12:35.610 Elizah Joy: And, as I mentioned, earlier, I do have, an experience with the EOS.
110 00:12:35.740 ⇒ 00:12:42.470 Elizah Joy: system, and I do believe in it. So yeah, in EOS, we have to, like, B.
111 00:12:42.810 ⇒ 00:12:51.299 Elizah Joy: focused when it comes to doing or introducing, like, a system or process in the business, and not just, like.
112 00:12:51.510 ⇒ 00:13:04.879 Elizah Joy: Opening hundreds of loops all at the same time, but it’s important that it gets closed as well, so that, the business keeps thriving and at the same time scaling.
113 00:13:07.700 ⇒ 00:13:11.189 Rico Rejoso: Okay, that being mentioned, let’s say…
114 00:13:11.560 ⇒ 00:13:24.520 Rico Rejoso: Most of our team members are composed with data engineers, analytics, and, mostly on the delivery side. And them being with, them being busy with, with, you know, client works and stuff.
115 00:13:26.010 ⇒ 00:13:27.190 Rico Rejoso: How do you, like.
116 00:13:28.310 ⇒ 00:13:41.060 Rico Rejoso: introduce a new system that will not affect their work, because right now, I mean, given that, what… what do you have in mind? Like, what system policies do you want to, you know,
117 00:13:41.420 ⇒ 00:13:43.920 Rico Rejoso: Take effect once you got the position.
118 00:13:46.290 ⇒ 00:13:55.960 Elizah Joy: Interesting question. So, when we say, system, is that system for… Any department of the business?
119 00:13:57.270 ⇒ 00:14:12.570 Rico Rejoso: Yeah, operationally, because right now, it’s… everything’s just messed up. Not messed up, really, but everything’s all around a place. We’re just focused on growing and growing, and moving forward, aside from the growth of the business, we want to make sure that we are
120 00:14:12.570 ⇒ 00:14:26.129 Rico Rejoso: We are scaling operationally, in a good way, without really affecting… affecting… I mean, the work is being delivered by each team member, but we want to make sure that we can support them as much as we can on the operational side, right?
121 00:14:26.140 ⇒ 00:14:27.390 Rico Rejoso: So, what do you think?
122 00:14:28.040 ⇒ 00:14:36.040 Rico Rejoso: It’s a great policy system that can help us maintain a clean and order Organize business.
123 00:14:36.400 ⇒ 00:14:45.780 Elizah Joy: Okay. When it comes to order, I’m not sure if you have this already, but maybe a good project management tool, when I say a good project management tool, is
124 00:14:45.900 ⇒ 00:14:52.440 Elizah Joy: Wherein it is… being used by everyone, so as, as you’ve mentioned, that
125 00:14:52.530 ⇒ 00:15:11.209 Elizah Joy: you have, like, multiple team members, right? And not… let’s not say it’s not messed up, but it’s just unorganized at the moment. So I think, a good project management pool will give order to that, especially that you’re working with, clients, right? So I think… I think that if you’re working with
126 00:15:11.420 ⇒ 00:15:16.389 Elizah Joy: Client projects, there would be multiple people managing or working.
127 00:15:16.800 ⇒ 00:15:22.129 Elizah Joy: on that specific client project, so I think organization and order,
128 00:15:22.350 ⇒ 00:15:34.669 Elizah Joy: would only be possible if collaboration is happening as efficient as it can. And of course, communication is a huge part of that, so I think a good project management tool, whether it be,
129 00:15:35.000 ⇒ 00:15:36.980 Elizah Joy: Monday, click up, assign.
130 00:15:37.210 ⇒ 00:15:39.760 Elizah Joy: Or Notion, even, right? So…
131 00:15:39.760 ⇒ 00:15:40.760 Rico Rejoso: We have that.
132 00:15:41.040 ⇒ 00:15:43.039 Rico Rejoso: Just to,
133 00:15:43.520 ⇒ 00:15:52.810 Rico Rejoso: just to let you know, we have, like, Notion as one of us, our documentation tool. We have linear. If you’re familiar with Linear, it’s like Jira.
134 00:15:52.940 ⇒ 00:16:05.040 Rico Rejoso: Where we, put all the tasks per client there. We have such tools, and we’re not afraid of, you know, adopting new tools as we, grow the business, but it just so happens that
135 00:16:06.020 ⇒ 00:16:12.810 Rico Rejoso: having a lot of fuels in the business, how do we keep everything? What do you think is, like, the best way for us to keep everything in place?
136 00:16:13.410 ⇒ 00:16:29.019 Elizah Joy: I think, yeah, yeah, alongside with that, I would just want to add with the project management tool, right? Because I believe in simplifying, in simplification, so in simplifying things, especially if it’s not working, because,
137 00:16:29.670 ⇒ 00:16:42.920 Elizah Joy: we’re already working, at a data and AI company, right? So it’s already, the company is focused on that, and I think there’s… when it comes to data and AI, it’s already a complex,
138 00:16:43.740 ⇒ 00:16:49.920 Elizah Joy: how can I say, like, matter? So I think, when it comes to the operations, especially
139 00:16:50.490 ⇒ 00:16:56.430 Elizah Joy: Yeah, when it comes to the operations of the business, simplifying is a huge part of that.
140 00:16:56.610 ⇒ 00:17:03.989 Elizah Joy: And alongside that is, of course, if you use multiple systems.
141 00:17:04.380 ⇒ 00:17:23.620 Elizah Joy: Or tools inside the business, that’s fine, as long as it’s working for all the… and if… as long as it’s working and it’s efficient for the team members, because if it’s not, or if it’s slowing down the team members, there’s something that needs to be fixed when it comes to that specific system, right?
142 00:17:23.660 ⇒ 00:17:31.119 Elizah Joy: And yeah, I think simplification is a good part of that, so that solves the organization in order
143 00:17:31.490 ⇒ 00:17:36.139 Elizah Joy: problem. And then for processes, I think, having,
144 00:17:36.580 ⇒ 00:17:56.080 Elizah Joy: a standard process for… in understanding what the current process of each team member is currently doing with their specific roles, so I think, starting with SOPs for that, starting with SOPs and organizing that in a systems playbook, so that
145 00:17:57.620 ⇒ 00:18:05.089 Elizah Joy: It’s also organized in a way that, you know, everyone knows what’s going on and what’s the current process of
146 00:18:05.220 ⇒ 00:18:14.720 Elizah Joy: That specific task or system, whatever system that is, and so that everyone just is just in the loop on that.
147 00:18:15.190 ⇒ 00:18:20.870 Elizah Joy: Top of my head, alongside that is…
148 00:18:21.880 ⇒ 00:18:35.720 Elizah Joy: client delivery. So, the ones that I’ve mentioned earlier were more on team and the back end of the business, right? But also, the operations side, when it comes to client delivery, I think that’s…
149 00:18:36.530 ⇒ 00:18:48.100 Elizah Joy: crucial part of that, and I’ve worked with, businesses in the past wherein client delivery is
150 00:18:48.700 ⇒ 00:19:02.599 Elizah Joy: how can I say? There’s no standard process when I used to come to the businesses that I work with, but I do really believe that a streamlined client delivery and client, I mean, customer satisfaction
151 00:19:02.910 ⇒ 00:19:08.320 Elizah Joy: Especially with the projects that we do, I think that’s very important for the business.
152 00:19:08.540 ⇒ 00:19:18.909 Elizah Joy: So improving client delivery, once I do understand how we currently deliver those, deliverables to the client.
153 00:19:19.050 ⇒ 00:19:30.600 Elizah Joy: So I’ll know what processes we need to build around that, and having that standard process as well. Of course, for different… if we have different projects, there’ll be different processes, but.
154 00:19:31.740 ⇒ 00:19:46.940 Elizah Joy: I think there… the… maybe the onboarding or the offboarding of the client, so it’s going to be a standardized process, so that it gets repeatable every time we get a new client, so that would enable us to get
155 00:19:47.120 ⇒ 00:19:51.320 Elizah Joy: New clients, in an efficient way, and of course.
156 00:19:51.430 ⇒ 00:19:59.859 Elizah Joy: Once customers are happy with the projects that we did for them, or the deliverables that we did, and of course, their experience.
157 00:20:00.230 ⇒ 00:20:01.330 Elizah Joy: May God.
158 00:20:01.600 ⇒ 00:20:09.210 Elizah Joy: you know, recommend the, the business to other people as well. So, thank those two…
159 00:20:09.610 ⇒ 00:20:21.880 Elizah Joy: initially are the most important things, or the two things that I would be looking at, especially on an operations standpoint, would be, how the team is currently
160 00:20:22.510 ⇒ 00:20:38.919 Elizah Joy: Working in a… not, like, not in a bad way, but, how efficient are we doing things inside the business, and then how are we delivering the, projects or the deliverables that we are doing for the clients?
161 00:20:39.940 ⇒ 00:20:57.659 Rico Rejoso: Great. Well, I mean, I mentioned that we move fast. We learn, we adopt, and we fail fast, because, that’s the only way that we can keep moving on, right? Given that, how would you support… last questions, alright? How would you support a team that moves fast?
162 00:20:57.730 ⇒ 00:21:03.359 Rico Rejoso: iterates weekly and pivots scope often. This…
163 00:21:03.650 ⇒ 00:21:21.429 Rico Rejoso: I mean, we have an SOP that we’re following for every process that we’re doing, it’s just that sometimes we have to kind of elevate and change things up so that it fits a client needs. Given that situation that we do it often before different clients, how will you adapt?
164 00:21:21.430 ⇒ 00:21:27.940 Rico Rejoso: Or what do you think is the best way or system that we can, polish in regards to that kind of process?
165 00:21:28.720 ⇒ 00:21:41.160 Elizah Joy: Mmm, with that kind of process, so yeah, for a business that moves fast, like, right, so it’s also important for me, for example, as an operations manager, to move fast.
166 00:21:41.220 ⇒ 00:21:56.979 Elizah Joy: With that said, I think with, as you mentioned, different processes for clients, not… not everything, but, certain projects has different, process, because we have to innovate.
167 00:21:57.640 ⇒ 00:22:08.169 Elizah Joy: I think, documentation is very important for that, right? So it’s not just, systems and processes,
168 00:22:08.370 ⇒ 00:22:23.319 Elizah Joy: Overall, an operations side, it’s ever-evolving, so I think as an operations manager, it’s important for me to move fast as well, because as I mentioned, the systems and processes, it would always change.
169 00:22:23.400 ⇒ 00:22:36.069 Elizah Joy: In a good way. So, for example, if we have a different process for, a certain client, so I think documenting that is very important.
170 00:22:36.230 ⇒ 00:22:43.770 Elizah Joy: So that we can always look back to it, if we take on another client similar to that, right? Because
171 00:22:43.890 ⇒ 00:22:45.210 Elizah Joy: And then…
172 00:22:46.330 ⇒ 00:23:03.739 Elizah Joy: I think… I don’t see, like, failing, in a bad way, it’s just, I think it’s feedback, and it’s a good way for us to learn, you know, not just as a team, but also in the business. So, having documentation for that is very important, and of course.
173 00:23:04.000 ⇒ 00:23:10.349 Elizah Joy: Looking at… The, feedback that we ha- we get.
174 00:23:10.550 ⇒ 00:23:18.880 Elizah Joy: for each, from an overall point of view of the business. When I say overall, it’s…
175 00:23:18.920 ⇒ 00:23:38.240 Elizah Joy: let’s say, with the team, with the clients, with the projects that we did, with the sales. Yeah, all the data is related to that, so that we know what’s working and what’s not working, because if there’s no data that we can look back or review, maybe at the end of each project.
176 00:23:38.320 ⇒ 00:23:39.370 Elizah Joy: Or…
177 00:23:39.910 ⇒ 00:23:54.010 Elizah Joy: For specific, processes that we have to improve, right? So if there’s no data to back that up, it’s hard to make, an informed decision. So I think data is another…
178 00:23:54.120 ⇒ 00:24:00.699 Elizah Joy: crucial… point of view on that. And of course, having…
179 00:24:01.670 ⇒ 00:24:12.999 Elizah Joy: Like, Level 10 meetings, or, realign… not realignment meetings, but… Like, a high-level meeting of…
180 00:24:14.070 ⇒ 00:24:21.360 Elizah Joy: like, the current… because, for example, you’ve changed something in a specific process, right? So.
181 00:24:21.360 ⇒ 00:24:37.660 Elizah Joy: I think, having that documented, and then, having a meeting of that, if it’s important, right? So just every… so just so that everyone’s in the loop on that. And then there’s also coordination within the team and also within the business.
182 00:24:38.050 ⇒ 00:24:39.500 Elizah Joy: And… yeah.
183 00:24:42.520 ⇒ 00:24:53.210 Elizah Joy: Of course, I think another huge part of that is always… optimizing the…
184 00:24:53.330 ⇒ 00:25:05.819 Elizah Joy: processes that we have, so keeping them up-to-date, and then the systems and the processes, whatever we do in the business, right? So if it’s a fast-paced business, so I think those.
185 00:25:05.920 ⇒ 00:25:07.560 Elizah Joy: 3R.
186 00:25:07.820 ⇒ 00:25:24.649 Elizah Joy: very important, so that we’re able to scale the business, right? Because, the thing, I’ve used to work with a fast-paced business before, so they’re, actually, it’s not related with data or AI, but they’re a social media.
187 00:25:25.310 ⇒ 00:25:30.450 Elizah Joy: a management agency, and I was an operations manager there.
188 00:25:30.570 ⇒ 00:25:35.280 Elizah Joy: And what I did see is that
189 00:25:36.020 ⇒ 00:25:41.580 Elizah Joy: Or, just… this is just for my point of view. In a fast-paced.
190 00:25:41.770 ⇒ 00:25:46.509 Elizah Joy: business. It’s also important for, the
191 00:25:47.160 ⇒ 00:26:00.110 Elizah Joy: systems and the processes, of course, to be able to keep up with the pace that the business is currently in, because if it’s not, the business will break, essentially. And then…
192 00:26:00.280 ⇒ 00:26:05.669 Elizah Joy: Also, the, I’m gonna say everyth… like, having…
193 00:26:05.800 ⇒ 00:26:10.950 Elizah Joy: the same vision for everyone. I think that’s very important as well.
194 00:26:11.120 ⇒ 00:26:12.390 Elizah Joy: So…
195 00:26:16.710 ⇒ 00:26:21.809 Elizah Joy: Yeah, I think those… I forgot what I was gonna say, but,
196 00:26:22.500 ⇒ 00:26:31.260 Elizah Joy: Yeah, so it’s also important, yeah, I just remember, yeah. In a fast-paced business, I think it’s also important for
197 00:26:31.650 ⇒ 00:26:38.979 Elizah Joy: Yeah, the systems to be aligned, as I mentioned, so it also needs to be fast-paced and
198 00:26:39.170 ⇒ 00:26:47.519 Elizah Joy: It needs to… Be done in a way That won’t break the team.
199 00:26:47.660 ⇒ 00:26:59.380 Elizah Joy: or when I say team, like, the… how the team is working, right? Because at the end of the day, those processes will be done by the team, who will essentially
200 00:26:59.680 ⇒ 00:27:08.340 Elizah Joy: would be doing things in the business. So, I think, this goes back to the initial question that you’ve,
201 00:27:08.810 ⇒ 00:27:17.050 Elizah Joy: Ask me, wherein… mentioned something about, introducing systems, right? Not… Yep.
202 00:27:17.350 ⇒ 00:27:25.610 Elizah Joy: Like, not changing things immediately, but introducing the systems in a way that’s… that is…
203 00:27:25.850 ⇒ 00:27:34.659 Elizah Joy: aligned with everyone so that the business keeps thriving, and that it does not break. So, I think finding the silver lining between
204 00:27:35.250 ⇒ 00:27:37.609 Elizah Joy: those, so…
205 00:27:40.740 ⇒ 00:27:41.920 Rico Rejoso: Alright, great.
206 00:27:42.900 ⇒ 00:27:58.259 Rico Rejoso: Okay, I think I have everything here on my end to proceed with the next step of the interview process. By the way, great answer so far, and, like, how you see operations in a way, that can support all team members. You know, operation is the backbone.
207 00:27:58.260 ⇒ 00:28:08.699 Rico Rejoso: of the business. We don’t really have or deliver results that are visible to everyone, but we support everyone that could, drive those results.
208 00:28:08.880 ⇒ 00:28:14.479 Rico Rejoso: And deliver in a way that clients should be satisfied with our service… services, right?
209 00:28:16.170 ⇒ 00:28:19.799 Rico Rejoso: Alright, any questions for me before we end the call?
210 00:28:20.800 ⇒ 00:28:27.279 Elizah Joy: I think, I do have two questions, if that’s okay.
211 00:28:28.190 ⇒ 00:28:29.380 Rico Rejoso: Sure, sure, go ahead.
212 00:28:29.580 ⇒ 00:28:36.660 Elizah Joy: Yeah, first question for me would be, you mentioned that we have multiple team members, right? So I think the first question for me is.
213 00:28:37.260 ⇒ 00:28:45.910 Elizah Joy: how would you describe the currently, the current scene culture? Like, how… How is it like?
214 00:28:48.520 ⇒ 00:28:52.459 Rico Rejoso: Everyone’s very open, everyone’s very accommodating so far.
215 00:28:52.780 ⇒ 00:29:04.420 Rico Rejoso: Sorry for that. Everyone’s very accommodating and so far. What I mean by that is, when I started here, I really have zero knowledge about the process and everything, especially on the operations side, because,
216 00:29:05.820 ⇒ 00:29:08.269 Rico Rejoso: Let’s say that everyone helped me,
217 00:29:08.300 ⇒ 00:29:26.679 Rico Rejoso: get to where I am right now, especially, being zero-knowledge in AI and data, because I’m still adopting to it, but they gave me the chance, they provided me all the tools, you can ask them, they can assist and everything, so it’s… everyone’s just one question away from providing you with the guidance you need to step up on their game.
218 00:29:29.340 ⇒ 00:29:33.299 Elizah Joy: Oh, that’s great to hear, thank you, and a supportive environment is…
219 00:29:33.410 ⇒ 00:29:42.920 Elizah Joy: essential. And I think, my second question is… How do you think, like.
220 00:29:43.210 ⇒ 00:29:45.919 Elizah Joy: From the operations manager standpoint.
221 00:29:46.050 ⇒ 00:29:49.440 Elizah Joy: Like, the quick wins?
222 00:29:49.730 ⇒ 00:29:53.989 Elizah Joy: Or… how do you see or think?
223 00:29:54.710 ⇒ 00:30:01.109 Elizah Joy: The operations manager did a good job.
224 00:30:01.680 ⇒ 00:30:03.660 Elizah Joy: Their role.
225 00:30:05.070 ⇒ 00:30:09.819 Rico Rejoso: Like, what would be my criteria for defining a good operation manager?
226 00:30:09.950 ⇒ 00:30:13.379 Elizah Joy: Yeah, for the… specifically, yeah.
227 00:30:13.690 ⇒ 00:30:15.460 Elizah Joy: Like, what would… Sorry, for the what?
228 00:30:15.810 ⇒ 00:30:22.099 Elizah Joy: this role. Sorry to make it complicated, but yeah. Yeah, what would, success look like for…
229 00:30:22.290 ⇒ 00:30:24.819 Elizah Joy: The operations manager.
230 00:30:27.080 ⇒ 00:30:28.460 Elizah Joy: That you’re looking for.
231 00:30:29.050 ⇒ 00:30:35.849 Rico Rejoso: first would be organization. As you manage… I mean, the questions… My question…
232 00:30:36.150 ⇒ 00:30:54.819 Rico Rejoso: I’m sorry. My questions kept on repeating about, how the business is a fast-paced business, how we adopt quickly, fail fast, fail fast, learn fast, and everything. And with that being said, one thing that we cannot avoid is being unorganized through a lot of stuff. So what we’re really looking for…
233 00:30:55.340 ⇒ 00:31:14.510 Rico Rejoso: is someone that can help us organize stuff, make sure that everything’s in line. As we move forward and grow as a business, we want to make sure that every… there’s someone in the background looking at, hey, you’re growing, but you have to maintain this and keep this up and everything. So I think being an operations manager, means, like, overlooking everything and
234 00:31:14.510 ⇒ 00:31:20.010 Rico Rejoso: Every area or aspect, which… I am currently doing right now, and I need assistance with…
235 00:31:21.710 ⇒ 00:31:27.979 Elizah Joy: Alright, yeah, thank you for answering my questions. Yeah, I think just those two for me.
236 00:31:28.200 ⇒ 00:31:29.210 Elizah Joy: For now?
237 00:31:29.720 ⇒ 00:31:31.469 Rico Rejoso: Alrighty, but…
238 00:31:31.720 ⇒ 00:31:45.229 Rico Rejoso: If that’s the case, again, thank you so much for attending this interview. It’s been wonderful speaking with you, and I’ve seen great results from the, from your suggestion and from the answers to those questions that I have, and
239 00:31:46.370 ⇒ 00:31:49.659 Rico Rejoso: Looking forward to meet you, or have you onboarded to the team, okay?
240 00:31:50.680 ⇒ 00:31:54.710 Elizah Joy: Alright, what would be the next step?
241 00:31:54.940 ⇒ 00:31:58.500 Elizah Joy: For… this hiring process, so…
242 00:31:58.500 ⇒ 00:32:15.629 Rico Rejoso: I’ll be introducing you to our CEO, who’ll come. I’ll set up an interview, not an interview, might as well be a meeting with him. I’ll just relay the results of the meeting that we just had, and make sure that you get to speak to him before we move on to having you on the team.
243 00:32:16.800 ⇒ 00:32:18.340 Elizah Joy: Alright, sounds good.
244 00:32:18.890 ⇒ 00:32:24.789 Rico Rejoso: Alrighty, well, no other question, thank you so much again, and looking forward to seeing you soon.
245 00:32:25.280 ⇒ 00:32:26.000 Rico Rejoso: Thank you.
246 00:32:26.000 ⇒ 00:32:28.339 Elizah Joy: Thank you so much, Rika, thank you for your time.
247 00:32:28.870 ⇒ 00:32:30.140 Rico Rejoso: Alright, see you.
248 00:32:30.140 ⇒ 00:32:31.410 Elizah Joy: Thank you, bye.