Meet The .Me Team: Interview with Maša Đikanović

For the first installment of .Me interviews, we are presenting you our Community Manager, Maša Đikanović, an extraordinary woman with a charming personality. Without the further ado, I’ll let Maša tell us more.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from and where are you now?

I had the good fortune of growing up in four different cities: I was raised in Podgorica, got a scholarship for the IB program at Li Po Chun UWC in Hong Kong, got a B.A. in Cognitive & Linguistic Sciences and Spanish from Wellesley College in Boston, and did a study abroad semester in Buenos Aires. After moving back home, I worked for the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism in the hopes of becoming President (yes, I always set realistic goals) while practicing my passion for international affairs. In January 2012, I became a part of the .Me team.

How would you describe your work style? 

It’s a mixture of very organized and completely hectic. We’re such a small team, there are only so many things you can plan ahead. Even with careful planning, the execution of a marketing campaign can be quite a handful, and you have to be prepared to do some serious multi-tasking. This, however, is what makes the job fun and dynamic, so you won’t hear me complaining.

What advice would you give to someone who is starting out in your profession?

Be open-minded and ready to learn, especially from people who have experience in the field. The Internet is an awesome, never-ending resource:  use it wisely, and steer clear of cute cat videos when researching. Be adaptable: you will wake up one day and find that all your social media accounts have changed or that there’s been a Twitter war. Keep calm and do your job the best you can.

What do you do, when you’re not working?

I’m on Coursera a lot. Right now, I’m taking Model Thinking and Internet History, Technology & Security. I also love picking up new languages. I’m fluent in English and Spanish, can get by in Italian and Russian, and have over time attempted to learn German, French, Arabic and Chinese.

Tell us one embarrassing and/or silly thing about yourself.

When I was five, I wanted to become a princess – more like an absolute ruler of the world, but my vocabulary was somewhat limited at the time. When the opportunity presented itself in the form of Montenegro’s prince Boris (please forgive me, Your Highness), who visited my family many summers ago, I asked my mom to put me in my best dress, showed him my very best behavior and informed my mother it was a done deal. My family never fails to remind me of that embarrassing endeavor. I also sincerely hope this anecdote reads more like “determined since a very young age” and not at all like “shameless gold-digger”.

You’re having dinner with one person of your choice, dead or alive. Who is it?

My grandma, Rista. I’d like her to see the adult I’ve become, and there are so many stories I haven’t yet heard. All the other impressive people could wait in line.

What is the latest gadget you bought and why?

I think it was probably a Kindle, because I love books, and hate back pain. Also, not a huge fan of somewhat pointless, over the top gadgets. I may or may not be looking at you, Google Glass.

What is the last book you read and how would you rate it?

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind and I absolutely loved it. Books I’d like to burn include the Twilight saga and Fifty Shades of Grey.

What is your favorite website?

There are so many, because the Internet is MASSIVE. If I had to pick one right now: xkcd. It’s a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language – all of my favorite things, plus math.

You are stranded on a deserted island only with your suitcase and five things in it. What are those?

Kindle, the Internet (all of it), some serious chocolate, an airplane (because that could totally fit in a suitcase) and a towel (because Douglas Adams says so; you never know where you’re headed next in these kinds of situations).

Are you prepared for the zombie apocalypse? How?

Yes. I get up for work every day at 7:00AM. If that’s doesn’t teach me how to do a hell of a zombie impersonation, I don’t know what will.

Facebook or Twitter? Do you prefer one over the other?

Facebook, hands down. I’ve been there since it required an .edu email address. All of my friends are there, and it suits me better than Twitter, which can be a bit too much for an information addict.

What is your favorite OS?

Windows. I will always be Windows girl, despite the fact that I own, and cherish, an iPhone and a MacBook Air.

If you could pick up a superhero power, what would it be and why?

I’d love to control time, because Mondays could last a second and good times could roll forever, as they should.

We hope you have enjoyed this interview with Maša. Stay tuned for more interviews we have for you from now on, every Wednesday!