#WeareCint: Getting to Know the Faces of Cint: Atul Hirawadekar


Company Culture
WeareCint

This month, we asked one of our newer team members a few questions to get to know him better. Atul joined Cint in January 2020 as an Operational Specialist (Supply) and, despite massive changes around the globe since then, he’s found his groove helping his team and Cint’s clients succeed.

What’s a typical ‘day in the life as an Operations Specialist?
My role comes with many responsibilities which are challenging yet exciting too. Typically, my day starts with gathering some insights on the supply accounts for which I’m responsible and operational supply related tickets/queries. I try to identify if there are any issues on supplier accounts, and then I jump into our daily team call (which is a fun, knowledge-sharing session). Most of the time, I find myself coordinating with Cint’s tech team to troubleshoot any issues and sometimes with our partner success team to solve their queries or tickets.

What are you passionate about when it comes to your job?
My interaction with my fellow team members as well as insights I get from our leaders. These are two parts of my job that help me to keep myself updated and sharpen my overall knowledge base.

How did you get into the market research field?
I actually made an accidental entry into market research, without any direct experience in the field. In 2009, I just completed my bachelor’s degree in I.T. and my job search hadn’t really even begun. In fact, I was just accompanying my friend whose interview was scheduled at a market research agency. I was sitting in reception lobby when the human resources department noticed me and took a chance – even though I was in a t-shirt and shorts.

What kind of music do you listen to while you are working?
I love to hear rock, hard metal, hip hop and Bollywood music, but generally only when I’m not working. But, whenever I take a break I utilize that time to enjoy music. Most of the time, I found myself commanding Alexa to play “Somewhere I belong” by Linkin Park.

What do you like to eat while working?
I love to grab bowl of popcorn while working, you can just keep on eating it without having any trouble while working.

What is the best way to start the day?
I like to wake up as early as possible, grab a cup of coffee and sit in front of window. It gives me some time for thinking and planning the things I’m going to do for the day.

What fictional character inspires you?
I am fascinated with the comic superhero character of Superman. This is not because he has mighty powers, but because of how he views the world. His everyday persona of Clark Kent can be seen to represent how Superman views us, as regular people. Superman didn’t become Superman. Superman was born Superman. And yet, Clark Kent is weak, he’s unsure of himself, he could even be considered a coward in some situations. By becoming Kent, Superman is able to learn and adapt himself with the rest of the world. He inspires me to find out more about who am I and what I can do, but most importantly how to keep myself grounded in all phases of life.

What’s your favorite thing(s) to do when you aren’t working (hobbies)?
I love to make papercrafts and greeting cards. Nowadays, I’m learning more advanced pop-up greeting card techniques. You can find my creations by visiting my Instagram. I’m also an action figure collector and I love to collect action figures of superheroes and cartoon characters.

(The final product!)


What website do you visit most often?
Youtube. It allows me to learn more things with practical examples from millions of mentors across the globe. It keeps me updated and motivated all the time to learn new things irrespective of age or other criteria.

What is something you will NEVER do again?
Experiment with drinks. I have mixed vodka, gin, wine, and whiskey at all once and that is the only thing I remember from that day!

Do you have a quote/statement in life you tend to follow?
It’s always good to have 10% of watermelon than 100% grape.

Where’s home base?
Mumbai (formerly called Bombay) is a densely populated city on India’s west coast. A financial center, it’s India’s largest city. This city is famous as the heart of the Bollywood film industry. I was born and brought up in Mumbai. The city is diverse in culture, and you will find all kinds of people here.

What are your favorite things about working for Cint?
Cint has an open and diverse working culture. We are given the freedom to showcase new business ideas or strategies. Above all, integrity within the organization.

Connect with me on….LinkedIn! Let’s chat! 
View my profile and connect by clicking here.