The Humans of smrtPhone

Our “smrtie of the Month” is technically-savvy, hard-working, and happy to help.

Name

Eduard Popa – aka Edi

Title / Role in the Company

Recently, I was promoted to 2nd Level Support. My primary job is to answer the live chat and try to solve every issue as quickly as possible. Under my new role, I’ll also have additional responsibilities to help the team run smoothly.

How long have you worked for smrtPhone?

1 year and 1 month.

What’s your background? 

I have always been a technically oriented person. After high school, I made the decision to go to a college for electrical engineering. I tried to get really focused in this area, but after 3 years, I dropped out in my last year. It wasn’t a good fit for me. Right when that happened, the pandemic hit. I hate to say it, but it was the best thing that ever happened to me because I had time to stay in my room and think about what I was going to do. 

I had the opportunity to explore a lot of options. I started to take random courses to see what I liked. I took one on SEO [search engine optimization] just to see what it was all about. After that, I got an entry-level job with an e-commerce company. I was in charge of processing orders, but I really threw myself into it – not just doing the job, but learning and understanding the processes and how things work. After 1.5 years, I became the head of the marketing and development departments. 

What followed was two years of practically no sleep, just working all the time. But it was worth it because I gained a lot of knowledge. I was in charge of all the websites. They had five in total: two were brochure websites and three were e-commerce. I managed the branding, built PPC campaigns, developed an affiliate program, and more. I can’t even describe it quickly, there was so much. I tried to learn and do everything. 

I had some side projects as well. I got involved in crypto projects and investments. I tried to build a mine powered by solar panels. I tried to do everything that I could at that time. But after three years of that pace, I was tired. I was tired of the schedule and the environment and I wanted to make a change. 

I hunted this position at smrtPhone for a very long time. I knew Laur from high school; we were roommates at boarding school. I knew that smrtPhone has a really good culture and I wanted to be part of this team. It was life changing for me, in so many ways. Before, I lived in the countryside and I was able to move to the city. I live in Constanța now, which is on the coast of the Black Sea.

What was your first job? 

My first job was working at a call center company for a telecom company when I was a student. It was basically legal scamming, in my opinion. That was the policy of that company and how they ran things. I had to talk to a lot of people and I improved my sales skills. It was a good life experience, but it was a bad place. Plus, I barely got paid anything. 

What do you like about working for smrtPhone? 

All I can say is that I’m grateful to be here. I’m fully aware of the benefits of being at the job, especially the flexibility to work from anywhere. I have meetings and set work hours, but it’s not stressful. People are respectful of your time. 

I don’t go as far as saying we’re a family here. Let’s be real; it’s a workplace. But I really like the team and the culture.

Describe smrtPhone in 3 words: 

• Reliable. The system is very dependable. 
• Empathetic. The reason we’re all here in the Support department: we care. 
• Innovative. I’m not super familiar with the competitors, but I am confident that we offer more and will continue to offer more.

Is there a particular moment/project at smrtPhone that stands out and makes you feel proud?  

I don’t think there is a specific moment, considering my job. But there are a lot of satisfying moments day to day. Like when I know that I created a bond with the client I was talking to. Or where I really helped someone and they were happy and appreciative of what I did for them. 

What do you like to do in your free time?

I’m not such an interesting person. I love taking care of my health and what I eat. I am preoccupied with going to the gym. I have had moments where I wasn’t, and I know the advantages of a good diet and having activities. Especially when you work from home – if you’re not paying attention, you might not leave the house. That is not good for your mental health. So, I pay close attention. 

In addition to working out, I like to take long walks listening to a podcast and being with my thoughts. 

Name something that is on your “bucket list”

Professionally speaking, I am focused on reaching my full potential here at smrtPhone. That is my main priority. But I’m also working on building a marketing agency and I have a few clients on the side. Some day, I would love to build it larger and get to the next level. 

Outside of work, I think about buying a motorcycle and traveling around the country. 

Personally, I just want to become a better person every day. 

What is a fun fact people might not know about you? 

The biggest thing I achieved in my marketing career, and something I’m really proud of, is when I managed a huge festival promotion for a popular water brand. I worked with a marketing agency, and we planned everything leading up to the event. And then on-site we built out a ton of content. We had a team that took pictures of people with the water, interacting with our materials. We edited it all and put it on social media and it was a big success. It was a huge team and I was a key decision-maker. I felt very satisfied with what we accomplished.