Linked In profile online at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/nikidesoto
A Journey of Experience
Having grown up in the mad-dash world of New York City, I tend to be a powerful performer. Whether it's handling a newscast for the 10pm news in a language I don't even speak, to handling the ego's of mega-watt movie stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Patrick Swayze, writing 300-500 page responses to government based Requests for Proposals, or just balancing the budget for a catering company entering a tough economy -- I am dedicated, have the people and communication skills to get my ideas across and the determination to make things work on time and under budget.
My organizational skills and attention to detail are key to my success, but most of all my ability to be flexible in any situation has helped me to succeed. I can think inside the box, outside the box or turn the box into a circle when necessary.
I am dedicated, hard-working and determined -- if it takes all night to get something right, I'm there. If we need to work over a holiday weekend to get things done to the customer's satisfaction, I'm there. If a crew call is at 3 a.m., I'm there along with coffee for everyone.
If you're looking for an individual with a myriad of experience and skills that's me -- your professional Jack of All Trades.
Question 1
Describe your own standards of performance.
I hold myself and my work to a very high standard. I am dedicated from day one to do whatever it takes to complete the assignment to the best of my ability in a fashion that will meet or exceed the client's expectations, whether that's an internal or external client.
Question 2
Describe a time when you disagreed with a specific management decision and tell how you handled it.
As Design Team Supervisor, my team consisted of 8 graphic designers and 3 imaging designers. The Imagers created the workable design area that the designers each had to create within. A decision was made to remove the Imagers from the Design team area due to the technical nature of their work. Through research and examples, I was able to reverse this decision before it took place, in order to keep the cohesion of my team intact, and in effect gave a large morale boost to the entire team. Our process was successful, and I was able to prove that changing that process would in fact only cause extensive delays in production.
Question 3
What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
Pride. I am a second generation Italian, born on Staten Island, in New York. I grew up among people who took utmost pride in their work and their families. My work is a part of who I am as an individual.
Question 4
What have you learned from mistakes or setbacks in your life?
I have learned just that -- to learn. Every setback is an opportunity to evaluate. If you can't learn from your mistakes, not only are you destined to repeat them, but you become stagnant as an individual. I'm brave enough to face my mistakes, dissect them, learn from them and grow.
Question 5
Which of your accomplishments gave you the most enjoyment?
Learning accounting in less than 6 months. Having been an English based major in College, the idea of math in general could strike fear in my heart. When I was given the opportunity to work with Soup to Nuts as their Accounting Manager, I learned that no only was I actually quite good with numbers, but my logical thinking style actually made learning the accounting process quite painless.
Question 6
What do you consider to be your professional strengths?
My people skills allow me to enter any environment comfortably, both for myself and the people I'm meeting. My organizational skills allow me to take any situation and get it under control quickly. My communication skills allow me to assess the situation and make pertinent suggestions that can be greeted at face value for their true merit, and not with suspicion.
Question 7
What are you looking for in an employer?
I would work well with an employer who values creative thinking, loyalty, honesty and integrity.
Question 8
What is most important to you in a job?
A sense of team work between the individuals with which I would be working. No matter what department we might be in, if there's team work office-wide, we will all be able to succeed.
Question 9
Describe an important decision you had to make that influenced your present or future career.
Giving up television production, which is where I got my start in business, was difficult. But it enabled me to hone my skills and in fact find new skills (such as Accounting) that I didn't even know I had. It made me take risks and grow in a way I had never been able to before.
Question 10
Tell about a team or team project that you worked on, and describe your role.
The opening of the Planet Hollywood Restaurant in San Antonio, Texas in February of 1996 was the most ambitious project Maverick Video productions had ever undertaken. We were already stretched thin, as we were the official production team for the NBA Spurs and thus covering the All-Star Game activities that weekend as well. But we were able to completely cover the opening party, festivities, interviews and post-event parties over a 47 hour period by sheer team work. There were eight crews on the ground, working the three levels of the restaurant, the music venue out front, the Riverwalk down below, the private party at the St. Anthony's, and then back at our editing facility for the live up-feed and we got the job done. We got it done in style, and we got it done on time. And then we all slept for about two days.
Question 11
Describe how you obtain cooperation from others.
When you're working with individuals, you need to understand their motivation at work. Why do they work the way that they do? What is their dedication level to the project? How much have they invested personally in the project? If I can answer these questions, I know the best way to approach them to get their full cooperation in completing a project.
Question 12
Tell about a difficult management decision you had to make and describe the results.
One of our designers was having serious difficulties learning the latest version of our design software. And despite many opportunities for assistance and training, they were trying to do it on their own and failing. I made the choice to put them on professional 90 day probation. I knew it was the one way to get through the "pride-factor" and let that person know that it was time to accept help. I am pleased to say that not only did that designer excel during the probationary period, they are now a Senior Designer and have taken on more clients.
Question 13
How would the team or organization you manage describe you?
Approachable. A manager must always be approachable, even if they don't agree with you, they need to know that they can come to you if they have a problem, and that is something I have worked long and hard on. I am also fair -- I evaluate a situation and do my very best to listen closely and make a fair decision that can be accepted by the majority of the team members.
Having grown up in the mad-dash world of New York City, I tend to be a powerful performer. Whether it's handling a newscast for the 10pm news in a language I don't even speak, to handling the ego's of mega-watt movie stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Patrick Swayze, writing 300-500 page responses to government based Requests for Proposals, or just balancing the budget for a catering company entering a tough economy -- I am dedicated, have the people and communication skills to get my ideas across and the determination to make things work on time and under budget.
My organizational skills and attention to detail are key to my success, but most of all my ability to be flexible in any situation has helped me to succeed. I can think inside the box, outside the box or turn the box into a circle when necessary.
I am dedicated, hard-working and determined -- if it takes all night to get something right, I'm there. If we need to work over a holiday weekend to get things done to the customer's satisfaction, I'm there. If a crew call is at 3 a.m., I'm there along with coffee for everyone.
If you're looking for an individual with a myriad of experience and skills that's me -- your professional Jack of All Trades.
Question 1
Describe your own standards of performance.
I hold myself and my work to a very high standard. I am dedicated from day one to do whatever it takes to complete the assignment to the best of my ability in a fashion that will meet or exceed the client's expectations, whether that's an internal or external client.
Question 2
Describe a time when you disagreed with a specific management decision and tell how you handled it.
As Design Team Supervisor, my team consisted of 8 graphic designers and 3 imaging designers. The Imagers created the workable design area that the designers each had to create within. A decision was made to remove the Imagers from the Design team area due to the technical nature of their work. Through research and examples, I was able to reverse this decision before it took place, in order to keep the cohesion of my team intact, and in effect gave a large morale boost to the entire team. Our process was successful, and I was able to prove that changing that process would in fact only cause extensive delays in production.
Question 3
What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
Pride. I am a second generation Italian, born on Staten Island, in New York. I grew up among people who took utmost pride in their work and their families. My work is a part of who I am as an individual.
Question 4
What have you learned from mistakes or setbacks in your life?
I have learned just that -- to learn. Every setback is an opportunity to evaluate. If you can't learn from your mistakes, not only are you destined to repeat them, but you become stagnant as an individual. I'm brave enough to face my mistakes, dissect them, learn from them and grow.
Question 5
Which of your accomplishments gave you the most enjoyment?
Learning accounting in less than 6 months. Having been an English based major in College, the idea of math in general could strike fear in my heart. When I was given the opportunity to work with Soup to Nuts as their Accounting Manager, I learned that no only was I actually quite good with numbers, but my logical thinking style actually made learning the accounting process quite painless.
Question 6
What do you consider to be your professional strengths?
My people skills allow me to enter any environment comfortably, both for myself and the people I'm meeting. My organizational skills allow me to take any situation and get it under control quickly. My communication skills allow me to assess the situation and make pertinent suggestions that can be greeted at face value for their true merit, and not with suspicion.
Question 7
What are you looking for in an employer?
I would work well with an employer who values creative thinking, loyalty, honesty and integrity.
Question 8
What is most important to you in a job?
A sense of team work between the individuals with which I would be working. No matter what department we might be in, if there's team work office-wide, we will all be able to succeed.
Question 9
Describe an important decision you had to make that influenced your present or future career.
Giving up television production, which is where I got my start in business, was difficult. But it enabled me to hone my skills and in fact find new skills (such as Accounting) that I didn't even know I had. It made me take risks and grow in a way I had never been able to before.
Question 10
Tell about a team or team project that you worked on, and describe your role.
The opening of the Planet Hollywood Restaurant in San Antonio, Texas in February of 1996 was the most ambitious project Maverick Video productions had ever undertaken. We were already stretched thin, as we were the official production team for the NBA Spurs and thus covering the All-Star Game activities that weekend as well. But we were able to completely cover the opening party, festivities, interviews and post-event parties over a 47 hour period by sheer team work. There were eight crews on the ground, working the three levels of the restaurant, the music venue out front, the Riverwalk down below, the private party at the St. Anthony's, and then back at our editing facility for the live up-feed and we got the job done. We got it done in style, and we got it done on time. And then we all slept for about two days.
Question 11
Describe how you obtain cooperation from others.
When you're working with individuals, you need to understand their motivation at work. Why do they work the way that they do? What is their dedication level to the project? How much have they invested personally in the project? If I can answer these questions, I know the best way to approach them to get their full cooperation in completing a project.
Question 12
Tell about a difficult management decision you had to make and describe the results.
One of our designers was having serious difficulties learning the latest version of our design software. And despite many opportunities for assistance and training, they were trying to do it on their own and failing. I made the choice to put them on professional 90 day probation. I knew it was the one way to get through the "pride-factor" and let that person know that it was time to accept help. I am pleased to say that not only did that designer excel during the probationary period, they are now a Senior Designer and have taken on more clients.
Question 13
How would the team or organization you manage describe you?
Approachable. A manager must always be approachable, even if they don't agree with you, they need to know that they can come to you if they have a problem, and that is something I have worked long and hard on. I am also fair -- I evaluate a situation and do my very best to listen closely and make a fair decision that can be accepted by the majority of the team members.