Meet The Professionals : Cinzia Semeraro
Name: Cinzia Semeraro
Title: Office Manager International Labs
Company: InterDigital Europe Ltd
How did you get your start in your career?
I have always been fascinated by technology. I wrote my thesis on Theory and Method of Mass Media within the Arts for my graduation and moved to London to complete my Postgraduate studies. Through the University I was offered a six-month work placement in an art gallery, during which I discovered my interest in business and administration. So, I started taking classes on the subject and looking for an office job.
My first job in the corporate world was for a Domain Names registration company, through which I pursued my studies in Business & Administration.
From there my Office Manager career in technology took off.
What are the first three things you do when you get to the office in the morning?
I check my inbox, add new actions to the to-do list that I usually draft the evening before and grab a bottle of water and a cup of Nespresso coffee. Then I’m ready to start the day!
What is your favourite thing about what you do?
I enjoy setting up new processes, monitoring their efficiency and improving the way I manage my work projects.
What is your least favourite thing?
Dealing with work speeds that do not align with mine can be frustrating.
Where do you work: rented space, serviced office, owned office, co-working space etc? Why?
My company is based in Great Eastern Street, where we rent the Ground Floor space, we’re located in the technology hub.
How important is office environment to you?
I spend more time in the office than at home, so my office environment has to offer the same kind of comfort as well as having the level of professionalism necessary for us to work efficiently.
Do you prefer open plan or individual offices? Why?
Open plan is where it’s at for offices in today’s world. Interaction, collaboration and idea exchanges happen better in this kind of environment. For the confidential parts of the job, a meeting room can be used if needed.
If you weren’t doing this job, what would you be doing?
I would probably be organising conferences, business events, art exhibitions, sport events and the like.
What keeps you awake at night?
The to-do list I haven’t pulled together before leaving the office for the day.
What piece of advice would you give to someone starting in the business?
Always have plans, but never expect to stick to them because things always change.
Did you have a mentor?
A CEO that I worked with for eight years or so was a great source of knowledge to me – I learned more in my weekly meetings with him, than I could ever have learnt from a book or through an exam.
Is there a motto or quote that you live by?
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become your habits.
Watch your habits; they become your character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
If you were a superhero, what power would you have and why?
The gift of ubiquity. I would love to be able to be in more than one place simultaneously!