This is the second in our series of TMIC team interviews with Anne Vogt, Senior Consultant
Q: Your background is in Engineering & Business Economics. And you have been with TMIC for over 20 years. What drives your ongoing dedication to this business?
A: The people I meet and the variety in projects, most of which have subject matter of interest to me or are just fun to do. In B2B/industrial work, I often meet like-minded and down to earth people who are a pleasure to deal with – straight forward, honest and not taking themselves too seriously so there are plenty of laughs as well.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A: Like in any job, stress comes from dealing with unplanned events, which impact on deadlines or may result in uncertainty regarding the success of the outcome.
Q: What do you consider to be the most critical elements in the successful performance of your position?
A: Planning, planning, planning and communication.
Q: On a personal level, what frustrates you the most in life?
A: I like to take things at face value so I get really annoyed with people who are full of hot air or say they will do something and then do not follow through, ie. a lack of reliability.
Q: With new technologies becoming available every day, what do you think is the future of the market research industry, in terms of balance between human contribution and automation?
A: It may swing even further towards automation in the short term but then I think most people will realise it has gone too far so they will appreciate the extra value that human interaction and creative thinking brings, especially at the interviewing and reporting stages. However, there will always be a key role for automation in supporting human processes, but not in replacing them.
Q: Since joining TMIC which single achievement are you most proud of?
A: It is hard to name one in 20 years as there have been many different highlights. There have been some high profile multinational and local projects, including some tricky new technology research with hard to get audiences.
Q: What do you most enjoy about the work you do (eg. the results, the process, new clients, starting up new projects)?
A: Presenting the outcomes of the research and debriefing stakeholders and helping them to use their research results in planning the way forward.
Q: How do you achieve a work-life balance?
A: Thankfully, I get the opportunity to work from home some days which allows me to combine being a mum and having a career. Technology has played a big part in this as well, eg. being able to answer emails poolside at my preschooler’s swimming lessons or finalising a quarterly report whilst recovering from a C-section in hospital a few years back.
Q: Where would you most like to spend time travelling in/to (given cost is no issue) and who would you travel with?
A: I moved to the country that I dreamed of as a child so I love exploring the Australian bush on horseback or hiking. I do like to spend time in Europe to catch up with family and friends and pretend I’m still 20. My ideal travel partner is my husband, Donat, as we tend to enjoy similar things. We both prefer sniffing the atmosphere of a particular place (often through sampling the various foods and drinks on offer) rather than ticking off the tourist attractions. In the last few years, I have developed a desire to go to New York around Christmas time so hopefully that’ll happen in the not too distant future.
Q: What would you choose to enjoy – a good movie, a good book or a nice glass of red?
A: I’d choose a book any day – even though I do enjoy my red wine, too! I can enjoy a book at my own pace. I find books more stimulating because I’m not spoon-fed ideas and images; I’m able to use my imagination to create my own.
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Q: What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Q: Which artist (dead or alive) would you hire to paint your portrait and why? Q: If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? |
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