Interview published April 2022. Roles and experiences below reflect that time.
Not only is Hafsah one of the 3 MVPs on the team and a much-loved mentor to her team members, she was also one of the first to join Rocketship HQ and witnessed its growth first-hand! Here’s how Hafsah went from a cushy MNC job to freelancing to her current role.
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The work at Rocketship HQ
Q1. What are 3 words that you would use to describe yourself?
Compassionate, Organized and Optimistic
Q2. What drew you to RocketShip HQ originally? How has the company changed since?
In 2018, I decided to quit my full-time job and get into freelancing via Upwork. That was when I stumbled upon a job post for RocketShip HQ, and as luck would have it, here I am, having recently completed three wonderful years with the company.
RocketShip HQ has grown immensely since the time I joined (it was only Shamanth and me managing our key clients back then) and I’m extremely proud of how far we’ve come! It is with Shamanth’s perseverance and determination that we continue to thrive and broaden our opportunities.
Q3. What do you like about your job?
I like that my job offers flexibility to work remotely (which is a plus point if you live in a city like Mumbai, India, where traveling to your workplace is a nightmare because of the traffic!). It has helped me maintain a work-life balance, and devote the extra time to other activities that I love besides work.
Q4. What has been your proudest moment at RocketShip HQ?
My proudest moment was when I completed three years at RocketShip HQ. I honestly don’t know how the time flew by, and I feel so grateful for this opportunity and the ability to learn new things every day.
Q5. What is a typical workday like for you?
During a typical workday, my primary responsibilities include reviewing the campaigns to make sure the performance is on track, working on reports and creative strategies, and any other ad hoc analysis. Apart from these, I also work on mentoring my team members and building our reporting dashboards.
Career journey
Q6. What was a key inflection/turning point in your career?
The key turning point in my career happened when I changed my job from a comfortable role at an MNC to an ad agency. It was a huge change for me, as this is where I got real exposure to the Indian startup culture.
The job allowed me to work with a variety of personalities and tackle several different types of projects. I was able to spend time with different teams and learn from them, right from account strategists and creative directors to the finance and development team. I interacted with clients and top-level executives and learned how to navigate through the different challenges I encountered.
Q7. Tell us about a mentor or a person who has inspired or influenced you significantly.
I was fortunate enough to work directly with Karishma Shanghvi, who is a director of Sun Pharma, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in India. Despite being highly successful, her humble and down-to-earth personality inspired me. This was back in the first year of my career, and my brief experience with her molded me into having a positive attitude toward the people I work with.
Q8. What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned over the course of your career?
- This is one of the things my senior in a former company once said to me, and has stuck with me ever since:
Praise in public, criticize in private. - Be a self-motivator and push yourself to do your best.
Never lose perspective and work hard towards your goals. - Nothing is ever too urgent.
When everything is a priority, nothing is a priority.
Behind the scenes: Who is Hafsah?
Q9. Tell us about your favorite travel & food spots or experiences.
I am a big foodie and love trying out different cuisines and going to restaurants and cafes. One of the best experiences I have ever had is at Barbeque Nation, where they offer unlimited grilled food and Indian chaats, two things I absolutely love!
Pro tip: Always choose lunch over dinner buffet if you are going to stuff yourself! 😛
Q10. What do you do for fun?
Besides dining out, I also love cooking and recreating dishes that I’ve tried at restaurants.
I have also recently started charcoal sketching and learning calligraphy art, and I love spending time gardening.
Q11. What are the top 3 items on your bucket list?
- Own a cozy bungalow amidst nature.
- Travel the world.
- Launch a food/recipe YouTube channel.
Q12. What is a fun fact about yourself that not many people might know?
I have OCD and can’t sleep at night until my room is organized and things are put into “their right places at the perfect angle”.
Connect with Hafsah on LinkedIn.
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