Roman Fridrich: "What Does a Strategic Growth Manager at Touch4IT Do?"

Hi Roman, could you share some information about yourself? 

Hell yeah! :) 

How did you hear about your current job at Touch4IT and what was the interview process like? 

It's funny because Touch4IT wasn’t actively looking for my position at all. I was at a point in my career where I wanted to make a significant shift and return from the FMCG sector back to the IT industry. I reached out to the founders, expressing my interest in a potential change, we saw the possibility of collaboration and came to an agreement. 

Were you familiar with Touch4IT before joining the company? Have you worked in tech companies before, and do you think it's a good or bad thing? Why? 

I was a client back in 2017 with my startup, and that's when our paths first crossed. We maintained occasional contact ever since. Interestingly, there were hints of potential collaboration during my two-year tenure in Los Angeles. That's why I reached out to Michal Korman when I needed a change. I was already familiar with Touch4IT and the outstanding work they had accomplished. In the past, I had worked with American and Czech companies in California in a role quite similar to our SDR position here. Alongside that, I also embarked on a journey to learn programming and immersed myself deeper into the IT landscape over the years. I believe that's one of the reasons why I'm proudly a part of Touch4IT today.  

Tell us, what do you do at Touch4IT?  

My main role involves meeting with clients, both new and existing, to explore collaboration opportunities and find the best ways to assist them specifically. I set up my business strategy, and seek potential opportunities, and new potential collaborations. Whenever possible, I'm more than happy to contribute to the field of marketing as well, drawing from my expertise gained from previous jobs. 

What's a typical workday like for you, and who do you work with the most? 

Typically, my day consists of a combination of client meetings, discussions with project managers to explore ways to meet client needs, and a flurry of emails, calls, and collaborative brainstorming sessions with clients but also within our entire sales team. 

What's your favorite thing on your schedule? 

I really enjoy inspirational client meetings where we dive into their specific issues and try to find a way to solve them. Additionally, I love listening to our project managers share past cases and how we successfully resolved them. 

What's the biggest challenge in your job? 

The biggest challenge is to try to understand things from the client's perspective and find solutions in places where others don't see them. 

What qualities made you a Strategic Growth Manager at Touch4IT? What skills are important for this role and why? 

I believe that having professional experience in business, communication, and client negotiation is crucial. It's important to be able to take a step back and view things from a distance, understand how technologies work and interact, and constantly stay attuned to digital news and trends. 

What's the process like for hiring and onboarding at Touch4IT? What positive and negative aspects have you noticed about it? 

The entire process was quite pleasant. Despite already knowing each other, I went through about 4 rounds of interviews and had discussions with three different individuals. I had a very positive impression of it, and it's evident that the team is highly valued at Touch4IT. 

How have you been feeling and what have you noticed during your first few days? What are your impressions of the people, processes, tasks, workflow, and work-life balance? 

I've noticed a culture of regular innovation here, with new processes constantly being developed to make work more efficient. There's no need for anyone to micromanage or constantly monitor others; the people here are self-driven and know what they're doing, which I found very appealing right from the start. Regular fruit offerings, team events, and team-building activities are just the icing on the cake. 

What advice do you have for individuals looking to switch their career paths? 

Above all, don't be afraid to constantly explore new things and not get stuck in something that doesn't truly excite you. There are countless career paths out there, and there's no need to fear changing direction at any stage or age in life. 

Do you have a life motto? If so, what is it? 

I have two: 'Easy decisions = hard life, hard decisions = easy life,' and another one I even have tattooed, 'This too shall pass.' It reminds me that everything, both the good and the bad, is temporary. In times of joy, we should cherish it more, and in times of hardship, we shouldn't dwell on it too much because it will eventually pass. :)