Welcome to the latest post in our “Employee Q&A” series, where we interview an employee to reflect on their career and experience at 3D Cloud™ by Marxent. Part of our success is mainly due to our people. So, we’re excited to feature a hardworking team member to learn about their journey at 3D Cloud.
This week, we spotlight Anna Wittekind, Design Consultant at 3D Cloud. Let’s read on to hear about her journey with us.
Anna, how did you find out about 3D Cloud?
Working as a kitchen designer before I found 3D Cloud, I kept thinking, “there has to be something better than this.” My clients wanted a more interactive and convenient experience. I wanted to be able to design more efficiently and prevent miscommunications by creating quality visuals of those designs, which just took too much time using tools like 2020. I had so many ideas on how to make this process better but no outlet to execute them. So, when I found 3D Cloud on Indeed, it was a no-brainer that this was the right fit and a perfect opportunity.
It’s wonderful to hear that you found a company that fuels your creativity and inspiration. What is your current role at 3D Cloud now? What does it consist of?
My role as a Design Consultant consists of quite a few different things at this point. My main objective has always been to use my knowledge of kitchen design and come up with innovative ways to improve our products and to provide guidance from a designer’s perspective within the company. I also consistently help with content creation, data entry, kitchen product training, competitive analysis, documentation, and product testing.
Can you give a brief overview of your background?
I’ve been around the home improvement industry my entire life. My dad is an architect and carpenter, which has had a big influence on me from a very young age. I got my hands on my first design software when I was nine years old and would design homes for imaginary clients for fun. By the time I graduated high school, I had my first job as a kitchen designer, and shortly after that, I went to college and got my degree in Interior Design.
The leadership at 3D Cloud has really invested in my growth as well, and it’s been a very rewarding experience. During my time at 3D Cloud, I’ve been able to continue my education with the NKBA, having received my Certified Kitchen & Bath Designer certification. It’s such a cool thing to be a part of a company that contributes so much to its employees’ growth.
What is one thing that surprised you about your current role?
Coming from a design field, I wasn’t sure what to expect from working at a tech-focused company. So, I guess most of it was a series of surprises to start. I think the biggest surprise was how much the leadership here values the ideas and opinions of employees. There are also regular and consistent venues for idea sharing, and it’s a completely normalized thing for someone to chime in and be able to change things. It’s very refreshing.
What do you like most about the work we do at 3D Cloud?
Problem-solving. I love problem-solving and making connections, finding patterns then reasoning my way to a solution, but I particularly love taking something that seems abstract and finding a way to simplify it. For example, interior design at first glance is an art, but we created Magic Rooms, which automatically generates kitchen designs based on the user’s space. We were able to create an entire system for how the products interact, and I loved every minute of it.
How would you describe your direct team culture?
The Training & Design team is so much fun to be a part of. Many of us work remotely, but occasionally we’ll get the chance to meet up for an event, and it’s always a blast. We each have a different set of skills, and we learn from each other on daily bases. Supporting each other and working as a team definitely defines our team culture. After all, that’s how we win. And, of course, we sometimes celebrate successes with a Friday happy hour! 🙂
If someone wanted to work on your team, what is the one thing they should know about?
To be a part of our team, you really have to stay agile. We continuously learn new skills, work on new client tasks and continue to improve our processes. As I mentioned before, we each have a different set of skills, and if you’re not good at something initially, don’t worry! Part of this team is being flexible to learn and continue to grow with the company.
What piece of advice would you give your younger self?
There’s almost always a way to get where you want to be. If one path doesn’t work out, that doesn’t mean you can’t get through another way. Break it down into smaller steps, and figure out what’s in the way. Start there, and do a small thing every day to reach your goals. Your biggest resource is time.
Thank you, Anna, for interviewing with me today. We appreciate you sharing your journey at 3D Cloud.
