In this series, we are featuring Team8s who worked at 8x8, left to pursue other interests, and then returned to our team. We’re excited to welcome back Ramona Cucuruzanu, a technical support engineer in Romania.

Read on to find out more about Ramona and what brought her back to 8x8.

8x8: Ramona, welcome back to the team! To get started, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Ramona Cucuruzanu (RC): I am an empath who likes plants and pets. I adore cats and I currently have three: two tabby males and one calico female that I love to death. And, to anticipate your next question, no, I don't plan on getting more! I enjoy rescuing kittens and finding forever families for them. Over the course of the last five years, with the help of a neighbor and friend, we rescued and fostered over 30 kittens and adult stray cats.

Also, I love toast with butter and honey—I really think I could eat this six times a day and still enjoy it. I also love coffee—especially the coffee at the office.

8x8: Speaking of the office, what do you do at 8x8?

RC: I am a technical support engineer, part of the global support organization, based out of our office in Cluj. One thing I love about this situation is that I’ve actually rejoined the business in the exact same role I had when I first joined 8x8 back in 2019.

8x8: Did you always know you wanted to pursue a career in Technical Support?

RC: No. In fact, never have I imagined I would end up working in a technical role. In college I wanted to pursue a career in the beauty industry, I loved make-up and skincare and the confidence it gave women. However, the difficulties of navigating bureaucracy, combined with a lack of patience (as I wanted to be financially independent ASAP) made me give up this dream and instead go for a customer service role in a call center.

And that’s what opened up my appetite for soft skills and for helping people and clients. I spent five years in that call center role, where I was promoted to a senior agent and then given a mentoring role, until I realized there was nothing more I could learn there and I needed a challenge.

That challenge came in the form of a job opening on the tech support team at 8x8. I had zero technical knowledge, so you can imagine the courage and the confidence I had to apply for such a role. Looking back, I think this was one of those instances where my natural tendency to jump head in first and think about it later paid off.

8x8: What do you think helped you make this transition into a technical role?

RC: I had a great interview with a lovely and experienced hiring manager who saw lots of potential and who decided to take a risk and hire me.

I worked at 8x8 for four years before deciding to pursue other interests. I moved through the ranks and occupied different roles in the business: support engineer, then escalation specialist, and finally customer success manager. Each role helped me tap into a different set of skills and develop them.

8x8: What have been some of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned throughout your career so far?

RC: One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that to build rapport with people or clients, it is crucial to listen carefully, empathize, and ensure you understand their perspective.

8x8: What encouraged you to return to 8x8?

RC: During my pursuit of different interests, I realized that, for me, it is very important to enjoy what I do and the people I work with. During the four years at 8x8 I had built relationships, friendships, and connections that I wanted to revive.

8x8: What did you miss most about 8x8?

RC: It might sound insane to some, but I really missed the fast pace of things. I also missed 8x8’s agility, as well as many of the people I came in contact with throughout my time here.

8x8: Outside of work, what is something you’ve always wanted to learn or try out?

RC: During my absence from 8x8 I was lucky enough to work for a start-up that offered professional coaching services. I loved the start-up culture and the openness among employees, but I especially adored learning a few things about professional coaching strategies and techniques. It's a very attractive industry that I would love to learn more about.

8x8: Where is one likely to find you in your spare time?

RC: When the weather is warm I enjoy taking long strolls in the park with a headset and music on. In winter I tend to do the bare minimum as I greatly dislike the cold—probably because I am always cold myself.

Funny enough, one of the fondest memories I have from one of the cat rescue missions I went on with my friend is associated with winter and being cold. I remember the two of us being out for two hours in -15° C weather, drinking vișinată (a traditional Romanian alcoholic beverage made from sour cherries) to stay warm while trying to capture a kitten with a cage trap. We had managed to trap her three sisters and were determined to get her as well. I am happy to say that in the end we did!

8x8: What’s something surprising that not many people know about you?

RC: Most people and teammates consider me a social butterfly, but I actually consider myself an introvert and need alone time very often to recharge my batteries.

8x8: What would you say was the most exciting thing that has happened to you this year, so far?

RC: Last year was a year of many changes. I changed my job three times, which is something I’ve never experienced before, having worked for five years in my first job, and then four years at 8x8. I also got married last year, sold my apartment, and put down a down payment for a house. All very exciting, but very stressful as well!

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Read more stories in the Welcome Back Team8s series: