Get to Know…Dina

What is your role at Vovia?

I am a Digital Marketing Specialist at Vovia. I spend my days helping develop strategies and optimizing digital campaigns to help potential customers find and buy the products and services offered by our amazing clients. I also like to think of my role from a consumer’s point of view, in that, my job is to help them find what they are interested in at just the right time and in the right place where they are looking. I work to help connect these two sides providing the maximum ROI for my clients and the best experience and value for customers.

What do you do in your spare time?

I love theatre, books, music, sports, hiking, knitting and cooking. I often like to let the weather decide what I am going to do in my spare time. Sunny days are usually for sports and hiking, rainy days are for reading, and the snowy weather is the perfect knitting time. Especially around the Christmas season!

What are you most passionate about?

I would say that travelling is the passion of my life. I enjoy going to new places, meeting new people and exploring new cultures. For this reason, I don’t usually go to the same place twice. There is so much to see and explore in the world and not enough time!

You are originally from Russia. What brought you to Canada?

I wish I had some incredible story, but really my husband had an inter-company transfer from Russia to Canada, so we moved here. Sorry, nothing too exciting!

What is one of the biggest differences you notice between Russia and Canada?

I am used to the bold and straightforward Russian style of communication. People say what the mean and mean what they say. For example, when someone says “great job” in Russia that literally means “great job” nothing more or less. Transversely if they don’t like what you have done, they say “this is horrible, redo it”. In Canada, people are amazingly polite and care for each other’s feelings, so “great job” might also mean “I really appreciate your effort, but unfortunately this is terrible” followed by pointers on how to fix it. It takes some getting used to!

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people.

I love sharing stories of my travels and experiences in life. Like jumping out of a perfectly good airplane with a parachute or how I joined ballet class for The first time when I was 27.

Other fun facts about me are that I have played the violin for 10 years and I have read the entire Harry Potter series several times in two languages. Still, the most surprising reaction I get here in Canada is when I tell someone that I am Russian and I don’t drink Vodka!

What is the best part about working at Vovia?

For me it’s all about people! Everyone is knowledgeable and passionate about what they do. It is very inspiring! Oh, and I looooove the office dogs! Seldom a day passes where you won’t see me taking a quick snuggle or play break with one of them.