Can you discuss an instance where you had to learn something new for work and what you took away from the experience? How does this add value to your position at Naspers as an EM?

Question Analysis

This is a behavioral interview question designed to assess your ability to learn and adapt in a professional setting. The interviewer is interested in understanding how you approach new challenges, your learning process, and how you apply new knowledge to add value to your role. As you are interviewing for a position at Naspers as an Engineering Manager (EM), focus on experiences that demonstrate technical learning, leadership, and strategic application. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response.

Answer

Situation:
In my previous role as a software development team lead, our company decided to transition from a monolithic architecture to microservices to enhance scalability and maintainability. This transition required the team to learn new technologies and methodologies.

Task:
As the team lead, my task was to spearhead this transition, ensuring that our team was equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to implement microservices effectively.

Action:
I started by researching and enrolling in a comprehensive online course about microservices architecture. Following this, I organized a series of workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions for the team. We collaborated on small-scale projects to practice what we learned, fostering a hands-on learning environment. I also encouraged open communication, allowing team members to share insights and challenges they encountered.

Result:
Through these efforts, our team successfully transitioned to the new architecture within the planned timeline, resulting in a 30% increase in system performance and a significant reduction in deployment times. This experience not only enhanced my technical skills but also improved my leadership abilities by learning how to guide a team through transformational change.

Value to Naspers:
The ability to quickly adapt to new technologies and lead teams through significant changes is crucial for an Engineering Manager at Naspers. This experience demonstrates my capability to drive technical innovation and improve operational efficiency, aligning with Naspers' goals of maintaining competitive and cutting-edge technological solutions.