Meet Edita Lobaciute, our Global Community Lead. Edita is one of those people who just seems born for her current job. You know you’re well-loved at work when someone dresses up as you at the office costume party. And wins. Introducing our fabulous Edita…
Hello, Edita! Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get to Mindspace? What did you do before?
Hi! Well, I’m a hard-to-define person. I’m a mix of an Eastern European soul, as that’s where I grew up, and a Western European mindset, since that’s where I’ve been living and working for the past ten years.
My working life kicked off when I was 10 when I was selected to represent Lithuania in a European Commission project to save cultural heritage through the use of digital technology. Since then, my love for communities, cultures, travel, and technology has just grown day by day. Professionally, I started off in sales and eventually moved into marketing for different startups in Denmark and Germany. I even had my own affiliate e-commerce business for those Hank Moody/Californication fans out there.
As for Mindspace, the opportunity came to me and I consider it fate. I was familiar with coworking from my time in Denmark, and at my previous job before Mindspace my team worked at one of the first coworking spaces in Berlin. Actually, while I was there, other members used to think that I was the site manager since I was so involved in connecting everyone. The coworking environment has always appealed to me, as I am a ‘forever-expat’ and by nature, I’m curious about other people, cultures, and businesses. How did I get to Mindspace? It was purely the power of community. I posted on LinkedIn that I was looking for my next opportunity and then I was introduced to the Mindspace team in Tel Aviv. After my first two hour interview with Dari Shechter, who’s our current VP of Creative & Design, I knew it was love and that it would last.
What are your responsibilities as a Global Community Lead?
It’s a rollercoaster of responsibilities, but that’s what I like about this job. Routine is not for me. As the Global Community Lead, I’m the main point of contact for the entire Mindspace community regarding all things related to community, events, sales, customer service, and benefits. I oversee the global processes for these areas, and I love talking with our community members at our locations I visit all over the world.
How would you describe the Mindspace community and culture?
It’s the best. I sometimes jokingly say that we’re an ‘a****** free community.’ It’s really an unbelievably great group of wonderful, talented, fun people. Many of the relationships created at Mindspace go beyond its doors and grow into real friendships, and even marriages.
What is your favorite thing about working at Mindspace?
The people, the startup-y mindset, the travel
What’s unique about working at Mindspace?
People. People. People.
Any interesting insights/anecdotes from your time at Mindspace?
In almost fours years, there are too many. I could probably write a memoir at this point. One recent thing that really made me laugh was that one of my colleagues decided to dress up as me for the holiday costume party at our Tel Aviv headquarters. He and his team won the costume contest.
How would you describe the Mindspace member experience? What’s unique about it?
It really is about caring. It’s no wonder that our Community Managers across locations are sometimes called “mommy” or “daddy”. We genuinely do care about our community in each space and we believe that happiness is contagious — a happy member makes a happy team and that makes a happy community.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Not to listen to any advice.
What is a quote to live by?
I have a few but my top 3 would be:
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.”
“A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.”
“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
What is the number one thing on your “bucket list”?
To become a DJ.
What is your most used emoji?
The more emojis that come out, the more I’m going back to the basics of a good old smiley face 🙂
If you had to delete all but 3 apps from your smartphone, which ones would you keep?
Gmail, WhatsApp, weather app
What book, movie read/seen recently you would recommend and why?
The Business of Happiness: 6 Secrets to Extraordinary Success in Life and Work, by Ted Leonsis. It’s a good read on identifying what true happiness is for you and how making the people you care about happy will eventually also lead to your business success.
Grass is Greener, a documentary film about cannabis. I like documentaries and history, and this film gives an interesting perspective on the rapidly growing industry.
What’s your favorite place you traveled to?
Saint Petersburg and pretty much any place with a sunny beach around.