Work. Enjoy. Learn.

It is amazing (and maybe even a bit scary!) how fast time flies! Especially when you are enjoying it. Seven weeks of my internship are now gone and three weeks from now I’ll on the other side of the world, in China, touring with incoming MBA1s some of the most ancient historic sights of the world. And it is about that time when my fellow Groupon interns and I start asking ourselves “If you got an offer, will you take it?”

According to me, it is impossible to answer this question without first thinking whether the company culture fits me and thinking even beyond that – what is it that I am looking for in my future job and/or company? In one word! For me, everything boils down to two words: continuous learning. I believe it is extremely important to be surrounded by people who are smarter than me and who push me to be the best I can be, to grow, to learn because in my opinion once you stop learning it is time to move on. This is why I decided to quit my previous job and get an MBA and now, having spent a year among peers who are as driven as myself – this is what I am looking for in my future company.

So does Groupon offer continuous learning? I think so. Probably one of the things I’ve enjoyed most so far is the Summer Learning Series – a series of breakfast & learns that gives MBA Summer Associates exposure to some of the CXOs of the company. So far we have had the chance to poke the minds of the CFO, CMO and COO (not to mention that I ran into Andrew Mason himself in the elevator) and learn more about their road to Groupon and their visions for the future of the company. I have to say that I have been impressed not only by how accomplished and smart all these people are but also by how approachable, energetic, down-to-earth and passionate they are. And it was great to hear my own thoughts about the importance of continuous learning and “surrounding yourself with people that make you feel dumb” vocalized by Jeff Holden, one of the most charismatic and poised people I’ve met, last week. 

Fortunately, this culture of learning (and teaching) does not stop when you become a full-time employee. There are multiple lunch & learns when employees who feel they are an expert on a given topic, anything from Excel to marketing to self-defense is fair game, share their expertise with their fellow Groupeners.