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Can you share a time when someone’s background or perspective helped you see a problem or solution differently ?
Can you share a time when someone’s background or perspective helped you see a problem or solution differently?
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Caitlyn Olmer
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Oakland, California
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Caitlyn’s Answer
Growing up in Mississippi, I was surrounded by people with very different life experiences and perspectives, which taught me early on the importance of listening and empathizing before jumping to conclusions. One example from work was when I was collaborating with colleagues across different regions and time zones. My initial instinct was to optimize for efficiency and move quickly, but a teammate from a different cultural background helped me realize that success wasn’t just about speed, it was also about building trust, giving space for diverse communication styles, and creating alignment. Their perspective shifted how I approached the project: I slowed down to ensure we created shared understanding, and in the end, that extra investment made the solution far more scalable and widely adopted.