This is part 4 in our 4 part series highlighting the very beginnings and subsequent evolution of Villa-Bali.com. Follow us as we go behind the scenes and discover how this Singaporean startup grew from three young lads covering one destination to over 20 employees covering five, all in under three years.
You’ve been following our journey for a few weeks now – from the idea behind Villa-Bali.com to the expansion of the company, with a pit stop along the way focusing on how the project was funded, you’ve been with us every step of the way. Our story is coming to an end, at least for now, and what better way to finish the tale than to talk about our wonderful employees? Recruiting people from the United States to Australia, stopping by France, The Netherlands, and Indonesia along the way (to name a few), we’ve truly managed to regroup a team of wonderfully unique individuals, each an asset to the company thanks to their creative strengths, and each a valued member of the team.
Now, we could have introduced you to the team in a “serious” way, with full bibliographies and austere B&W photos, but our team members are so much more interesting than just their CVs. So we decided, why not have all our employees share a fun fact with you? After all, we’re all friends here, you won’t judge us…right?
Compiling this list also turned out to be a team building exercise on our end! Finding out that some of our coworkers, people we work with side by side every day, can break wooden boards with their hands, sleep walk, or have embarrassing tattoos provided us with enough laughs to develop a fully new set of abs.
With no further ado, here are the employees of Villa-Bali.com!
Singapore Office:
David, Founder and CEO:
Fun Fact: Guess what the name of my first pet, a cat, was? Swatch. Guess why? My father was a jeweller.
Daniel, Head of Marketing:
Fun Fact: “In primary school, I used to wear short pants every day, even in winter. Nowadays, in Bali, I wear jeans almost every day… I’m French, I love to be contrary”
Adrien, CTO:
Fun Fact: “I like Apple so much that I have their logo tattooed on my right butt cheek.”
Laurent Ghirardotti, Web Developer:
Fun Fact: “If I could work in any field, I’d be a wine producer. I love wine and I’ve even bottled my own! Could I be more French?”
Maxime, Web Developer:
Fun Fact: “Before coming to Singapore, I was a simple man, now I can break wooden boards with my hands. You can say I’ve been changed for the better.”
Nathalie, Travel Consultant:
Fun Fact: “I have an extremely good sense of direction. However, when it comes to actually giving directions, let’s just say, I’m not the best…. I used to tell my dad: “Do you see that street right there?” – “Well, it’s not there…”
Julia, Travel Consultant:
Fun Fact: “I have self diagnosed FOMO – “fear of missing out”. The fear that if I miss a party or event I will miss out on something great!”
Serena, Communications Manager:
Fun Fact: “I’m a history freak and would give my kidney to go back to the time of Henry VIII (though not as one of his wives, I like my head!). In total, I think I’ve read over 50 books on the subject, I’m a total nerd!”
Yvonn, Communications Intern:
Fun Fact: “Sometimes I sleep walk and I wake up in the kitchen. That’s how much I love food.”
Sahidah, Marketing Intern:
Fun Fact: “Last year I went to the Royal National Park in Sydney. It was the first national park I’d ever been to and I fell in love… with nature. Now my dream is to visit all the national parks around the world!
Lin, Freelance Reporter:
Fun Fact: “After my first internship as a bartender, I considered doing it full-time as my career. It couldn’t be more different from what I’m doing now.”
Jason, Business Controller:
Fun Fact: “I have a really big problem with people who wear different color shoelaces on each shoe…I just want to stop that person in the street and change their laces!”
Bali Office:
Maria, Head of Operations:
Fun Fact: “I’ve been a big dreamer since I was a little girl and Bali has always been one of my dreams. I have to say, living in Bali is such an incredible journey in my life, one mission completed! Keep dreaming.
Jolien, Travel Consultant
Fun Fact: “After more than one year in Bali, I’m more Indonesian than I am Westerner, my stomach can’t even handle Western food anymore. On the contrary, the spicier I eat, the better. Sometimes, my dreams are even partly in Indonesian. I love Bali!”
Cezanne, Bali Reporter
Fun Fact: “I am named after the male French artist Paul Cézanne, even though I’m not remotely French…or male. Thanks for the confusion mom and dad!”
Fun Fact: “One time, my roommate burned her hand by accidentally putting her entire palm on a lit induction stove. I came home at that exact moment and was telling myself that it smelled so good! Later, I realized that that mouthwatering smell was her hand burning…”
Meina, Administrative Executive:
Fun Fact: “Once, I accidentally used shower gel to wash my hair. I didn’t realize until my scalp started getting really itchy!”
Sarah, Marketing Admin Assistant:
Fun Fact: “I wish I could live underwater… I know I can’t, so I scuba dive.
Yunia, Guest Relations:
Fun Fact: “I have a short term memory, I always count on reminders and sticky notes to remember urgent things. That’s why at work I always take some time to double check, even triple check, the details to make sure I don’t forget anything.”
Dewi, Guest Relations:
Fun Fact: “In my last job I would work from behind my desk the entire day and not move until I went home. Now, I have this new spirit with Villa-Bali.com. It makes me so excited and more powerful to do my job!”
Citra, Travel Consultant:
Fun Fact: “My yearly horoscope says that, as a Taurus, I have good prospects for business in the travel industry. Seems like I’m working in the right place!”
Wully, Travel Consultant:
Fun Fact: “I don’t read novels, when I start I fall asleep…”
Wayan, Travel Consultant:
Fun Fact: “If you don’t count Antarctica, I’ve been to 5 of the 6 continents. All I’m missing is Africa!”
Part I: The Idea behind Villa-Bali.com
Part II: Bootstrapping Villa-Bali.com
Part III: The Expansion of Villa-Bali.com
