bBox visited Volksbank Karlsruhe

          As you have already seen, besides new interesting working methods the bBox team is using in the project, there is also the constant need for feedback. And we really believe it is a part of the process in order for us to develop an efficient and functional prototype.

         Naturally, we wanted to receive the feedback of the end user of our product, since it is the one that we value the most. And Volksbank Karlsruhe Headquarters responded positively to our project.

                            

          We spent an entire afternoon in the Volksbank Karlsruhe Headquarters, one of the customers that benefits from the Fiducia IT AG's  services. The result? We experienced an amazing exchange of information. On one hand, the team of Volksbank Karlsruhe's bank clerks was presented the bBox project into detail ‐ our ideas and work so far:

                                                                                      only key concepts

                 

Nair and Stan, presenting the bBox Project

        

          What we did was selecting our promising ideas and presenting them to the bankers so that they could rank the ones they would prefer to see applied and then work with.

    Mrs. Bartz together with Nair explaining the ranking system

    to the Volksbank members: Mrs. Hoch, Mr. Ehrmann, Mr. Michel

                                                               



        Mr. Zimmermann and Mr. Ziefle focused on 

the survey rankingtheir favorite ideas



             On  the other hand, we were explained the logic of a banking process, so that we understood the complexity of their work (steps, people involved, time, devices, systems, in short all the resources needed to initiate and complete the processes they are dealing with on a daily basis).

 

Mr. Achim Michael, explaining a banking process using a charismatic approach

   

          After hours of discussion and sharing ideas, we experienced an amazing tour in the Volksbank building!

                        


                                             
                                                     Mrs. Hoch, showing us the work space

 

                                                                                 Great design and a pleasant environment. We loved it!

            

                                      

                                      

                 

                                                                                       Time for a short break :)

                      
         

We would like to thank the team from Volksbank Karlsruhe - Mrs. Hoch, Mr. Michel, Mr. Ehrmann - for the nicest day we have ever spent in a bank, in the company of interesting, modern and open minded persons.

                                          

The bBox Team

                                              

Meet the bBox members better: Today's special, Nair, our creative member!

Dear all, 

          I was thinking that you might like knowing us a little bit better. This is why I started a series of interviews with my colleagues for you all!

First, let's meet Nair :)

University: National University of Cordoba

Field of study: Multimedia Design & Audiovisual Production

Favorite developer tools: Adobe Master Collection – Creative Suite 5

Favorite website: www.youthedesigner.com; www.imdb.com

          ’’Nair is the real engine of the bBox Project with thirst to generate new creative ideas every day. She is the most charismatic presence in the team, the one who would attract attention with her smile and get the appraisals for her great designs. And, the latin spirit inside her is leaving space for German cultural elements now: butterbretzel, getting hungry at a fix hour and having dinner at 7 p.m. (she would do it at 10, 11 p.m. in Argentina), time management, punctuality.’’                          

                 (bBox)

Claudia Corches: ’’ Nair, I want all to know your personal motivation for applying to an internship in Germany. If it is the country, the project itself, or both…’’

Nair Hid Ahmed: ’’Well... the truth is that I’ve always dreamed about travelling to Europe. And Germany is a special country for me because I learned about its culture while at primary school. These facts, together with the amazing opportunity that AIESEC and Fiducia IT AG offered, made me apply without hesitating. I mean, who wouldn’t?’’

      Claudia: ’’Could you please describe your role in the bBox project better, so that everybody understands your main responsibilities?’’

Nair: ’’Ok... my role is called 'Creative Member', which might sound a little ambiguous... What I actually do, is helping my colleagues to create new ideas by using some creative techniques (brainstorming sessions, games, role play, etc); I am also in charge of creating the graphics of the prototype interface, and helping you (the marketing specialist) with a little bit of graphic design =)’’

      Claudia: ’’I sure thank you for that!
This is your first time in Europe! What are the most interesting things you have experienced in this internship in Karlsruhe, besides your job?’’

Nair: ’’AIESEC!! =)... I am really happy about the group of colleagues, trainees and students that are currently part of the local committee of AIESEC! They make this travelling experience become an amazing exchange that I will always remember. I have also participated to an international conference meeting people from more than 27 countries... and I’ve met important people from Karlsruhe like the First Mayor Margret Mergen and the Professor Dr. Horst Hippler (President of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), who were very encouraging about the bBox Project.’’

      Claudia: ’’We all travelled outside Karlsruhe in these three months. But I know that for the time left in Germany, you have already planned a lot of travelling in very interesting places. Which are those and why are they special to you?’’

Nair: ’’Well, if I could, I would see every single city in Europe, because so far every place we visited was a wonderful experience. We had been so far in Frankfurt, Berlin, Prague, Bern, Lucern, Nürnberg... and we are planning to travel to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Munich and Cologne to see the carnival. We try not to waste a single weekend, so we plan road trips and travel together with other trainees as well... these experiences help us bond and now every travel makes us feel more like old friends.’’

     Claudia: ’’Back to profession, if you agree. You are an audio-visual producer, which I personally find extraordinary. I would like to know which is the most important thing you learned about your profession in the University?’’ 

Nair: ’’That’s easy... TEAM WORK! Besides all the absolutely interesting content of the filmmaking career, the first and most important lesson that a filmmaker has to learn is how to work in all kinds of teams. You learn to depend on your colleagues's skills and trust them, because you become completely aware that it’s impossible to do it all by yourself. Also, I learned about values: those of every single role and of meeting people who are passionate about their work (there is no way of having volunteers working 20 hours a day, it is passion for sure).’’

     Claudia: ’’I am really curious! Does theory apply then to the real life experience, to your actual work?’’

Nair: ’’Well, both of my carreers aren’t very theoretical... they are practical, so most of the things I’m doing I have already experienced at the University. But, regarding the creative techniques, I can say that the theory applies, especially when 'the books' say that a person doesn’t need to be an artist to be creative. All of us can produce new ideas, and my job here is just to create the proper environment... after all, my colleagues are amazing brainstormers!’’

Claudia: ’’What do you consider to be your greatest achievement regarding your profession so far?’’

Nair: ’’I am very proud of my Audiovisual Production bachelor degree, and also of the last shortfilm I directed. Both experiences have implied a lot of team work and commitment of an amazing group of colleagues, who are also my friends. I can also say that I am very proud of my current job, of my colleagues and the project in which we are involved; without them this experience wouldn’t be as unbelievable as it is.’’

Claudia: ’’Thank you, Nair!’’

   

             

Sunday brunch with AIESECers makes work better

Dear AIESECers, 

     what naturally comes after a week of intense work, receiving new trainees in your LC (local commitee)?

     That's right! Evaluation and feedback session!

     I could not help but post this nice pictures that show how we spent the end of our first week in Germany, looking now back at how it all started. (Two and a half months since the bBox Project beganhave already passed!).

     In our first week at Fiducia IT AG, LC Karlsruhe has been carefully organizing workshops and trainings to help us really become a team and it was important for them to be given feedback. Why? So that, maybe, you, the next Xchangers that come and experience here, could benefit from even better planning and support. 

                                                                                     The most colorful office ever seen :)

  

Meeting the organizers at the AIESEC Karlsruhe office
(Left: Pedro, from Brazil, yet German Student at KIT)

                     

...fooooooood comes first!!! 
 

'Of course!'

Philip Staudt and Alex Emmerich (not only hungry and

           prepared for feedback, but also willing to

               delegate tasks :) )            

                                                           So, may the work begin!

                               

    Colours, what we most like, defined our likes, neutral points
           and dislikes about the activities performed for us by the LC
during the introduction week at Fiducia IT AG



  And yes, in short, extremely tired after an explosive week, our one and a half meeting at brunch turned out to be a five hour session... :)) Really passionate AIESECers, don't you think?

     The bBox team was and still is grateful!
             
                 LC Karlsruhe, how about you? :)