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Jaanus

This week's Economist about life and work at Skype

By My status Jaanus on August 18, 2006 in Life at Skype.

A great story in The Economist about [Sten](http://about.skype.com/executiveteam/stentamkivi/) and how we live and work here at Skype.

> Asked for his job title, he looks apologetic. “I think I am director of operations,” he says. “We're not that big on titles.” Most people in his shoes would be boasting. Mr Tamkivi runs Skype, one of the software world's most subversive and fastest-growing businesses.

And the chat piece is cool too :) an interesting indicator of how Skype is actually built. Interestingly enough, we've been keeping "best of" records of our internal chats, and with proper sanitizing, I'm hoping to re-post the more interesting ones here shortly.

> Here is a snatch of Skype chat where Mr Tamkivi and two colleagues are discussing a future presentation:
13:37:48 Alex Kazim says: Ott, especially need you to look at the slide where I try to explain how VOIP works. This is like me trying to explain quantum
13:41:28 Sten Tamkivi says: try the electron: VOIP can be viewed as a particle or wave at any point in time.
13:41:57 Alex Kazim says: hehe
13:42:41 Sten Tamkivi says: for added abstraction and analyst awe, describe it as a thought or a smell
13:45:03 Alex Kazim says: it's a state of mind. A veritable Tao of VOIP
13:46:07 Ott in Tallinn says: uh, you're not holding back :) by the way—according to our brandbook—Words we do not like—VOIP, Internet Telephony etc :)
13:47:03 Sten Tamkivi says: according to the same book, words we do like: share, baboon...

View blog reactions

Comments

Geez, you guys are sooooo smart!! 'words we do like ... baboon' ROFL, and funny too!
Seems like working at Skype is just like being at college!

manjara | Friday, Aug 18

Yes, it is ... Wait, no, it's better! Interesting work, tons of smart people + lots of fun: What else can you ask for :).

florian_matusek | Saturday, Aug 19

LOL. love the certain amount of transparency. you guys rock! that's why Skype rocks too :)

c4chaos | Friday, Sep 1

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