Jean Michel Diaz

When did you start working on Echometer?

Jean: As a Co-Founder, I started working on the idea behind Echometer already in 2016. Since February 2019, the co-founding team has been working full-time on Echometer.

What is your previous work experience?

Jean: I did a dual course of studies (International Management) at Bertelsmann, one of the world’s leading media holdings (RTL Group, BMG, Penguin Random House …). After my studies, I worked as an Executive Assistant in a Bertelsmann & Deutsche Post joint venture.

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At Echometer

What do you like / love about working at Echometer?

Jean: I’ve always enjoyed working with people who inspire me – and that’s why, every day, it’s an honour for me to be part of this great team.

If you could write your own job title that best describes what you do at Echometer, what would it be?

Jean: I tend to take the long-term perspective in our team and challenge each decision in the context of the overall picture.

Your favorite retrospective method or team workshop?

Jean: I love thinking about the future and how we can prepare for it. That’s why I really enjoy using a “Pre-Mortem” at the beginning of any new project – to make use of the whole team’s creativity and experience.

What is your personal highlight that you achieved or experienced while working at Echometer?

Jean: Winning our first customers before even having a real product was a huge emotional highlight for me. It boosted my confidence that we are heading in the right direction.

What was your first week at Echometer like?

Jean: As co-founders, we started Echometer by moving into a flat together. Christian, Robin, and I really got to know each other in that setup, and it was very encouraging to see that we made a great, complementary team – also on a personal level!

What was your biggest or funniest fuckup at Echometer?

Jean: On our website, we use images from third parties. One of them is freepik.com – unfortunately, I misspelled their link in our footer. The misspelled link then led to a NSFW page. Fortunately, we found out ourselves (hopefully before anyone else noticed). Learning: always check all links you put on your website. 😉

What is an interesting thing you learned at Echometer?

Jean: Building a startup is hard – only do it if you enjoy it and have the right people in your team. Then it may become a real adventure like no other!

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Personal

How would your friends describe you in 3 words?

Jean: Positive, imaginative, dependable.

What are the values that drive you?

Jean: I believe it’s our responsibility to shape the world we want to live in and make it as fair and sustainable as we want it to be. That’s why I deeply believe in Steve Jobs’ idea of “questioning the status quo”.

What are your hobbies?

Jean:

• After sitting at my desk for too long, I like challenging myself in sports – especially swimming and, during Corona, home workouts with Pamela Reif.
• I try to make time for inspiring readings – Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari is a great example.
• As a tech enthusiast, I’m excited about new developments in renewable energies, batteries, heat pumps, AI, self-driving cars, and eVTOLs – to name just a few.
• Corona currently makes this tough, but usually I love traveling with friends to experience nature and completely different cultures outside of my “startup bubble”.

A picture of you as a kid?

Jean: That’s my brother Chris and me in Nicaragua’s Pacific Ocean.