Mark F.

Q: Who are you? Where are you from?

A: My name is Mark. I’m a first generation American, and the oldest sibling of three. I was born in Maryland, where my parents met after leaving the former USSR. When I was young, my family moved to Massachusetts, and I’ve been around the greater Boston area ever since.

Q: What’s your background? What did you do before Modulate?

A: I graduated from Bentley University in 2017, and joined Deloitte Consulting after school. I worked with various teams to solve problems for organizations in different industries. Some cool projects I’ve been involved in include optimizing 300+ back office processes for a global company, delivering a vaccine assay data management and analysis solution for a pharmaceutical company, and leading the implementation of 8 powerful automations that made fraud and risk analysis easier for the anti-money laundering group at a large bank.

Q: Why are you joining Modulate?

A: Modulate sits at the intersection of innovative technology, interpersonal connectivity, and gaming - three areas that I am deeply interested in. Joining a mission-driven team that’s passionate about making a difference across all three of them? That’s a no-brainer for me.

Q: What’s the voice skin you’re most excited to use, and how do you plan to use it?

A: I don’t know if there’s a specific voice that I personally want to use - what I’m most excited about is the ability to take any sort of performance (comedic, dramatic, etc.) to the next level with a creative array of “personalities”, aided by VoiceWear.

Q: What’s your ideal work environment? Any special strategies you use to stay effective?

A: I like natural light, plants of all varieties, and having some space to walk around in. To stay effective I take many small breaks throughout the day, and listen to classical music when I’m trying to focus.

Q: Tell us about something you must have in any culture you join?

A: Working with people who treat others with kindness and respect is important to me. We are all living complex and varied lives outside of work, and I believe that being understanding, polite, and giving each other the benefit of the doubt makes it easier to collaborate and achieve success.

Q: Who are you outside of work?

A: I am someone who values family, critical thinking, and humor. I love telling stories and jokes. I play video games, listen to a wide variety of music, and read all kinds of books. I am an optimistic person at my core, even though I can be cynical. Animal welfare and sustainability are important to me. Current skills I am working on include rock climbing, cooking, and mindfulness. I am an avid consumer of art and media - I read very quickly and binge watching TV shows is my secret superpower. I love to travel and learn about different cultures. My #1 bucket list item is to see the Earth from space, and I’m so excited to see that becoming more and more realistic.

Q: What’s something you’re great at that few people realize?

A: I am a good party host. I do my best to make sure there are entertaining activities for everyone to get involved in, and that all feel welcome and free to have fun.

Q: Leave us with a fun tidbit - a favorite joke, a story from your past, an obscure riddle, whatever you like!

A: What has cities with no people, forests with no trees, and tracks with no trains?