Who inspires you?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example
Community Answers

The interviewer asks this question to learn more about you on a personal level and what you value most highly. Your inspiration can come from a book, a mentor, a family member, a celebrity, an author, or someone from a previous job. There are no wrong answers here, but you should aim to avoid cliches or pointing to an individual from who you don't, in reality, draw inspiration.

"The person who has most greatly inspired me is my older brother. He was the one who introduced me to crypto in the first place, and we've worked together over the years on various work-related endeavors and personal projects in our free time. He introduced me to the concept of putting 80% of your effort into the 20% that will get you the biggest impact. It's completely changed the way I do work and think about projects. I was first drawn to Coinbase when I learned that this concept is a crucial part of your team culture!"

"It's hard to choose just one person as I draw inspiration from many individuals in my life and history and popular culture. If I had to choose one, I would say Bill Gates. I've closely followed his career and am incredibly inspired by his philanthropic work, having given away billions of his fortune to education, climate action, COVID-19, and global health initiatives. He's taught me the importance of taking risks, both professionally and personally."

Anonymous Answer

"To avoid the cliche it is my dad who inspired me, he is an engineer and he instilled in me my inquisitive nature, and also the importance of taking ownership of all aspects of a job even if it is outside of your remit. This is a trait that has served me well in my career, as I will always take ownership, and it's important that at Coinbase this is part of your mission."

Marcie's Feedback

Nice! It's great that your father inspires you and that he instilled in you both curiosity and accountability. How have both of these traits benefited you throughout your career thus far? Can you mention a few specific examples? You could also talk about exactly how your dad taught you about these qualities; what did he do to show you that curiosity and taking ownership are important?

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Anonymous Answer

"On the professional front, I am inspired by Lex Fridman, who is a research scientist at MIT. He provides me with an opportunity to interact with leaders in the AI space through his podcasts. On the personal front, I draw inspiration from Akshat Shrivastava's view on life, money, and investing. Rule of 80-20, 72, and 15-15-15 are a few of the principles I am implementing in my life."

Marcie's Feedback

Wow! You have picked two distinguished and interesting people to mention here; the interviewer will undoubtedly be impressed by your selections. Why do you relish the chance to listen to leaders in the AI space? What about AI intrigues you and why? Also, can you talk more about the rules of 80-20, 72, and 15-15-15, including what they are and why they matter to you? Do you try to model your own life after Lex Fridman's and Akshat Shrivastava's? The more information you can provide here, the more meaningful and memorable your response will be to the interviewer. Great job!