Sitting down with Thiane in our Nation’s Capital.

Name: Thiane (pronounced Tea -Ah -Knee) Diop – Customer Service Associate
Hometown: Washington, DC and Atlanta, GA
School:  Penn State – International relations
Started with Incserv: Dec 2018

(Q): Hi Thiane, how are things?
Thiane Diop (TD): Pretty good, although it’s pretty cold for spring here in the District.

Q: I know! I’m across the river from you right now and it’s super grey. So I hear you’re part of the Washington, DC team.
TD: I am! Right now there are three of us, but we’re growing fast or at least the work is! [laughs] I joined the team at the end of last year to help support Terri and William. I’m sort of the DC team’s utility player.

Q: What are the biggest challenges?
TD: Like I said we are so busy it really comes down to being good at time management. We are very customer focused but that can be hard when there are simultaneous and competing priorities. Everything always seems to happen at once and there are only so many hours in the day.

Q: What is the most fun part of your job?
TD: [without hesitation] Definitely learning about the different clients, we work with so many different industries, there is always a lot to learn.

Q: Any industry in particular?
TD: I love working with media, especially social media and/or beauty start-ups – hearing about their work, what they do, what they are working on is really interesting.

Q: So what’s it like working at Incserv in DC?
TD: We’re a small but mighty office! Before I started Terri and William, my co-workers here, did it all. Honestly given the workload I’m not sure how they did it all. It feels good knowing that I can help support them. Still, there are times when they work over-time, getting it all done. It’s inspiring and motivating seeing their commitment. It also feels like we are all in this together. You get to see how your hard work gets recognized and pays off, both for our clients and the team- which I think is really important. [Laughter in the background]

Q: I think Terri hears you bragging about her.
TD: [Laughing] Yeah, well I haven’t even started bragging about her organization skills, you should see her color coordinate notes – it’s impressive!

Q: I bet! So that’s it for the serious questions, are you ready for the fun questions?
TD: Absolutely!

Q: So, what do you do for fun?
TD: I love to act, I’m currently taking an acting class, and I also sing and record videos.

Q: That so cool, do you have any favorite movies?
TD: Oh that’s hard. I have so many. My favorite biopic is probably Selena. My favorite pixar film is A Bugs Life, my favorite comedy is probably Rush Hour and really any Martin Lawrence movie.

Q: That is amazingly specific! So do you have any thoughts on pop culture phenoms like Star Wars versus Star Trek or Marvel versus DC?
TD: Actually I don’t! If you can believe it, I never really watched any of those until my fiance made me watch Star Wars, I actually think I slept through the first two!

Q: That’s ok. So what do you put on your pizza?
TD: I’m pretty boring, I like cheese with maybe spinach + tomato.

Q: That it reminds me of how the Italians eat it.
TD: Oh I love Italy, it’s one of my favorite places to travel to.

Q: Really? That’s the next question, what are your favorite places to visit?
TD: I used to say Italy was my favorite, and I still love it, but I went to Cuba for the first time for my birthday and have to say I loved it even more!  It’s just an amazing place, I highly recommend. I also recommend my home country Senegal. Those are my top three.

Q: Sounds like great suggestions. Is there anything else on your bucket list?
TD: I know it sounds ambitious, but one of these days I want to be in Essence Magazine or onto one of Forbes’s lists, I still have a few years to make it on a 30 under 30 list.

Q: That’s so cool, so is there anything else you want folks to know?
TD: Not that I can think of.

Q: Well thanks for taking the time to speak, I’ll let you get back to it!
TD: Thanks, this was fun.