Varun's response, "I have to go, sorry," indicates a lack of engagement and willingness to participate in the interview. This response suggests a missed opportunity to showcase his experiences and skills, which is critical in an interview setting. In contrast, the benchmark response is comprehensive and provides a clear example of how to collaborate with a cross-functional team, emphasizing the importance of regular communication, the use of collaboration tools, and fostering an inclusive environment. To improve, Varun should be prepared to discuss specific experiences and demonstrate his ability to work effectively with diverse teams. He could say, "In a project to develop a customer feedback system, I maintained effective communication by organizing regular check-in meetings and utilizing tools like Slack and Trello for collaboration."