Women in Tech: Sintia Maria Sanches

These blogs are about remarkable employees that contribute to Security Compass’s culture in more ways than one. I will be writing about another fabulous, hard-working woman in tech. This second edition will focus on a member who helps keep the work environment enjoyable and routinely safe; she is technically a computer genius.

Meet Sintia Maria Sanches

Sintia Maria Sanches is a Security Compass/SD Elements System Administrator. She is the one that helps keep Security Compass’s culture vibrant, relaxed, and free from all technical complications. She has both the technical and interpersonal skills that make her one of the most go-to people in the company.

To learn more about her journey that led her here, we took some time and talked about life before Security Compass.

Her story begins in Brazil where she attended school and earned her start in the tech industry. “I did four years in University for Computer Science”, she said, “I took Business Management classes, just two more years and I could get an MBA.”

After completing her post-grad education, she began explaining her experiences working in Latin America. “I had three jobs before I came here”, she said, “I was a developer, I worked with the Oracle database and maintained the ERP for a food company.”

She appreciated her position working with Oracle as a Database Engineer, saying “we always have to find and solve problems that may happen when the system is in the final phase of development, and that means you always have to be thinking in advance.”

Her determination and passion for tech took her many places, “I even switched jobs twice in one year, and it’s hard to do that in Brazil due to all the competition.” But eventually at age 29, she decided it was time to make a drastic change.

The transition was her decision to move to North America, first stop: USA. This was where she began working at a camp for two short months, and started learning and improving her English as well as developing her love for horses. Next stop: Canada!

She adapted to the Canadian culture by gaining a position at a coffee shop, she said “I wanted to work with people, and I enjoyed every second of it.” Jokingly, she added it was a nice to finally work with people rather than just a computer screen.

Skipping ahead three years to 2012, a friend offered her a job at Security Compass, and she couldn’t resist. She had built up the interest for security at a young age by “watching movies — hackers do crazy stuff, it’s so cool!” She has always been interested in the industry, so this marks the start of her exciting new adventure in security.

From working with Linux to being a System Administrator, she has helped others here at Security Compass by using the skills she’s developed throughout the years. “Working with people at the coffee shop [made me] a better person”, she said, “[but] I am growing day by day.” Nevertheless, she says her journey doesn’t end here. She says she still has a lot more growing up to do, and that involves returning to school and gain her MBA and gain more skills working with clients.

12 questions to get to know Sintia better:

Why did you choose Security Compass?

Security Compass is a great place work and as an immigrant, the Security Compass family was kind enough to offer my first job opportunity in Canada.

What do you enjoy most about being a System Administrator?

The flexibility and the action, every day is a surprise, and the most important the opportunity to help people.

How did you get into the security/tech industry?

I got my first experience at Security Compass as a System Administrator. I was so excited to get started in the security field where you need to prevent attacks and learn how to do that.

What’s your nickname?

Shania Maria (big fan of Shania Twain) or Sintia Maria or Maria, you choose 🙂

How do you take your coffee in the morning?

Brazilian Black coffee with sugar always, but here I developed the ability to add cream to my coffee

What’s your favorite Disney movie?

Beauty and the Beast

What’s your karaoke song?

What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes

If anybody in the entire world could be your best friend, who would it be?

Steven Spielberg, I would love to watch him directing his movies and maybe I would be the little supporting actor in the back of the scene, the ones that don’t talk!

What’s the first thing you do when you get home from work?

Hug my Dogs, they are always waiting anxiously at the front door.

What has been your favorite career moment?

Every time you are recognized for your hard work, it’s always the best!

What has been your greatest accomplishment?

Job: To be able to organize the sysadmin support and build up a trust and great relationship with my coworkers. Life: became a Canadian immigrant and soon be a citizen.

Where would you be now if you could choose to switch fields?

I love the IT field so it would be a very hard change. But I would say, a Vet because I love animals.

Elegant, ambitious and bold, Sintia Maria Sanches is one of Security Compass’ fabulous women in tech.

“The dog has no self-image, good or bad, so he has no need to play roles, nor does he love himself or hate himself. He has no self! How to live free of the burden of self — what a great spiritual teaching.” — Eckhart Tolle