Women in Tech: Tahuana Cirati

Customertimes is fortunate to have some incredible women on our team. They’re industry leaders, trailblazers, and technology innovators, and they help us deliver outstanding business results day in and day out.

We’re using this series to introduce them and give them a chance to share why they love what they do. We’re currently expanding our team in Toronto, so this week, we’re introducing Toronto-based Project Manager and Salesforce Marketing Cloud Consultant Tahuana Cirati.

Name: Tahuana Cirati
Title: Project Manager, Salesforce Marketing Cloud Consultant
Location: Toronto, CA
Years with CT: 1

Customertimes: Hi Tahuana! Thanks for being part of this. Can you tell us about your background and how you ended up at CT?
Tahuana Cirati: I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, a post-graduate degree in Project Management, and work experience in QA and marketing automation tools.

I started my career in a small company in Brazil and did a little bit of many things: system analysis, web development, design, project management, workforce training, etc. After 5 years, I started to work with QA and during the next 6-7 years, I got a certification (BSTQB/CTLF – Certified Tester Foundation Level) that took me from software testing team member to QA Lead in a big company.

At that time, I had already started my PM studies, and I fell in love with this field! I finished my post-graduate work in PM, got my PMP certification, and shifted to the Project & Process department. For 3 years, I supported 10+ projects, was a team member of the PMO during a company-wide ERP switch, and contributed to the Corporate PMO launch.

In 2016, my husband and I moved to Canada, and I attended two web development trainings to update myself with modern technologies. In 2017, I started to work with Marketing Automation tools, including Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Google Analytics, Eloqua, and Marketo. I also got my Salesforce Marketing Cloud Email Specialist certification and, continuing my studies in PM, I got a PSM (Professional Scrum Master) certification.

Last year I was approached by a recruiter regarding a position at CT, and here I am!

CT: What is your role at CT now?
TC: At CT, I play two roles. Depending on the project, I’m either Project Manager or Salesforce Marketing Cloud Consultant – and sometimes both!

CT: What do you enjoy most about your role?
TC: I love project management, but I like the technical aspects of Salesforce Marketing Cloud very much. I like that in this role, I can combine both of those things. It’s very rewarding to play a part in a solution or a project that makes our clients happy!

CT: Were you always interested in technology, or did you have other plans when you were younger?
TC: I didn’t have a defined plan when I was younger. I always liked to experiment with different activities and try to find something that would tie those experiences together.

I actually only started to work with marketing automation tools about three years ago – it was a completely new world for me, but I believe that all the things I love to do – PM, QA, web development – complement each other.

CT: Why is CT an exciting place to work right now?
TC: One of the most exciting parts of working for CT is the opportunity to work globally. It’s fascinating to work with people from different countries, with different cultures. I’m learning a lot here!

The team at CT is very friendly and supportive – I felt very welcome from the beginning. If you’re looking, this is a great place to be – CT is growing and there are lots of opportunities.

CT: What would you tell women who are considering a career in technology?
TC: I would tell them not to be intimidated, thinking that MarTech is a “man’s world.” There is space for everyone! You are able to do anything you want, so don’t give up on your goals. Pursue your dreams, do your best, and believe that your place will be reserved for you.

CT: What training do you suggest?
TC: For marketing automation, some understanding of web development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) is useful so you can create landing pages and email templates. You can find lots of free training on the internet at sites like FreeCodeCamp.org, which is a good place to start.

A basic understanding of digital marketing is also interesting. Google Analytics Academy has free training for some Google products.

For Salesforce in general (not only Marketing Cloud), Trailhead is an excellent free reference. They even have a sandbox for Service and Sales Cloud where you can play around and practice.

For project management, I suggest Scrum.org (they also have some free training) and PMI.org.

And you can find many paid options for short or long-term training, including university and post-graduate courses.

The most important thing is to keep learning and stay up to date on new technologies. Things change very fast in this field!

CT: Is there someone who has been instrumental in helping you reach your current position? What did they do to inspire you?
TC: It is so difficult, there are too many people! I believe that every person I know (family, friends, co-workers, managers, etc.) has influenced me and helped me to be who I am personally and professionally, and I’m very grateful to all of them!

CT: How do you maintain a work/life balance? What do you do in your free time?
TC: Do I?!

It is difficult, and I’m still on a journey to really find this balance. I’m a very lucky person because I have a wonderful husband and wonderful parents who understand and support me. They are my safe harbor, and this helps a lot!

But I’m trying to create some habits to help me find this balance, like reserving time every day to prioritize myself, even if it means taking a few minutes to listen to music, read a book, or do some self-care.

I’m also reading about emotional intelligence and stress management, trying to understand my limits and limitations. I’m learning to accept the first – it is not possible to be Wonder Woman 100% of the time – and improve the second.

I think when we really know ourselves and understand how our mind/body works, we can be the best version of ourselves in all aspects of our life. We can be more productive and have a better work/life balance – that is my goal!

In my free time I like to read non-technical books (fiction, romance, mystery), cook, spend time with my husband, and travel.

CT: What do you think is key to being successful at your job in order to advance?
TC: I think the key is actually a combination of a few factors: continuous learning, commitment, and dedication. Also, there are some values that are very important to me, like respect, integrity, and honesty.

And of course, always do your best. In any field, when we are dedicated, honest, and willing to work hard, good things happen!