Disaster Recovery Journal Spring 2024

CAREER SPOTLIGHT

Career Spotlight: Priscila Nascimento Tell us about yourself – your name, company, title, and responsibilities? My name is Priscila Nascimento, and I am currently the BCM lead in Ericsson North America and responsible for managing and improving the business continu ity management program in the region. How did you get into the business continuity industry? In 2010, while pursuing my bachelor’s degree in information systems, I was look ing for an IT internship in a reputable orga nization. During this time, I came across an email about Ericsson’s internship pro gram. Excited by the opportunity, I applied and was thrilled to be selected for a group dynamic session. As I entered the old building where Ericsson used to be located and heard how innovative and prominent Ericsson was, I didn’t know how yet, but I told myself I was going to make it. To my delight, I successfully passed the group dynamic and advanced to the interview stage. It was during this interview that I had the pleasure of meeting Selma Coutinho, who would become my mentor and boss for the next 12 years. This was a turning point in my career journey. During my internship at Ericsson, I was immersed in various aspects of enter prise security. This hands-on experience exposed me to many areas, including

miliar audiences in my second or third language was sometimes intimidating. More recently, in early 2020, I made a significant move from Brazil to the United States. This transition brought about substantial changes, requiring me to leave everything behind and start anew. As I reflected in December 2019, I asked myself, “What is the worst that can happen?” Little did I know that I would soon face the most impactful event of the century. Adjusting to a new life in a dif ferent country, forming new connections and friendships as an adult, and navigat ing my career path amidst the challenges posed by the global pandemic proved to be an immense undertaking. However, thanks to God and determination and perseverance, I overcame these obstacles, and I’m grateful for my decisions and the new life I have built. Have you had any mentors? Describe the effect they have had on your career. I have been lucky to have mentors who have profoundly impacted my professional growth. One of my most influential mentors was my former boss, Selma Coutinho, at Ericsson. As a blank slate when I joined the company, Selma took me under her wing and taught me everything about BCM and more. Her enthusiasm for the field was so conta gious, and it hit me in the best way. Under her guidance, I not only gained knowl edge and expertise but also developed a genuine appreciation for the importance of resiliency. Inspired by her, I have taken on the role of mentoring my own cousin and welcoming him to his exciting field. Selma once said, “Our jobs are noble,” and that sentiment has stayed with me. When we truly understand and appreci ate the value and significance of business continuity, we want others to recognize and value it as well. Selma’s mentorship instilled in me the drive to spread aware ness and advocate for the importance of BCM. In addition to Selma, I have had the privilege of having mentors from vari ous avenues. I was part of a Toastmasters club, where I received guidance and

By SELMA COUTINHO

physical security, travel security, crisis management, information security, and business continuity management. My pas sion for business continuity grew as I delved deeper into the field. Over the years, I actively contributed to implementing and improving business continuity management practices across Latin America. This involved conducting exer cises, delivering comprehensive training on BCM to employees worldwide, and representing my unit in global BCM related initiatives. These experiences allowed me to gain invaluable expertise and solidify my commitment to the busi ness continuity industry. Tell us about some of the challenges you have encountered in your career? One significant challenge I initially faced was understanding the telecom industry and bridging the gap between technical complexities and the business continuity needs of my stakeholders. Despite having an IT background, the telecom industry presented its unique set of complexities and acronyms that required dedicated effort to compre hend fully. Additionally, working in three languages – Portuguese, Spanish, and English – added an extra layer of challenge. While I had studied these languages for a while, getting my point across and giving presentations to unfa

DISASTER RECOVERY JOURNAL | SPRING 2024 41