At SAS, where you start doesn’t have to be where you end; and there’s ample opportunity for internal career mobility. Ronaldo Aoki is a great example – since he started his career at SAS, he’s made multiple internal moves, and his most recent shift came with an exciting geographic move from Brazil to Canada.
Meet Ronaldo
Ronaldo began his career at SAS in Brazil, as an intern in Consulting. Following his graduation from university, he joined the team full-time as an Infrastructure Consultant: “Over the next 10 years, I worked with a variety of SAS customers doing implementations,” he shares. From there, he moved into a Technical Architect role, helping strategic customers optimize their use of SAS’ solutions: “I speak English, Spanish and Portuguese, so I was able to support customers across Latin America, including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador,” he explains.
After a few years in the Technical Architect role, Ronaldo was ready for a new challenge. “A friend let me know about a need in Cloud and Information Services (CIS) that fit my profile. I met with the hiring manager, and it was a great fit.” With that, Ronaldo landed his next opportunity as a Cloud Technical Architect.
Today, Ronaldo is fresh into another new role as a Sr. Technical Architect on the Cloud Global Enablement and Sales Support team in our Cloud and Information Services division. Today, he supports SAS’ Cloud Business Development Managers, presents to customers about SAS Cloud and enables local teams: “I love working with customers and helping them understand the benefits SAS provides,” he explains. “I also enjoy getting to share my technical knowledge internally with the team, and working together to support customers. We have a great global team, and I’m excited to see it grow.”
With this role, he also made a move from Brazil to Toronto, Canada.
Internal Mobility
Ronaldo’s best advice for someone seeking internal career mobility? Take advantage of available resources. “SAS offers a variety of tools and resources to help prepare for and execute internal career mobility,” he explains. “Use them!”
Specifically, Ronaldo participated in Career Circles, a program that helps employees better understand themselves, their career goals, and potential internal opportunities: “My Career Circles journey helped confirm that I was making the right decision for me and my career,” he reflects. Now, he volunteers as a Career Circle leader: “It’s been a rewarding experience,” he says.
For Ronaldo, communication with his manager is also key: “Establishing trust with your manager is so important,” shares Ronaldo. “My manager supports my career goals and encourages me to grow my career, no matter what path it takes me. I’m grateful for the managers I’ve had who have helped me achieve my career goals and provided the support I needed, even when I was leaving their team to pursue another role.”
Living the #saslife
Ronaldo has experienced the #saslife from a variety of vantage points, and from his perspective, it’s our company values that make SAS special: “SAS brings together people who are aligned with our company values and passionate about our mission,” he explains. “We have an incredible culture and employee experience, and it’s about more than perks, it’s about people. SAS employees are what make SAS a great company to work for, and I feel confident that SAS will continue to prioritize employees and attract great talent.”
Outside the office
When he’s not supporting SAS customers, you’ll find Ronaldo spending time with friends, working out at the gym (he’s an early bird!) or playing soccer. As a new Torontonian, he also enjoys exploring local parks and other dog-friendly spots with his dog Stanley.
