Cris Santos, senior sales planner for EMEA at Quantcast, tells us why she chose Ireland as a place to live and work, and how it’s now her home away from home.
Where are you from?
I’m originally from Porto but, before I moved to Ireland, I was living in sunny Lisbon. Lisbon is a great city with a lot to offer as the beach and the city, the modern and the traditional blend perfectly.
How long have you been in Ireland?
Since November 2008.
Why did you move here?
I always wanted to live abroad and my sister was already living here so it made the decision even easier as I found home away from home.
What work do you do?
I’m part of the sales planning team. Basically, we work really closely with the sales team at a pre-sale stage, making sure the deals that are put through are realistic and follow Quantcast’s policies, rates and best practices.
How would you describe your working environment?
It is fun and always changing with new people joining every week, which is really refreshing.
What do you like most about your job?
The fact that the role is always changing and that I interact with a lot of departments at Quantcast. Moreover, because Quantcast is growing so much, we play an actual role in its development and we see a lot of our ideas taking form.
Was it difficult to adjust to living and working in Ireland?
No. The only thing I truly miss, besides my closest relatives, is summer. For a southern European like me, who pretty much grew up on the beach, I really miss wearing sandals and shorts all the time during summer.
What surprised you about moving to Ireland?
The driving. Irish driving is a lot calmer. In southern Europe, it’s a bit like NASCAR racing as you never know what you’re going to get. Unfortunately, I’m a bit aggressive when I drive and make a lot of funny faces so that is a bit different from the other drivers.
How does your working life help to make you feel at home here?
I come from a multicultural background and always grew up surrounded by different languages so I like a workplace that offers me the same type of diversity.
What do you like most about your adopted home?
The Irish character: the love for the arts, the genuine friendliness and the fact that my son calls Ireland his home, so of course it’s my second home!
