I’m excited to share our latest Member Spotlight. This series aims to highlight stand-out individuals within the Okta Community. Today, let’s dive into Cândido Pereira’s journey with Okta, the important lessons he’s learned, and some helpful tips and tricks to get the most out of the Community.

Can you share a bit about yourself? Your role, company, and what your typical day looks like? 

I have been working in the Identity and Access Management (IAM) space for about two years. I began my journey as a Junior Systems Administrator and, within a year, I transitioned into my current role as an Okta Administrator at Talkdesk. Today, I am responsible for managing a complex environment that includes Workforce, FedRAMP, and Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) solutions.

My typical day is highly collaborative. I work closely not only with my IT/Systems team but also with departments like People, P&E, Marketing, and Sales to automate and streamline processes. On any given day, I might be designing the architecture for a new project, integrating a complex application, or developing Okta Workflows to eliminate manual tasks and improve the overall user experience.

Do you hold any Okta certification(s)? If so, how has this elevated your professional and personal life?

Yes, I currently hold three certifications: Okta Certified Professional, Okta Certified Administrator, and Okta Certified Workflows Specialty.

Achieving these has been a significant milestone in my career. Beyond gaining technical knowledge, these certifications allow me to solidify and demonstrate my expertise to colleagues and leadership, providing a clear benchmark for those who may not be involved in my day-to-day tasks. It has built a high level of trust in my work, confirming that our IAM environment is following the best practices established by Okta.

On a personal level, they give me the confidence and momentum to keep pushing for excellence every day, knowing that I am on the right path to becoming a top-tier IAM expert.

You are an Okta rockstar, Cândido! What advice would you share for those who are just getting started with the Okta Community? 

My main advice is to dive deep into the Okta Community and, above all, never hesitate to post your questions. It is an incredibly supportive environment where members help each other with everything from minor troubleshooting to complex architectural challenges. The real value lies in the exchange of ideas and the synergies created between professionals from different backgrounds. Often, a problem you are facing has already been solved by someone else, and that shared knowledge is what makes the community so powerful. Don’t be afraid to engage; everyone started somewhere, and the community is one of the best tools you have to accelerate your growth.

Do you have a favorite Community knowledge article, discussion thread, or blog post you found helpful? If so, please share the link(s) to those.

It’s hard to pick just some because there is so much high-quality content available. However, I am a huge fan of the 'Ask Me Anything' (AMA) sessions. I find them incredibly valuable because of the high level of interaction in the threads; they are perfect for picking up those 'hidden gem' tips that you don’t always find in standard documentation.

I frequently follow discussions and articles related to Okta FastPass, Okta Identity Governance (OIG), and Workflows. These topics are crucial to my current role, and community insights into real-world implementation challenges in these areas have been instrumental in helping me navigate complex scenarios.

Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing? 

Outside of work, I have a wide range of interests, from traveling and music to electronics and gardening. However, my life has been wonderfully busy lately with my two-year-old son. While having a toddler means I have less time for my electronics projects or tending to my vegetable garden, it’s a trade-off that is worth every second. I love spending quality time with my wife and son - whether we are out exploring new places, playing, or making some electronic projects together. My son is already a huge music lover and electronics enthusiast, and seeing his curiosity grow at this age is incredibly rewarding. For me, these moments of connection are what truly recharge my energy.

Thank you for sharing your professional and personal journey with us. We’re grateful for your contributions, continued support, and passion for Okta! 

If you’d like to share your story, get in touch with Community@okta.com.