Sarah Cruccas

My name is Sarah. I am half Italian and half Brazilian. I was born in Brazil but have lived in Italy for most of my life. I have a degree in International Trade and I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Project Management.

I have always been an optimist, seeing the bright side of every situation and making the best of what I have. Unlike most little girls, I never dreamed of having children and getting married; instead, I aspired to be a career woman—independent and in a job that I love. I preferred books over toys, enjoyed studying, and would not settle for a grade lower than 8. My happiest moments involved a book, a cup of tea, and a cat. I started working very early. At 15, I took my first job as a waitress. My parents never had to tell me how and what I should do; I always felt the need to earn my own money. One of the most enjoyable jobs I’ve had was as a diving instructor—I am licensed to dive up to 18 meters.

I have worked as a tour guide, babysitter, dog sitter, waitress, and event organizer, but I discovered my true passion when I turned 21 and took over a pub. From that moment on, I realized that people were my driving force. I wanted to interact with them every day, share my knowledge, and learn new things from them. Since then, I have always sought positions as a Team Manager, Manager, Coordinator, and Supervisor, but I had never found my place in the world. I knew what I wanted to do but didn’t know where. Between Italy and Brazil, I was searching for an answer, but I firmly believe that everything has its time and happens when it’s supposed to… That’s when I arrived in Lisbon.

I must say that there is no set timeline for things. We are never too old, underqualified, ugly, or beautiful—it doesn’t matter if you don’t know what you want to do; everyone simply has their own time to discover themselves and, as in my case, where they want to live. I found it at 33 years old. I work for a Game project at Foundever (being a video game fan helps a lot!). I started as an agent in 2022, and after a year, I became a Team Manager, which is the position I currently hold. Happiness is ephemeral; it is not a perpetual state of mind but rather composed of happy moments. I have many of them with my team and colleagues. Above all, I love my job, which makes my days filled with energy and positivity.

I would like to pass on a message: don’t rush. Be stoic; don’t try to control the uncontrollable. Be resilient, kind, and work hard—things will flow naturally in your life. Everything happens for a reason; the people we meet, the jobs we do, the lives we touch. The important thing is to find your way at some point, no matter when. Experiences are the most precious things we can seek, and it is thanks to them that we manage to find ourselves.

Portugal