Suzan Nascimento’s Story

Hey, I’m Suzan Nascimento, corporate executive, a top 1% graduate student from Pepperdine in Management & Leadership, mother of school-aged twins and wife of almost 20 years.

I’m an innovative, avant-garde leader.  Some people call me A Mastermind because I’m an analytical problem-solver with a talent for seeing the possibilities and eager to improve processes with my innovative ideas.  I enjoy logical reasoning, analyzing the theory behind what I see and typically focused inward.  I’m perceptive about strategy.  I’m good at making tough decisions and sorting out complex issues.  I excel at managing projects that implement a vision of improved efficiency or innovation.

Suzan NascimentoMy Impressive Credentials

  • I’ve got a Masters of Science in Management & Leadership from Pepperdine University, where I graduated at the top 10% academically (inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma).
  • I received the 2015 Pepperdine George Award, check out my acceptance speech below.  The George Award is the highest honor Pepperdine gives each year to one student from each program who lead lives of integrity, stewardship, courage and compassion.  The voting is by the faculty and is a secret session.  Shhh!  I’m still blown away I was nominated and won!
  • I’ve got a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with honors.
  • I’ve earned multiple certifications:  CISSP (info security geek), CRISC (risk geek) and GIAC G2700 (info security standards geek).
  • I was nominated (but not the winner this time) as a 2008 Information Security Executive of the Year West award.
  • I’ve been in the information security field since 2000 and have solely focused on application security since 2014.
  • I’ve worked in finance, healthcare, oil, software/website consulting and food-service industries.

And when I’m not working by day, I can be found playing with my twin boy/girl little kids, entertaining with my European Personal Chef husband, binging on personal development podcasts, doing pro-bono management and leadership consulting for non-profit organizations and working on my online platform (here).

My super twins

My super twins

My European Personal Chef husband

My European Personal Chef husband

If you’ve just GOT to know more, read on.  I’ll pretend you’re Barbara Walters, and spill some secrets. 😉

  • I wanted to be an actress ever since I could remember.  When that didn’t materialize, I realized mid-life that I wanted to be an actress because I’m hungry for knowledge and being creative.  Then I had an aha moment that I could do presentations, webinars and speaking to get the same high of learning and expressing it to others.
  • I studied jazz and opera and sang in a band.  But I really enjoyed pop & disco karaoke oh so much more.
  • I got a mohawk when I was 12 and died it red, but it was the work of a preteen (me), so it turned hot pink – I told friends that’s what I intended to do.  Oh yeah, my mom freaked out!
  • I meet every month with 10 loyal and driven high-achievers in a Mastermind / Accountability Group.  Drive and ambition can only get me so far – having trusted relationships with others sets my professional and personal life up like a charm = happy high achiever.