Name: Quim Montal
Studies: Informatics Engineering
Department: Digital Trust/Cybersecurity
Position: Lead Security Architect & Engineer
This week, we had a very interesting catch-up session with Quim Montal, a colleague of ours from the Digital Trust/Cybersecurity department. For those of you who don’t know him personally, Quim definitely loves his electric guitar. In fact, wouldn’t it be great to randomly find him trying to find some new sounds with his guitar at our office? Let’s make that happen! Other than music, his other great passion has to do with personal growth, and in this sense, he highlights above all the immense influence he has received from his parents over the years. He points out that they have always encouraged him to not set limits, to live experiences, to believe in himself and to not let uncertainty or the fear of the unknown prevent him from moving forward and growing as a person.
He also really enjoys meeting up with his friends and making day-long, exciting plans. And how about those days when it gets so late that you even end up going out to have a little dancing session? Those are his favourite, no doubt! Quim also likes to read, and he recommends to us an almost compulsory read: 1984, by George Orwell. As far as cinema goes, he invites us to give Pulp Fiction a watch, as Tarantino leaves no one indifferent. Finally, if you’re looking to get hooked on a new TV series, you have got to give Rick and Morty a try!
About Paack, he highlights the excellent work environment, and he would like to share with us an anecdote that took place during this latest post-lockdown stages, which clearly reflects that great atmosphere he’s talking about. Earlier this year, some peers decided to organize a ski day, and it was open to everyone working at Paack. Funnily enough, when making the actual reservation, there were almost 60 people registered, most of whom didn’t know each other at all. Without even trying, the ski trip turned out to be a wonderful way to do some team building, as it became the perfect opportunity to get to know and spend time with people from departments one doesn’t really get to interact with on a daily basis.
Security is built into Paack’s processes
As a Security Architect, he works in the preventive part of the company’s security, reviewing and seeking solutions, so that everything that is being built, is safe. He underlines that, unlike other companies whose activity primarily focuses on computer security at a technical level, Paack is a bit different, for the Digital Trust encompasses the areas of Cybersecurity, Risk and Compliance and Privacy and Data Protection. In addition to that, the Digital Trust is made up of a Team of people of many nationalities and cultures. According to Quim, this is indeed very enriching because being such a diverse bunch allows for very interesting outcomes when it comes to tackling projects.
Regarding his department, he points out the moments when, despite COVID and the distance, they have been able to physically meet and work on a series of key points that have ended up being incredibly important to solve delicate situations before the peak season.
The Digital Trust Team was formed back in September with the aim of making security a core aspect within the company. This event implied several changes and having to adapt to a new way of operating, which isn’t always easy. However, Quim feels very satisfied that the work they are carrying out is increasingly getting integrated into our day-to-day activities. Finally, he states that, amongst Paack’s values, he feels most identified with We Thrive, for although cultural changes may be slow and somewhat difficult, they collectively love challenges and always going the extra mile to get the best results.
