Sandy Assaf

Head of IT Risk & Compliance at Crown Resorts

Sandy Assaf is Head of IT Risk and Compliance at Crown Resorts. She has come a long way from her first job: sales assistant in a jeweller’s shop, but it was that experience that launched her into a cybersecurity career.

IT was her second career choice at school after photography and media, but she failed to get accepted for the digital media and photography course she wanted to take. She then enrolled for a computer science degree, but did not stay the course. “After the first few months I knew this wasn’t for me and the learning style at university was not my style,” she says.

There followed numerous unsuccessful applications for IT jobs, including one at Crown Resorts. “It was the same response from all companies; that I did not have industry experience and other candidates had more experience than me.”

PEOPLE SKILLS SCORE HER A ROLE

However, a few months later Crown came back to her. “I was curious as to why now, and their response was I had customer service experience and people skills that I could bring to the position and learn the more technical skills on the job.” Assaf started with Crown as a trainee IT operations officer, progressed to a senior IT operations officer and then IT operations coordinator.

“Soon after I became a systems analyst within the IT gaming systems team. It was then that I took a risk and, with some guidance and mentoring from my now general manager, I leapt into a position as assistant manager IT audit in the newly formed IT governance team,” she recalls.

“Now, with 15 years in the industry and Crown, I am in a job I would have never imagined myself in, and loving it.”

Assaf acknowledges it was luck that got her in the door at Crown “with minimal experience and diplomas in IT and E-business,” and attributes her impressive career progression to “Having great mentors, developing my skills internally, and Crown providing me with training and industry courses I required to be successful in all the positions I have held.”

MULTIPLE CERTIFICATIONS GAINED

Over her years at Crown Assaf has gained ISO/IEC 27001:2013 ISMS Lead Auditor and PCI DSS Internal Security Assessor certifications and completed a Diploma in Leadership and Management.

She says many people are hesitant about taking the leap into a new career path, but with the right support most people will be successful.

“Having a great team and strong leaders assisted tremendously in the transition. Also, an organisation that invests in training, highlights the gaps individuals have and ensures it provides them with the tools and resourcing required makes a transition seamless.”

Her advice to others: “Do your research, see what is suited to you and your future career goals, and go for it. Network with professionals in the industry and take some guidance and advice.”

UNUSUAL STRATEGIES FOR CAREER SUCCESS

All sound, and common, advice but Assaf has a few other, unusual, strategies for career success. She created a reflections journal and published it on Amazon to help with her reflections and with setting personal and professional goals. “I use this once a week to ensure I am focusing on maintaining a good work/life balance and working towards both goals,” she says.

She also includes meditation in her schedule at the beginning of the work week. She plans holidays and mini breaks throughout the year, and a day off every couple of months to focus on herself while her daughter is in childcare.

“It took me a while to realise it is ok to have ‘me time’ without feeling guilty, because this helps me be a great leader and give my all at work, and a great mother and fiancée at home.”

Like many people, Assaf struggled initially with the sudden Covid-induced transition to home working. “I wasn’t getting up from my desk often enough throughout the day for a break, and I was logging back in after my daughter was in bed. I now block out my calendar for lunch to ensure I get a decent break from the computer and work. My fiancé also put in a rule that we need to spend time together once our daughter is in bed: no more logging in after hours.”

www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-assaf-24012897