Bruno Grangê is an IBM certified IT specialist. He is also a certified advanced application developer, instructor and a system administration specialist on Lotus Notes and Domino, DB2 and SOA technologies. Bruno is original from Brazil, but is now working in Australia as Senior Software Engineer for ISW, the most important IBM Premier Business Partner in Oceania. Bruno provides pre-sales consulting in a variety of projects, working primarily with IBM software, including Lotus, Websphere and other IBM SWG brands. Bruno has over eight years of experience, which includes working in IBM and in several IBM Premier Business Partners in Brazil as Procwork, WJ and Cyberlynxx. Bruno has in-depth experience with Web 2.0 application development using Lotus architecture. He was a coordinator of the GBS AS Brazil Notes/Domino team, a group of developers in IBM Brazil that brainstorms new ways to promote Lotus Notes brand. Bruno also joined the team responsible for bringing up the Best Practices for Building Domino 8 Web Applications wiki brought by IBM developerWorks and RedBooks. Bruno mentors several people in IBM technologies, and works in a set of volunteering activities, including ADRA and IBM On Demmand Community. He also maintains a personal Website with information and tips about Lotus and Web application development at www.brunogrange.com. Bruno can be contacted using the contact form.

Here goes a "tricky questions and answers game" about me. I wish you like it. ;-)

Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in a neighborhood in the city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. There I lived terrific life experiences full of influences, in a scenario where only my will and efforts would make the difference.
My parents had a small electronics repair shop, where I had the chance to learn something about those small circuits watching how those technicians fix the Stereos and VCRs.
With this background, and some old TVs and game consoles, I helped my parents build a small video-game shop - my passion at that time. The idea was amazing, and that became our main family income for a long time of our lives.

Q: Where did you go to college?
A: With my parents' business we could afford paying the college in the early years. With my passion on gaming and electronics, and my Christian background, I had no better option than graduating in Computer Sciences in the Methodist University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

Q: How did your career start?
A: My career started when I was only 17, when I had to complete a high school internship program in Business Administration on early 99. I was an intern on a regional company called RioLuz, where I had the chance to first meet how a business works.
After that, I worked on the IT department of a B2B company called FMC Technologies. This company manufactured equipment for oil and gas exploration, from tubes to drills. There I met the most important software of my career - the IBM Lotus Notes.
I had to quit that job to dedicate fulltime to my researches in college. But after an exciting academic era, I decided to get back to the marketplace. Then, I worked as an apprentice on a web hosting company for part time, and gave IT training at college.
On 2002, I had an opportunity at Cyberlynxx, one of the most important IBM business partners in Rio. I worked on a dozen of outsourcing projects on this company, and became a valued certified specialist for Lotus Notes and web application development.
The expertise acquired at this company helped me achieve even better positions on the market place. On 2004 I worked on WJ, another IBM premier business partner in Rio. The experience there was short and deep, since I worked there as a consultant for just a few months, until I had the outstanding opportunity to join IBM as a contractor by Procwork corporation.

Q: When did you join IBM?
A: I joined IBM at July of 2004 as a contractor IT specialist.

Q: What was your first role in IBM?
A: I was a Lotus Notes and Web application developer coding for the Marketing, University Relations and HR's areas.

Q: What do you like best about your current job?
A: The opportunity of meeting tons of different cultures from the whole globe - this is very rewarding.

Q: What is the biggest challenge in your current job?
A: My company handles business in a fast paced world that changes in every minute. In this scenario, a simple mistake can erase all the glorious history of innovation and competency that this corporation has brought to business.
Thus, I think that promoting flawless time-to-market services is my biggest challenge in this competitive market.

Q: What is your greatest memory of working with IBM?
A: I think that having the opportunity of joining the team in charge of building the new IBM Club website application was one of my IBM's most amazing experiences. During the development of this application, we had enormous difficulties, but the results achieved are uncountable.
This application helped people from the whole company in different locations, together with their families, to interact socially much more easily, building a more human company; - and I believe this result already justify any effort.

Q: What is your current profession and what advice would you give to someone considering a similar career?
A: I would tell the newbies to really feel the power that computer sciences can promote. With the bytes, we can do anything, from finding the cure for cancer or HIV, to distributing hope with one laptop per child.
As an IT specialist, you can change the world using just your fingertips, so, I'd say: dive deep and promote the most radical improvements to your company's business.

Q: Who has been the greatest influence in your life and why?
A: Definitely Jesus Christ and my family. Their words of wisdom taught me how to be a "better" person. With them I've learned how to be more friendly, helpful and generous person; and also, how to handle my conflicts at office with wisdom and care.

Q: What is your favorite pastime?
A: My first days in IBM in the state of São Paulo. I believe that moving to my hometown's neighbor state was as rewarding as doing an international internship. Brazil is a very multicultural country, and the experience of meeting my company's technology center in this state was unforgettable.
Meeting new people and culture's is my love - I wish I have more opportunities like this, and I believe IBM is a good place to achieve this.

Q: What is the most interesting place you have visited?
A: The city of Foz do Iguaçu/PR. I didn't have the chance of meeting lots of places, but that place's nature was definitely outstanding. I wish I had the opportunity of meeting new places, specially USA, Australia or Europe.

Q: What is unique about you?
A: I'm known as very friendly, confident and supporting character. I think my background and cultural aspects; especially the fact of being a typical Carioca (person born on Rio) makes me very unique and special. I'm unique because I make the difference!

Passions

Jesus Christ, my parents, my family, my fiancé, my friends, the youth Sabbath School of IASP, the IBM company, the Flamengo soccer team, my pets, the city of Rio de Janeiro, the state of São Paulo, computer science and technology, classical movies, gourmet cuisine.

Sports and hobbies

Bodyboarding, Soccer, Gym, Swimming, Surfing, Camping, Tennis, Karting, Poker, Table tennis, Cycling,  Basketball, Bowling, Chess, Running, Volleyball, Diving, Skating, Kiting, Futvolei, Canoeing, Squash, Trekking, Shuttlecock, Wakeboard, Marbles, Abseiling, Climbing, Tyrolean, Sandboarding.

Books

The Holy Bible (Adonai Yahweh El Shaddai), The Desire of Ages (Ellen White), The Great Controversy (Ellen White), The Little Prince (Antoine Saint-Exupery), Journey to the Center of the Earth (Jules Verne), Os Lusíadas (Luís de Camões), Vidas Secas (Graciliano Ramos), Hamlet (William Shakespeare), The Bible Story 10 volume set (Arthur Maxweel), Dom Quixote (Miguel de Cervantes), O Guarani (Jose de Alencar), The Pilgrim's progress from this World to that which is to come (John Bunyam), Dom Casmurro (Machado de Assis), The Art of War (Sun Tzu), Guiness World of Records (Guiness LTD), O triste fim de Policarpo Quaresma (Lima Barreto), The 100 Greatest Inventions Of All Time (Tom Philbin), Macunaima (Mario de Andrade), Software Engineering (Roger Pressman), National Geographic Concise History of the World (Neil Kagan), Modern Operating Systems (Andrew Tanenbaum).

Gospel Music

Sérgio Lopes, Diante do Trono, Novo Tom, Eyshila, Coral Jovem do Rio, Andre e Tiago, Rafaela Pinho, Aline Barros, Ludmila Ferber, Alda Célia, Kleber Lucas, Fernanda Brum, Bruna Carla, Grupo Elo, Arautos do Rei.

Brazilian Music

Chico Buarque, Tom Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes, Ivan Lins, Caetano Velloso, Elis Regina, Cássia Eller, Rita Lee, Maria Bethânia, Fernanda Porto, Ivete Sangalo, Chico Science, Rappa, Raimundos, Los Hermanos, Marcelo D2, Cazuza, Barão Vermelho, Raul Seixas, Jorge Benjor, Cartola, Tim Maia, Bezerra da Silva.

World Music

Ennio Morricone, Bob Marley, Lauryn Hill, Yothu Yindi, Black Eye Peas, The Police, U2, R.E.M., Foo Fighters, Guns and Roses, Midnight Oil, Vs. Spy Vs. Spy, Hoodoo Gurus, Concrete Blonde, Men at Work, The Ramones, Metallica, Pennywise, MxPx, Offspring, The Cure, Dave Mathews, Alanis Morissette, Cranberries, Maroon 5, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, Beatles, Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Dire Straits, Beach Boys, Rush, Ozzy Osbourne, Tiesto, Fatboy Slim, Chemical Brothers, Depeche Mode, Marky.

Movies

Nuovo Cinema Paradiso [Cinema Paradiso, Italy] (1988), Vanilla Sky (2001), Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo [The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Italy] (1966), Citizen Kane (1941), Cidade de Deus [City of God, Brazil] (2002), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Forrest Gump (1994), Hable con ella [Talk to her, Spain] (2002), The Shawshank Redemption  (1994), ET - The Extraterrestrial (1982), Psycho (1960), Tropa de Elite [Elite Squad, Brazil] (2007), Taxi Driver (1976), Modern Times (1936), Ben Hur (1959), A Clockwork Orange (1971), Blade Runner (1982), Finding Nemo (2003), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), The Lion King (1994), Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977), Schindler’s List (1993), The Shining (1980), Braveheart (1995), Avatar (2009), Wo hu cang long [Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, China] (2000), Pulp Fiction (1994), Alien (1979), The Godfather (1972), Ying xiong [Hero, China] (2002), Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Kill Bill: Vol 1 (2003), Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit the Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006), Gone with the Wind (1939), Back to the Future (1985), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Bowling for Columbine (2002), Slumdog Millionaire [India] (2008), El Secreto De Tus Ojos [The Secret in Their Eyes, Argentina] (2009), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Pretty Woman (1990), The Passion of the Christ (2004), The Dark Knight (2008), Shichinin no Samurai [Seven Samurai, Japan] (1954), The Pianist (2002), Requiem for a Dream (2000), Gran Torino (2008), Det sjunde inseglet  [The Seventh Seal, Sweden] (1957), Into the Wild (2007), The Truman Show (1998)

Food

Black beans (Tutú), Rabada, Jerked beef with Cassava, Baião de dois, Hot-dog, Steak with french fries, Farofa, Cupim beef, Filet mignon beef, Picanha beef, Rib of beef, Carne de sol, Gnocchi, Lasagna, Penne, Risotto, Pizza, Pastel, Sandwiches, Stroganoff, Cod fish, Salmon, Passion fruit mousse, Lemon pie, Fondue, Petit Gateau, Chocolate drink, Schweppes Citrus, Guaraná, Coca Cola, Palmier biscuits, Olive oil, Pepper, Ketchup, Honey, Champignon, Palmetto, Dried Tomato, Moyashi, Spinach, Gorgonzolla, American lettuce, Fig, Strawberry, Banana.