In our Staff Spotlights, we get up close and personal with our amazing Sophos team members.
Up next is Aditya Patel, Team Lead 2 under the Global Escalations team and a Sophos Community contributor.
Let's Talk Career
1. Can you tell us about your role at Sophos?
As the Technical Lead for the GES team, I ensure that we provide the highest level of product expertise within the Sophos Technical Support team, being the primary escalation point for all global support teams.
My team and I serve as liaisons between the Engineering and Product Management teams, where we influence current and future products and ensure the flow of proactive information among us.
2. How did you get to the role you're in now?
I’ve been with Sophos for over nine years. I started as a Technical Support Engineer L1, where I built a strong foundation in troubleshooting and product knowledge.
After some time, I took on more complex cases which eventually led me to joining the Global Escalation Services, and now handle a team of my own. I believe that my experience in handling high-priority escalations and collaborating with cross-functional teams helped me grow into a leadership position.
3. What inspired you to get into IT and security?
Since I was in high school, I’ve always been passionate about computers and solving complex problems. Later on, my interest in wireless technology pushed me to pursue a master’s degree in this field.
Given that the IT and Security fields perfectly align with my interest and passion, I naturally built a career in this field.
4. What do you enjoy most about your role?
The combination of problem-solving and collaboration is what I enjoy most about my role. I can work with my team to resolve complex cases while collaborating with other departments across the organization.
Doing these things helps us achieve our goals of driving product enhancements and providing the best customer experience.
5. Describe a typical day in your Sophos life.
I begin my day by checking emails, reviewing pending tasks, and assessing ongoing escalations.
Since each day can bring new challenges, planning is essential to stay organized. This helps me prioritize tasks, manage my team effectively, and balance work alongside scheduled meetings.
6. What would you do (for a career) if you weren't doing this?
If I were to pursue a completely different field, I would explore embedded systems and automation. More specifically, I would focus on power and control systems, including robotics.
Role in the Sophos Community
7. What's a fun fact about you that you could share with the Community?
A fun fact about me is that I’m passionate about building custom gaming PCs. I enjoy researching the latest hardware components and putting together high-performance systems tailored for gaming and productivity.
It’s a great way for me to combine my technical skills and my love for technology, and I often share my builds and tips with friends and online communities.
8. Have you posted any Recommended Read guides on the Community?
I haven’t yet, but I’ve been active in answering questions and assisting fellow Community members in different Sophos product forums.
Who is Aditya outside of Work?
9. What are your hobbies outside of work?
My hobbies include playing basketball, swimming, watching anime, and playing Xbox games.
10. What’s something you’re planning on doing in the next year that you’ve never done?
I plan to travel to places I haven’t been to before.
11. What's one thing you're really good at?
I'd say I’m good at solving complex issues and online games (MMORPG).
12. If you could learn how to do anything, what would it be?
If I could learn anything, it would be scripting and new programming languages. Learning these things could open new opportunities for me - enhancing products and services, and ultimately allowing me to make a greater impact in the tech industry.
13. Tell us about where you live (and your journey getting there - if applicable).
During my childhood, I lived in Malaysia for around 6 to 8 years. Then I moved to Vadodara, India, for my early education. After that, I relocated to Pune, India, to attend college and later moved to Ahmedabad for my initial career with Sophos.
I’ve returned to Pune recently, but my roots remain in Vadodara.
14. What's your favorite thing about where you live?
My favorite thing about where I live is the modern amenities and the pleasant weather, especially since I’m less tolerant of heat.
It creates an exciting environment to explore. I appreciate the lively vibe, with plenty of events, festivals, and local cuisines to enjoy. Plus, the easy access to nature, including beautiful parks and nearby hills, offers a perfect balance to urban life, allowing for outdoor activities and relaxation.
15. Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I often fix household items with my drill and saw machine.
16. Any favorite line from a movie?
"I hate perfection. To be perfect is to be unable to improve any further."- Mayuri Kurotsuchi from Bleach (Anime)