Autodesk Life
Not only do Cristina and Teresa Pisciuneri share the same family and last name, but they also share the same employer – these sisters both work here at Autodesk!
We recently connected with Cristina and Teresa to learn more about their experience as siblings and colleagues.
Can you tell us a little about what you do in your roles?
Teresa: I’m a Campaign Development Manager in Design and Manufacturing, and I’m a hybrid employee based in Montréal, Québec, Canada. In my role, I work with many different stakeholders to develop, create, and optimize campaigns.
Cristina: I’m a Senior Marketing Manager in Manufacturing Informed Design, and I’m also a hybrid employee in Montréal. I work in the Incubation organization, which is a group focused on emerging technologies. We operate like a startup within Autodesk. I’m the only marketing person, which means I’m responsible for everything marketing-related for this new product (which has yet to launch). Whereas there are usually hundreds of people working on marketing, I’m only one. It’s definitely the highlight of my marketing career to date.
What initially attracted you to come work at Autodesk?
Cristina: I have to be honest; I didn’t know what Autodesk was before working here! I was recruited by HR almost eight years ago for the role of Canadian Marketing Manager, where I’d be responsible for running marketing activities specific to Canadian marketing. However, in doing my research, I realized what an incredible company Autodesk is – and I’m so grateful to that recruiter for finding me!
Teresa: I would say the culture is what initially attracted me to come work at Autodesk. My sister had been working at the company for a couple of years and, because of that, I had the opportunity to tag along sometimes to events that were being hosted at the Montreal office. I also played soccer with the “Awamazon” team that my sister started (named after the “Autodesk Women in Montreal” group) and got to meet and play soccer with Autodesk employees.
I also tagged along to the Autodesk Football World Cup in Dublin in 2019 and got to experience such an amazing event. I met so many more people from the company and saw what a truly employee-first culture Autodesk promotes. I remember thinking when I was on the soccer field in Dublin: This is a great company that I would love to come work for one day. Less than a year later, it came true!
How would you describe Autodesk’s culture?
Teresa: Autodesk’s culture is all about investing in their employees: career, growth, and well-being. I was excited when my sister told me about a job opportunity in March 2020 that matched my work experience and I’m grateful the hiring manager and team gave me the opportunity to officially join Autodesk. I started my first week at the Montreal office on March 2, 2020, and got to meet so many people who were in the office. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit the following week and we all moved to remote work. It was a stressful time trying to learn a new job and work on a new team, but Autodesk really put their employees’ well-being as a priority, and I was extremely happy with my decision to join.
Cristina: Like Teresa said, Autodesk really invests in its employees. I’ve never worked anywhere else where employee well-being is at the forefront. I’ve done countless incredible trainings that have helped me grow not only professionally, but also personally. It’s truly a global company and I’m always so thankful for the chance to travel and meet other Autodeskers from around the world and learn about their realities. I feel like I am part of this big global community; whenever there’s an event like Autodesk University or our “One Team” sales conference, that gets reinforced and it’s really a pleasure to be part of.
What is it like for you to work together at the same company?
Teresa: It’s great! There is a sense of comfort and understanding there. Because I started during the pandemic when we were all working remotely, it was extremely nice to have my sister a Zoom call away as someone I could talk to and ask for help. It’s also great to have someone at work to talk to about non-work-related things since we know each other so well. We definitely have to set some healthy boundaries, though, to make sure there’s a separation between the office and our personal lives, making sure we can be present and enjoy family moments and also enjoy fun times at work.
Cristina: This is actually not the first time Teresa and I have been colleagues! Our grandparents are from Italy; they immigrated to Canada in the 1950s and opened a bakery that made pizzas, bread, and pastries – and we worked together there along with the entire rest of our family! So, it feels very familiar to have her working here with me, maybe on some level I was searching for that familiarity again when I referred her for a job. It’s indescribably great to have my sister working with me. I’d say 90% of the people in our organization already think of us as “The Sisters.”
Teresa: It’s funny – when I first started and would join calls with new stakeholders or employees I hadn’t met yet, they would see my last name and ask if I was related to Cristina. “Pisciuneri” isn’t a very common last name, and when I would say, “Yes, she’s my sister,” people’s reactions were always so surprised! It was nice meeting and getting to work with colleagues whom my sister had previously worked with.
What advice would you give to other families considering working together?
Cristina: I would say it’s probably not the best idea to work on the same team – and to make sure you get along with your sibling before referring them to a job! Also, your reputation influences that of your sibling and vice versa, so definitely keep that in mind! Lastly, make sure to set boundaries when you’re at home so you can maintain a good work-life balance.
Teresa: I would recommend working with your sibling if you have a trusting and open relationship with them. Working with your sibling and best friend is great, as you always have someone to talk to who is in your corner to celebrate your accomplishments and push you to try new challenges!