LIFE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE OFFICE .

What would you describe as your most memorable achievement in the cybersecurity industry ?

That ’ s an easy one – becoming a CEO of a cybersecurity company when I joined Next in August 2022 . In a Substack article about International Women ’ s Day last year , author and security industry analyst , Richard Stiennon , noted that only 2.1 % of global cybersecurity companies have female CEOs , so it is an achievement I ’ m proud of .

The job presents new challenges and opportunities every day and I ’ ve built an incredible team that helps me to overcome the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities as we continue to grow and scale our business .

What first made you think of a career in cybersecurity ?

I ’ m a mission-driven person and I was originally attracted to cybersecurity because it is just that – mission driven . We do things that matter and make a difference in the world . Take my first company as an example . Previously , at Veracode , we used to say we protect the software that runs the world . Not to be dramatic but if the flight systems of major airlines were compromised at a code level , planes could fall out of the sky , lives would be lost . At Next , we secure sensitive data which translates to preserving privacy in many cases . What we do in cybersecurity matters and that ’ s why I landed in cyber over 15 years ago and ultimately stayed .

What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position ?

In my current role , I embody a pragmatic and proactive management philosophy . I believe in fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration at Next . This means empowering employees to take ownership of their work , encouraging open communication and promoting a mindset of continuous innovation .

What do you think is the current hot cybersecurity talking point ?

The current hot cybersecurity talking point is the same as the hot topic in society generally – Generative Artificial Intelligence ( GenAI ). Many cybersecurity pros are losing sleep imagining AI-powered cyberattacks that can mimic human behaviour , evade traditional defences and wreak havoc on a massive scale . Scary stuff , right ? And that ’ s why the cybersecurity community is buzzing with debates about how to stay ahead of the curve , protect against these emerging threats and how we should leverage AI in our own defences . So , while GenAI may be keeping cybersecurity professionals up at night , it ’ s also sparking innovation and driving the industry forward .

How do you deal with stress and unwind outside the office ?

I am an avid reader and a history buff . When I get lost in a book , the stresses of work and everyday

We do things that matter and make a difference in the world .

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