My introduction to ISACA was simple enough – a friend of mine recommended I pursue the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification back in 2003. Back then I had already started working in a cybersecurity consulting firm, doing business in Europe and trying to identify ways for learning and improving my career. What I thought at the time would be a straightforward step in my career advancement turned into so much more. Having a credential from ISACA was a big plus in my CV and, as I began to understand the international footprint and impact of the association, I saw an opportunity to become part of a huge global family. I took advantage of the global network of ISACA and started communicating with professionals from all around the world, learning about the problems they were trying to solve and how ISACA knowledge was helping them do that and advance their careers.
I was fortunate to build countless relationships with ISACA colleagues from chapters around the world. This had a tremendous impact on me because until you meet people outside of your own region and have meaningful discussions with them, everything is theoretical perception. You can assume what people in other regions of the world might value or believe, but it’s when you interact and have substantive conversations that you’re able to really understand their perspectives. At the same time, I was surprised by the diversity, expertise, passion and forward thinking of the ISACA community.
Still, I felt the need to do more and see if I could be part those expert groups that generate those world-renowned practices in assurance, cybersecurity, risk and technology governance. So, I volunteered for ISACA committees and working groups, met new colleagues and had the privilege to help shape and have early knowledge of the state-of-the-art in my domain. Eventually I was appointed to ISACA’s global board of directors as a young professional and five years later, in 2015, I had the honor to serve as chair of the global board for two terms. In my day job, the experience and knowledge I was accumulating helped me to be promoted rapidly as I switched roles from being a cybersecurity practitioner to a CISO, then a CTO, and eventually the CEO of a multinational group of companies with a presence in more than 40 jurisdictions.
I am sharing my background in order to underline the opportunity ISACA gives its members. ISACA gives us access to a tremendous knowledge base and network of professionals, creating an opportunity to realize our dreams, no matter our race, ethnicity, gender or age.
This bit of personal backstory brings me to the here-and-now. I am beginning a new phase of my relationship with ISACA as the association’s first chief global strategy officer. It’s a role that will focus on growing ISACA’s global community and worldwide impact, and I’m delighted to get to work.
That relationship-building I mentioned is what we will prioritize even more going forward – more conversations, greater understanding of what is needed in different localities and, most of all, more active listening to our global community. ISACA has a great foundation on which to grow its global reach – a robust network of more than 220 local chapters around the world and 50-plus years of industry credibility.
This is particularly true taking into account the rapid adoption of digital and emerging technologies that crafts new ways of doing business and impacts our personal and professional lives. With every transformation project that is based on digital technologies, there is a need for assurance, cybersecurity, privacy, risk and governance in order to achieve a trusted result in an optimized-cost manner and according to the overall needs of the business.
I look forward to renewed dialogue with our chapters, who have unmatched understanding about what topics and industry challenges are most top-of-mind for their chapter members. Through ongoing communication and needed investments, we will gain the insights to ensure that ISACA is offering the most relevant learning resources to be successful in all areas of the world. Although global practitioners face similar challenges – such as growing cyberthreats and how to responsibly integrate emerging technologies – there are also unique business, regulatory and cultural dynamics in various regions, and we need to be mindful of that as we build our strategic vision for the future.
As you can tell, I have tremendous passion for ISACA and the opportunities that ISACA provides for people and organizations worldwide to fulfil their dreams. ISACA is uniquely positioned to provide global leadership around the convergence of digital trust professions, which are the backbone of the world economy. At ISACA, we have the experience that comes from our long history and the valuable assets that are being built in collaboration with our global community to help individuals and enterprises excel in that space.