With the cybercrime industry eclipsing US$9 trillion this year and projected to explode over the coming decade, cybersecurity teams are on the back foot. Defying broader economic trends, however, finance departments are ramping up company investments in global security and risk management.
Long story short, cybersec teams are here to stay and ready to adapt to a wildly uncertain future. With that settled, let’s set aside the numbers for a moment and take a closer look at the people on the frontlines of this endless security war.
It’s simple, really. Cybersecurity protects everyone. We believe it should include everyone, too. Here’s a radical idea: what if cyber teams mirrored the incredibly diverse ecosystem we aim to defend? At Hackuity, we strive to inspire industry inclusion by starting with our own organisation. The more voices working toward our common goal, the more effective our solutions become.
Take gender diversity, for example. It’s something cybersecurity and tech at large have struggled with, so naturally, the challenge is accepted. Remarkable women empower our Product Development, Sales, Marketing, HR, and Administration teams, bringing invaluable insights, unwavering empathy, and diverse solutions that resonate throughout the cybersec community.
In APAC alone, women make up 67 per cent of Team Hackuity, including Hackuity’s Vice President of Sales and Country Manager. Ensuring equal opportunities for all, regardless of background, beliefs, or identity is fundamental to who we are. In fact, it is who we are.
Also Read: Invest in women, accelerate progress: Why gender equality matters now more than ever
While we’re at it, let’s not forget the power of language and the cultures that have defined them. From French to English and Chinese to Arabic, meeting the needs of our clients and teammates begins with understanding them – all of them. You’ll hear plenty of Franglish and Spanglish in the halls at Hackuity as we bond over what makes each of us unique. For all the talk of emotional intelligence (EQ) in the workplace, we think cultural intelligence (CQ) is also up there on the priority list.
Where we are headed is not limited to where we were founded either. From inception to the present, Hackuity has always looked for the best and brightest – without borders. We’re not multinational in any NASDAQ sense of the term, but with teams spanning France, Singapore, the UK, and Spain (and nationalities that expand far beyond where we work), it’s hard to argue we’re anything else. Navigating international regulations to achieve this level of cultural representation is easier said than done for a scaleup of our size, but we don’t make any excuses, and we make it happen.
Hackuity is strong because the diversity of thought here is non-negotiable, and that begins with embracing the experiences of those who drive our teams to ask hard questions. We never settle for the first, second, or third solution till we’re confident it is the best solution. What works for Singapore or Kuala Lumpur might not work for Johannesburg, which may or may not work for London, Paris, and Madrid. So, we work together – and challenge each other – to view cybersecurity through a global lens that reflects the unique individuals that compose it.
As we look to the future, we’re doubling down on our commitment to our teams and the clients we protect. We know inclusion is not a tick-the-box exercise, and companies that treat it like one quickly snap back to the status quo. Hackuity was born to break and build a new one. Our philosophy hasn’t changed, but we have because there’s no separating technology from the diverse builders and users who empower it.
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This article was first published on April 23, 2024
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