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The National Cybersecurity Alliance is pleased to present the 18th edition of our Board Member Spotlight.
Our Board member companies are leaders in cybersecurity education and awareness and are an integral part of making the organization a successful public-private partnership.
Get to know Katy Sequeira, Vice President, Global Information Security PMO | Marriott International in this Board Member Spotlight.
You’ve recently joined our Cyber Committee! What is the most exciting thing about being a founding member of this committee?
This is a great team. The work that NCA is doing is critical in today’s digital world. The NCA gives people the education they need for their business and personal lives. It transforms the over complex and scary cyber world into concrete steps that people can take to protect their data and their business processes. This is so foundational to navigate today’s world.
How do Marriott’s cybersecurity interests align with the National Cybersecurity Alliance mission to educate and empower our global digital society?
Marriott operates in a global and digital environment. Security is an important aspect of a great travel experience as well as a work environment. We work with groups across the world. Empowering our associates, partners, vendors and properties enables us to deliver great travel experiences.
What has a career in the hospitality and tourism industry taught you about cybersecurity?
Hospitality and tourism flourish in the digital environment allowing us to reach global destinations in a heartbeat. We take care of our associates and guests. Cybersecurity is about protecting our guests and associates through their data and online persona. This takes a village.
Why is it so important to build partnerships between the public and private sector in order to foster a greater “digital” good?
Everything is interconnected these days and unfortunately, we cannot do this alone. Good cybersecurity relies on everyone in the supply chain (and even those not directly a part of the supply chain) to be good citizens. Without a good foundation in cybersecurity in all areas, it will be harder for businesses to operate and people to navigate the digital world.
How would you describe a successful day at work?
I love the days where I see the impact of the changes we make in an environment. Even the small successes, such as hearing that someone reported (rather than clicked) a phish, as it was similar to a campaign we ran. When I see behaviors starting to change, I know we are making an impact.
What do you like most about being a part of the cybersecurity community?
This community is wonderful. Everyone is collaborative and we are all interested in how to protect and educate users. I have been impressed by everyone’s backgrounds and the experiences that they bring to communities.
What is one goal, personal or professional, that you set this year that you’ve achieved?
One goal that was achieved was to review our own internal cybersecurity strategy. We recently completed that and I am really excited about new ways to engage our associates over the next year – gamification, targeted role-based engagements and in-person conferences.
What was your favorite thing about Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2022?
There is way too much. There are so many exciting events that it is hard to pick one – this year the webinar on evolving from data ownership to data stewardship resonated with me. Our environment is constantly changing and how we approach cybersecurity needs to evolve as well.
How do you think the campaign can grow next year?
Looking to keep extending how we engage with users. It is always a challenge to keep the messaging new, relevant and engaging. This team does a great job.