I am the Director of Engagement for the Internet Integrity Program. My background as a linguist and a translator and my previous partnership-building work in regions such as the EU, Latin America, and Asia are my biggest strengths for such a challenging task.
My strong Spanish accent and my endless name make all that sound even more credible.
As soon as I heard about GCA and its mission, back in 2016, I knew it was going to make a real difference. Its motto, “Do Something. Measure It.” is a powerful message, but the actual capacity to deliver there is what has really made GCA a game changer.
I saw that capacity right from the beginning (I had been on the ground of cybersecurity organizations for a while when I first knew about GCA), and I decided to try and join the effort. It took me a while, but the process was a very positive learning experience.
Now I am very happy and proud to be part of this fantastic mission. My professional career has so many curves that I like to think that I was predestined to end up working in cybersecurity. There is no other easy explanation.
My academic background in linguistics and international relations has given me many tools to approach communication, multiculturalism, and partnership-building – essential components of my current work. However, I think that my professional background, with over a decade of experience in traditional security (including non-financial risk analysis, crisis management, and corporate intelligence), brings the final touch– that special mindset or nose of security practitioners.
That nose is a powerful tool when it comes to understanding the deep mechanisms of ever-evolving cybersecurity.
What I like best about working at GCA is my colleagues. Each one of them is much more than what their titles show, and this is what makes GCA a “unique animal,” as Phil Reitinger, our president and CEO likes to say. Working with them is a permanent discovery, and a personal challenge to perform better and better.
This individual “uniqueness,” combined with the agility and flexibility of our organization (similar to a start-up), is probably one of the reasons why GCA can deliver so well in its mission.
On a personal note, I have to say that I am very happy about GCA’s commitment to keep a healthy balance between work and private life. It is hard to measure how that impacts our performance as employees, but I believe it has a very positive effect on what we do.
Who inspires you?
Not who, but what– humor. Humor is an engine for creativity and, hence, a source for enjoyment and good work, and a real inspiration for me.
Humor is not easy, though– even the silliest jokes have lots of intelligence behind them. Exploring and analyzing the mechanisms of humor are essential parts of my private approach to my work in communications and marketing.
What is the greatest bit of advice a parent or mentor has given you?
I believe we need to learn from those younger than us, so, if I were to choose a good source for real-life lessons, I would go to my elder son. In that sense, every time he says “Dad, you’re crazy,” I know I am going in the right direction.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?
Eating and cooking.
As a Spaniard, food is a central part of my cultural identity, and that is something that, interestingly enough, I could only discover with my second passion, travel.
From all the approaches to discovering other cultures and exploring new places, I think food is the truest… and the most enjoyable. And, since the best thing about traveling is coming back home, I also love taking those experiences to my own kitchen. Cooking for friends and family, sharing those experiences with them, makes me the happiest person on earth.
