The 2020 Women Leaders in Technology: Kris Lovejoy

Lovejoy says she's always been a dreamer, loves to learn, and is a bit obsessive about puzzles. That makes consulting the perfect career. 

"I've always thought of consulting as creative problem-solving, dependent on three key capabilities: imagination, knowledge, and analytics," Lovejoy says. "Most importantly—in my field of cybersecurity consulting, our objective is based on the foundation of altruism; achieving a greater good. Knowing that's what I do every day potentially makes a true difference is incredibly motivating."

As it becomes more challenging than ever for organizations to map the digital environment in which they operate, Lovejoy's extensive background in cybersecurity across industries and thousands of organizations makes her uniquely qualified to lead the continued focus in offering innovative and effective cybersecurity capabilities across the globe. 

"When you're in the cybersecurity field, you are always preparing for the crisis that may be just around the corner," she says. "Over the next year, I look forward to working with our clients to help them get ahead of threats by creating a culture of security by design. It's critical for companies to bridge the divide between the security function and the C-suite and enable the chief information security officer to act as a consultant and enabler instead of the stereotypical roadblock."

Outside of her day-to-day role, Lovejoy is also passionate about promoting diversity in the cybersecurity industry and more broadly in the workplace. For example, she recently spoke about women's empowerment at the Global Cybersecurity Forum, highlighting that her cyber team is now 46 percent female—an outstanding statistic considering women are only 12 percent of the technology industry. 

Has she ever experienced unique challenges being a woman consultant in the technology field? Yes, absolutely, she says. "The cybersecurity field is, unfortunately, known for its lack of gender diversity," Lovejoy says. "Finding the courage to continue where one feels very 'alone' has not been easy, but I and my colleagues in cybersecurity are optimistic that we're bringing diversity to the field."

On a personal note, she says with four kids, three dogs, one domesticated bunny and a husband, it's a real challenge to get work done while we are all staying at home due to the COVID-19 outbreak. "While I always miss them greatly when I'm on the road, I am sincerely looking forward to the day I can get on a plane, meet face-to-face with clients, and return to some form of normal," she says. 

And as far as the award, Lovejoy says she's proud to set an example for her daughters and the many women she has worked with over the years that hard work, passion for building a better working world, and courage to never give in or give up can lead to success.

What's the best advice (consulting or otherwise) you've ever received?

Lovejoy: " 'Time is the only true gift you can ever offer someone.' I've always taken that to heart and tried to be accessible and responsive to anyone who needs me."