The 2022 Women Leaders In Technology: Christina Powers

Christina finds fulfillment in keeping her clients' organizations safe from harm. A cybersecurity specialist, she works with a range of companies, including PE firms and their portfolio companies, to understand risks and take proactive steps to mitigate them – before they can cause significant financial losses, interrupt operations or affect investment value. Christina is particularly involved in delivering our Cybersecurity Advisory for Private Equity (CAPE) program – which provides ongoing visibility into security practices and risks across a firm's portfolio and helps investors determine where they need to influence changes. She also conducts cybersecurity due diligence for potential acquisitions.

Christina began her career in Accenture's Technology Consulting Security practice, where she worked on implementing a global identity and access management solution for a global insurance company. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and has attended management courses at the Yale School of Management. Fluent in Ukrainian, Christina is a member of the board of the Ukrainian Youth Camping Organization.

What has been the biggest factor in your success so far?

Saying yes to new opportunities and experiences, especially since the inception of my career. I've been fortunate to have supportive leadership that has given me these opportunities, including providing stretch roles that helped me grow. For example, as just a senior consultant I had many client-facing responsibilities—unheard of for that level. It was evident early on that leadership recognized my skillset, my proactive nature and potential, and then gave me the ability to operate independently and be a decision-maker. Going outside your comfort zone and working on different engagements can be intimidating but has ultimately provided me with a wide variety of exposure, resulting in making me a better consultant.

These opportunities have also helped me grow my internal and external network. By saying yes, I got exposure to the world of private equity. The quick-paced nature of this area and the variety of industries, company sizes, and teams was something that I really enjoyed and where I have spent my time working the past five years. The style of leadership that gave me these opportunities is something that I aim for with my teams today—looking for how I can get others to say "yes" to similar exposure opportunities to identify and ultimately grow in areas they are passionate about.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

Building and growing our Cybersecurity Advisory for Private Equity (CAPE) offering is my proudest achievement. In 2021, as the key sales originator, I contributed to $10.34M in revenue and originated $6.72M for the program. I also played a leading role in expanding CAPE offerings to expand the risks my team identifies for portfolio companies.

I am excited to continue growing CAPE as the frequency and impact of cybersecurity attacks continue to increase, and private equity portfolios are an attractive target. The CAPE program is designed specifically for private equity firms and their portfolio companies to quickly identify existing threats and help portfolio companies proactively prevent future attacks. By outlining ways for each company to improve their cybersecurity posture and supporting the implementation of their cybersecurity strategy, we are ultimately protecting the private equity firm's investment. My team and I have worked over the last few years with hundreds of portfolio companies across many of the top private equity firms. It's been rewarding to see individuals on my team grow in consulting and take the next steps in their careers in both client delivery and leadership. At a consulting firm, our people are our most valuable assets, and the CAPE program wouldn't have grown to what it is today without such a solid core team.

What does being honored as a Women Leader in Technology mean to you?

Being nominated for this recognition is an honor. It shows me that my contributions to West Monroe are valued, both as a contributor to our overall success and as a leader within the company. This recognition demonstrates the value that West Monroe puts on its people, helping to elevate them in the market and highlight their accomplishments. It also demonstrates that my company believes in me to help lead us in future growth, continuing to perform great client service while growing our people and supporting them on their own career journeys. It is exciting to be selected for this recognition as it provides external validation of my hard work and I am proud be included among such an impressive group of peers.