IT in industry - More WOW than you think!

I am currently Vice President of Information Security & CISO at Freudenberg Sealing Technologies having started as a Cyber Security architect at Freudenberg & Co. KG

You can call me a security van, I am there to make the digital realm secure. But I also believe it is important to make the space where you actually work safe, too. So, security for me operates on two fronts – the company being secure and you being secure in the company. 

My driver: Openness. 

It comes from having trustworthy colleagues to sign the right way ahead. When my former manager joined FST, he introduced himself to the whole IT department. He was completely open, shared personal stories and also his weaknesses. He trusted us with that information. That made a big impression on me and inspired me to be transparent with colleagues – you have nothing to lose because no one is perfect.

I have felt trust since day one. In October 2018, I was given a task with a huge amount of responsibility. The result? On my very first gig we invented and released the ONE Freudenberg Security Baseline. More recently, I have taken on responsibility for the global Information Security Management System, successfully restructuring the system and completing my Business Groups first information security certification.

Like many other employees, I also get the chance to travel with my job, which is always interesting. What never ceases to amaze me is the hospitality we receive when we visit other places. It makes you feel like family. It helps build on the already great relationships you have with those you work with.

For those coming into Freudenberg, I would suggest not shying away from communicating your goals and ambitions with regard to taking over responsibility for specific activities or areas. I, for example, see my next step as running the whole Group CISO. Really, the sky is the limit here!