I'm am Canadian: Humble

I'm off work for a couple of weeks, when I return I am coming back to focus on building and growing the Canadian OT team. My journey within OT started well before I was working for Fortinet. I became interested in Cyber-Physical Systems because of Retail, not OT initially.

When I came to Fortinet, my responsibility was to build Western Canada. Simply start with me, and System Engineering coming from Toronto to support me. 2004 to 2017, I help successfully build Fortinet in Western Canada. My passion for OT showed in 2005 when I asked Michael Xie and his team to look into supporting ICS Signatures within the Gate. For many years, I have been known to appreciate the SCADA and ICS needs of our customers. I promoted Securing these systems within Fortinet since 2005. I was burned out managing people, so when the opportunity came to build the Global team with Phil Quade and Joe Sarno, I jumped at it. In late 2017, I accepted to become part of the Office of the CISO, with a focus on building OT Globally for Fortinet. The next couple of years had me focusing on Europe.

I collect things, and within my homes, I have many nods to the work Family I have worked with over the years. The Picture below is a nod to London, and the UKI & DACH region I so love working with. Every day, when I wake and go into my Pantry, I can look up and remember so many wonderful memories.

Keep Calm, and Chime on!

And then there is Brussels! I know the folks from Brussels will correct me on the name. To me when I look at this each day as I leave my bedroom, I am reminded that Justice is very important in this world. If you get the chance to visit Brussels, come here, it's amazing. It reminds us all there is a rich history in this world. It's hard to see today with all of the bad news, yet, it's all around us. Let's open our eyes and enjoy the richness this world has to offer.

I had the opportunity to visit the United Kingdom, England, Scotland, and Ireland. Ironically, I didn't get to Visit Wales. That's where my mom's family is from. Below is a kitchen cloth that was my mom's. This is the entry into my bedroom, everyday I am reminded that Family matters, and Generations matter. I struggle to be a great parent, I always seek a work-life balance.

I am Canadian. At Fortinet, we have been highly successful in enabling our OT business. I am extremely proud of the teams and how they have built out all over the world. I can take pride my that success, as I now bring Focus to building Canada with Foad Godarzy.

Below is one of the entries into my home. This is Quintessential Canadian. That day it was -30c, and I was preparing to Go for a walk with my Partner Faren Iwanicha.

If you notice, there are nods to Germany, Lisbon in Portugal, Wales, and Saskatchewan within this Photo, to the right in the picture is a paper mache vase my son Colton made for me. Living life is about Family, Friends, working hard, playing hard. Even when it's -30c outside, let's strap in and enjoy a good crisp walk.

Visiting Germany was amazing, I got to do that a few times. What an amazing Country. I have to say the Infrastructure in Europe is so much better than in North America. The ICE trains in Germany are a great example of Infrastructure that North America could learn from the Europeans.

I smile as I go outside, I have another version of this picture without a smile, but how much fun would that be? This article is intended to be uplifting, so I went with the Smile! All you need is Love.

I bring myself, and love of what I do each and every day when I come to work.

Another nod to London, They have this great Hotel Chain called CitizenM. One of their locations is right beside Tower Bridge. Their Pricing for rooms is great! The Gnome below comes from a Colorful collection they sell in their lobby. We have 4 of these Gnomes within our home. Faren my Partner, has taken the time to paint them and dress them up. It's wonderful to see them in my living room, giving their finger to each other. Makes me think about the time I brought one of these in for Training and gave it away in a Challenge for the sales team in London. What a wonderful memory.

Here is another Gnome in our Home.

This Gnome is below a wood carving artwork my Grand Father did of the home where my mom was born in Wales. He, Vader, and a Wookie are protecting the home from their perch on top of Faren's Display case of things. My Grand Father Henry Ace taught me so much. Miss you.

In 2020, the Global OT team became the North American OT Team. We saw so much success in growing the numbers, we needed to be replaced and teams put in place in APAC, EMEA, and LATAM.

Our success allowed us to focus on the USA. As I said before, I collect things. We were called Unicorns at first because everyone on the OT team has skills beyond their core skills, for us to grow we needed Unicorns, so I bought one for myself, when I look around in my office it's a reminder I am a Unicorn. I'm not just Sales or Marketing, I am Unique, and so is every member of the North American OT team, in fact, all members Globally for Fortinet are Unique. That's what makes us special.

I bought a few Poppers, all started with Rick Peters our CISO for OT. I started buying them in California, but I have found them in some strange places. Last time I saw one was in Las Vegas. It's a reminder to not take everything so seriously, to have balance, and fun in my life. Enjoy it with others.

Carlos Sanchez on the North American OT team found out that I collect Gnomes with their Fingers up. The Red Capped one he gave to me when we were together for a meeting. I cherish it so much, I found a Cat with Glasses and a Finger to keep him Company. Next, I added the Harly Gnomes, you can find them in many Airports. Need to kill time, when traveling, shop. Have fun. Thanks, Rick and Carlos for those memories.

Oh, yeah, I found your Stapler!! Those staplers are from a marketing Campaign I did as Director of Sales for Western Canada, had 200 of them made for it. Only have those two now. Some of them made it all the way to EMEA. Just need them to see the movie office space for them to understand why my stapler is so funny.

The Nemo Fish is a puppet. Found it in a gift store in Florida. Chased my partner around the store while moving her mouth and talking like a fish. Yes, I am very serious all of the time for work, but when I play it's fun.

The Fortinet Coin is from our Federal team, when we first built out the team I got to work with our Federal US team, that was fun. Now, I get to look forward to building out with Bill Park's team in Ottawa. Here's to protecting Canada's OT investments.

You can see it is a bit, there is a cock from Portugal in the picture too. I had two, but one got broken. I bought Port from Portugal, two bottles to be exact, my partner Faren was with me. I came home to Canada and gave the bottles away to our contractors who were working on our house at the time. Josh and Terry enjoy the Port. My Partner Faren was and is still upset with me about that, so if you live in Portugal and would like to send me a bottle of Port, I and my Partner would appreciate it.

So, in 2022, I look forward to supporting our Canadian Sales into Operational Technology Industries. I plan to bring focus to myself, to be better, to take care of myself, my family, and my partner Faren.

The picture below is my new Hair Color and cut for the start of the year. Notice my nod to the UK with the Picture of Tower Bridge, and Busses in London.

I look forward to Partnering with Foad and building out our Dedicated OT team for Canada. Once that is complete, my mind is already working on what's next for me. I am really enjoying enabling teams, working with wonderful people. Beyond OT, what's next? Not sure yet, but knowing me, I will build a plan. Here is to the next few years building out this team to be highly successful in Canada.

Here is to Faren, My Partner.

And to myself, I know I need to be better to myself. 2022, is the year where I work on myself to be more outward, less shy in social situations, and appreciate the wonderful woman that I am. This year, I might even wear makeup more often, as I really enjoy being outward in who I am.

I am Canadian, and now I get to focus on Canada, my home, my country. Let's have fun doing that in 2022 and beyond. Looking forward to more adventures at work, while bringing my partner on trips to see this great country!

Thanks, Fortinet for all of the wonderful memories. Yes, culture is everything.

The last picture is really about facing your fears. My partner doesn't like Garden Gnomes, I think because his sister kept moving one around his house when he was young. He thought it was magic. Well, I bought this little guy for him, in his fishing clothes. Faren loves Fishing, and therefore, I knew he had to love this little guy.

The clock above him is set to 5 minutes to midnight, it's a reminder that we don't have long to this world, make it the best you can for yourself. I hope I am demonstrating to you all that life is about working to live not living to work.