The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Chief Officer Awards were announced March 17, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person May 10.
Next is Chief Information Security Officer finalist in the Public Company category Nicole Dean, CISO of Accenture Federal Services. Here, she talks taking professional risks, career advice and more.
What has made you successful in your current role?
Passion: I absolutely love what I do. I think you have to find what excites you to be successful. If you love your job, you are willing to do more, push yourself further and have the confidence you need to take risks.
Flexibility: Change is inevitable and I embrace it. Being open to change allows you to stretch yourself and take on new opportunities to learn and grow.
What’s your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Don’t be afraid. You can’t be afraid to volunteer, try something new or stretch yourself. You also need to know when you need to move. It can be scary changing jobs or companies, but sometimes it’s the only way to expand your opportunities.
What’s the biggest professional risk you’ve ever taken?
The biggest risk I ever took was leaving government service for industry. I had made it to the SES level, I knew how government worked, I knew the language and how to navigate to be successful. The move to industry was terrifying as I did not have one ounce of experience with how anything in the private sector worked. I was going from a SES with a billion-dollar year budget and a staff of almost 400, to a great unknown.
The only thing I knew about industry is that I wouldn’t have a budget or staff that large. I only knew the government’s ways and methods, and I was scared that the government bureaucracy was too ingrained in me, and I wouldn’t be able to think creatively to enable success. But a mentor told me, I’d never know unless I tried.