Roger Wigenstam was hooked on tech when his dad brought home a computer and showed him how to write a few lines of code that flashed colors on the screen. Here’s what he’s learned since.
What would you describe as your most memorable achievement?
Earlier in my career at OneSpan I led the efforts to transition the product portfolio from hardware tokens to an AI-based suite of digital identity, fraud prevention, and secure digital agreements solutions. This new platform was designed to help financial services and other regulated industries provide an easy to use, secure customer experience while addressing fraud and regulatory requirements. We grew our business significantly and shifted our revenue from hardware to mainly software and services within just a few years.
Transforming a hardware company into a modern cloud software business was a massive undertaking that required a major overhaul of our operations. Despite some challenges it was ultimately a highly rewarding experience that involved all parts of the organization.
What first made you think of a career in technology?
I was fortunate to find my passion at an early age. My dad, who was also in software, brought home a computer and showed me how to write a few lines of code that flashed colors on the screen. At that moment I just knew what I was going to do.
What style of management philosophy do you employ with your current position?
My approach has always been to create an environment that encourages creativity, open communication and collaboration. Having the right people on the team and giving them ownership and autonomy to experiment and take calculated risks while you provide input, guidance and constructive feedback on an ongoing basis is critical.
What do you think is the current hot technology talking point?
Data security is more important than ever due to the increasing sophistication of malicious actors and the impact of ransomware and other cyberattacks. The rise of AI-powered attacks is introducing a new level of complexity. Threat actors are using AI for social engineering, code generation, and to create more convincing phishing attacks. They are also widely expected to leverage the technology to help hide their activities and exploit vulnerabilities. The increasing volume and dependence on data has significantly amplified the potential consequences of an attack, making our work at NeuShield that much more important.
How do you deal with stress and unwind outside the office?
Over the years I’ve learnt to manage stress and stay calm in most situations. I have been mountain biking since I was young, the focus and energy required in addition to being outdoors helps you stay fresh and in shape. I prioritize spending time with friends and family. I also go hiking, camping, play guitar and enjoy winter sports such as skiing and snowshoeing.
If you could go back and change one career decision what would it be?
I love what I do. I don’t regret any of the choices that I made even though there are opportunities that could have changed where I am today. I’ve had the opportunity to take on new exciting initiatives on a regular basis and work with some amazingly talented people to make an impact.
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry?
There is a large investment in AI to improve threat detection and response to malware and cyberattacks. The challenge is that malicious actors take advantage of new techniques that are harder to detect, such as using operating system tools and processes to damage and exfiltrate data. Restoring an entire network from backups often takes weeks and may not even be possible. This is why we are investing in NeuShield’s data protection technology, which provides an additional layer of security to prevent exfiltration and, in the event of an incident, allows organizations to recover their data and restore business operations in a much shorter timeframe.
You also act as a strategic advisor for TrustLogix, how is what they do different?
Organizations are modernizing their data architectures and investing in AI to drive innovation and productivity. Central to these efforts are data lakes and other repositories with large volumes of sensitive structured and unstructured data that need to be secured. TrustLogix helps organizations identify and remediate risks across data platforms such as Snowflake, Databricks and others and address fine-grained access control, privacy and compliance requirements without slowing down these strategic initiatives.
Protecting an organization’s data assets and limiting exposure requires multiple layers of defense due to the complexity of the modern enterprise. NeuShield and TrustLogix address key concerns that are not covered by traditional security solutions.
What changes to your job role have you seen in the last year and how do you see these developing in the next 12 months?
I’ve had the opportunity to focus more of my time on strategic initiatives and innovation to grow the business while also doing research and exploring new technologies on the horizon. Staying ahead is critical as the market, technology, and regulations continue to evolve at a rapid pace.
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain a C-level position in your industry?
Excel at what you do, lead by example and focus on developing a leadership style that encourages collaboration and motivates and retains talent. Have the courage to make difficult decisions and do what is right for the organization. Build a track record of successfully leading cross-functional initiatives and delivering innovative products that deliver unique customer value and drive growth.
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