Jessica Figueras is CEO of cyber security assurance firm Pionen, which works with government, critical national infrastructure and financial services.
She is also Vice Chair of Trustees at the UK Cyber Security Council, and a Non-Executive Director at Pivotl, a data services company. In 2023 she co-founded CxB (Cyber Governance for Boards), a non-profit supporting non-executive directors to improve board oversight of cybersecurity. As a strategist specialising in cyber security, digital trust and the role of tech in civil society, Jessica has advised the UK government on technology and policy issues relating to cyber security and online safety.
How did you land your current role? Was it planned?
For my role at the UK Cyber Security Council, government ran a formal open process to appoint its founding trustees back in 2020. (A trustee is a charity board director). I’d been looking at various trustee roles and this one really caught my imagination with its vision for the future of the cyber security profession, so I was delighted to be appointed.
But as for my other roles, you might say that I created them myself! I’m Pionen’s first Chief Executive; had been working with the team as a consultant and it seemed a natural evolution. With Pivotl, I knew the founders and had supported them to develop their vision. And as for CxB – well, my co-founders and I decided that something needed to be done about cyber governance in the boardroom – so we did it.
What is your background, and how did you develop the skills to do your current role?
I’m a strategist rather than a technologist by background, although I do have an academic computing qualification and have mostly worked in roles requiring strong technical knowledge (such as industry analysis, consulting and product development).
The longest and most formative part of my career was spent as an industry analyst. That is a strategic advisory role; analysts research new technology developments, analyse markets in detail and give independent advice to technology buyers and providers. I loved it; being an analyst allowed me to become immersed in the detail whilst also seeing the bigger picture. And you get to talk to everyone in the industry.
But as my career developed I increasingly wanted to be a ‘doer’, not just a thinker and adviser. This led me into more business-focused and leadership roles, which need a broader skill set. Although my analyst training gave me a grounding in business, strategy and aspects of finance, I had to develop new operational and management skills.
Running my own freelance business was a good place to start. They say you learn most from your mistakes – that’s 100% true – and I got to make lots of them, in a relatively low-risk environment.
What does an average work day look like for you?
Right now, Pionen is on the cusp of launching our new cyber assurance tool (PionenAssure), so I’m spending a lot of time on product development. Writing marketing materials, talking to customers and partners, wading through legal agreements, reviewing workflows, reading government cyber security guidance, creating financial projections, and meetings, meetings meetings.
I often speak at industry conferences. I’d have been shocked to know this at age 21 when I was a shy, introverted young woman. I’m glad that my early employers pushed me to speak in public, as it’s a wonderful way to meet interesting new people, build networks and keep our knowledge up to date.
Have you found the tech sector supportive?
I know the tech sector has a long way to go in terms of sex equality, and I can think of many instances when I’ve come up against prejudice. But overall I’ve found it supportive, and hearing the stories of senior women in other sectors leads me to believe that we may be one of the better industries. And frankly, I have probably benefited too; you stand out as a woman in tech, and that means people remember you. Embrace it if you can.
Have you ever faced insecurities and anxieties during your career, and how did you overcome them?
Oh yes – everyone does, however confident they might appear. Insecurity and anxiety is just a sign that we’ve moved out of our comfort zone. You have to chip away at the task in front of you; small achievements work wonders for our self-esteem, and hopefully lead to bigger achievements.
And as my mum always said to me, “Fake it til you make it”.
Entering the world of work can be daunting. Do you have any words of advice for anyone feeling overwhelmed?
I remember my first job; after six weeks I called the recruiter who had placed me there and begged her to find me something else. She told me in no uncertain terms that she didn’t want to speak to me again until I’d done at least six months in the role. And by six months I’d made friends, got to grips with the work, and no longer felt an urgent need to leave.
Entering the workforce for the first time is one of the hardest transitions we’ll ever make. So give yourself a break! Do your best, always ask for help, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Every day you’ll learn something that will make the next day a little bit easier.
What advice would you give other women wanting to reach their career goals in technology?
Aim as high as you can, but don’t get hung up on crafting the perfect career. Things rarely turn out how we expect. Never stop learning, building new skills and networks, and being open to opportunities. Have fun when you can, and value the humans around you. Life is short.
