wimming's soup

As I'm sitting on a plane out of Tampa, FL I can take the time to  reflect  on the past few days as I attended my first ever (ISC)2 Board Meeting. My head abuzz with all the ideas that came up, the pleasant and interesting conversations and trying to remember the dozens and dozens of people I met, I will try to order my thoughts.

First off, I couldn't have expected a better and warmer welcome than the one I received from the existing, former and new board members and the (ISC)2 management. Taking the time to answer each and every question I had about the organisation, the structure and the working of the board. Just being there and appreciating my first and sometimes hesitant interjections or simply ridiculous questions meant a great deal to make me feel comfortable. Obviously points of view may differ on certain subjects but open and honest discussion is the fundament on which consensus is build. 

Secondly, if there is one moment I will remember as a "we're doing awesome stuff here" moment it must have happened when I was led around the office and met every single member of the (ISC)2 staff. Any organisation flourishes by the passion and dedication of the people it employs. I can't be more excited about what (ISC)2 can accomplish, and already is accomplishing, with these teams. 

You have all voted for me to become a Director on this Board supporting a specific platform. Now more than ever am I convinced that we can do this. Not me alone but together with the fellow board members I get to work with, (ISC)2 in itself and you, as a member.

Anybody familiar with how a Board actually works, understands that I will not make comments on the opinions and or decisions of any individual board member, I will also not discuss any of the meetings beyond what's published as minutesfrom said meetings on the (ISC)2 web site. While I appreciate that some will take me up on this decision, it's the only reasonable thing to do in order not to shame the trust you have put in me by voting for me and to maintain the relationship I've build with my fellow board members. I can only hope you understand this.

In between quarterly board meetings I will be active on several committees that prepare motions for the Board. I will be active on those that work on issues I've put forward in my platform. As you may know (it's pretty similar to how your parliament works) committees are where the hard work happens. I have chosen not to take on a chair for any of the committees that exist here because I want to focus on getting to know how everything works before I take up additional responsibility. 

If there's anything you want to see specifically addressed, don't hesitate to drop me an e-mail. I will either direct you to the correct persons within the organisation to handle it or put it on my agenda.