Zoe Braiterman

CIO at Mutual Knowledge Systems

Can you please provide a little introduction about yourself

I’m based in New York City. My current role is Chief Information Officer at Mutual Knowledge Systems.

What has your journey to your position been like? What path have you taken?

I studied business and sociology in school and have since continued my independent studies and consulting in various areas of information technology/cybersecurity. As a Chief Information Officer, I utilize technology to drive business strategy and growth. My passion for volunteer leadership roles within open-source foundations and meetup groups helped me to realize that I wanted to go the extra mile and take on more professional leadership roles, as well.

Has it always been your vision to reach the position you’re at? Was your current role part of your vision to become a tech leader?

I always knew I wanted to solve complex problems using technology and business. Web3 startup provides a unique opportunity to do that. 

Have you had a role model or mentor that has helped you on your journey?

All of my fellow executives at Mutual Knowledge Systems have been excellent mentors. With expertise including legal / operations, software architecture, finance and media/communications, our constant exchange of knowledge is increasingly vital to our growth, both as a startup and as a group of ambitious individuals. 

How do you see the role of the technology leader evolving over the next 5 years?

I see an increasing amount of technology leadership involving business development efforts, such as social media management, as well as training, both within an organization and externally on the product.  

What skills do you think leaders of the future will need in order to thrive?

• Artificial intelligence:  We as leaders must understand how to use automation drive innovation and productivity and work around its negative effects, by recognizing misinformation and disinformation, for example.
• Cybersecurity:  It’s paramount that business and technology leaders have an understanding of how to build a security culture within their organization, through awareness trainings and continuous learning, and by implementing policies and procedures and technical controls. A leader must be able to facilitate this in a hybrid workforce, as the nature of work continues to evolve, and an organization’s attack surface continues to evolve accordingly. 

How do you keep current with new skills, technologies and personal development?

I take continued education courses on platforms like Coursera, attend trainings from specific vendors and professional organizations and belong to professional organizations, such as the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), to network with peers.

What do you see as the next leap in technology that will impact your business or industry in particular?

With the increasingly involved role of automation, I see more of technology leadership being focused on stakeholders’ communications, including sales and marketing efforts. 

“People are at the heart of everything.”

If you were mentoring a leader of the future, what advice or guidance would you give to help them on their way?

• Constantly mentor and seek mentorship in multiple areas. Network with industry professionals outside of your organization, as well as with colleagues within your organization.
• Prioritize your health. Staying ahead in a constantly evolving technology landscape requires focus and peak performance. 

Is there anything in particular that you would still like to achieve in your career or what is the next step on your journey?

I would like to work with more companies focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. 

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? 

I would provide equal access to education, around technology, as well as other areas. Some of the smartest people I’ve met and worked with in industry have become great at what they do outside of traditional academia, and I’d like to see an increased focus on such diversity, in order to build the next generation of leaders. Our workforce, and our world, increasingly depend on this. I’m passionate about mentoring, and leading open-source projects and hackathons, in free, open spaces, others in order to help drive such change. 

A big thank you to Zoe Braiterman from Mutual Knowledge Systems for sharing her journey to date.