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Embracing Innovation in Technology
Innovation in technology isn’t just about cool gadgets or fancy algorithms—
it’s about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. It’s about transforming industries, revolutionizing healthcare, and empowering businesses to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. But why do we dedicate an entire issue to the most innovative tech companies?
Think about it—these companies aren’t just creating buzz; they’re rewriting the rules of the game. They’re the ones harnessing
AI to predict consumer behavior, using blockchain to secure our transactions, and pioneering sustainable tech solutions that could save our planet. Innovation isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity in today’s hyperconnected world.
In this issue, we’re thrilled to feature Dr. Myriam Fernández Martín, a powerhouse in healthcare innovation. With over two decades of experience at the intersection of healthcare and IT, Dr. Fernández Martín isn’t just leading change; she’s defining it. Her work at Amazon Web Services is a testament to how technology can drive profound improvements in healthcare delivery, from Europe to the USA.
But let’s not forget to ask the big questions: How do these innovations impact our daily lives? Are we ready for a world where AI diagnoses our illnesses or where our cars drive themselves? These are not just futuristic fantasies—they’re realities unfolding before our eyes.
As you flip through these pages, I encourage you to ponder how innovation shapes our world and how these companies are not only shaping industries but also our future. Let’s celebrate the innovators, the risk-takers, and the visionaries who dare to dream big.
Enjoy Reading.
Sarath Shyam
10 COVER STORY
DR. MYRIAM FERNÁNDEZ MARTÍN
HEAD OF HEALTH INNOVATION, EMEA, AMAZON WEB SERVICES (AWS)
DRIVING INNOVATION THAT POSITIVELY IMPACT LIVES & SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE DELIVERY
IN MY VIEW
22
Evolution of Cybersecurity: Embracing Diversity And Customization
HEAD OF HEALTH INNOVATION, EMEA, AMAZON WEB SERVICES (AWS)
DRIVING INNOVATION THAT POSITIVELY IMPACT LIVES & SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE DELIVERY
Dr. Myriam Fernández Martín is a Healthcare Executive and PhD Nurse with more than 20 years of experience in the intersection between healthcare and IT: 12 in Europe and 9 in the USA. She is recognized in the industry as a visionary executive and trusted C-Suite advisor, with a proven track record accelerating healthcare digital transformation. As the Head of Health Innovation for EMEA, Dr Fernández is responsible to guide the AWS clients and partners on how to leverage the breadth and depth of AWS cloud services to deliver personalized health in their outcomes-oriented strategies. She has been recently named Most Admired Woman in Digital Health to follow in 2024.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Digital First Magazine, Dr. Myriam Fernández shared her professional trajectory, insights on the biggest opportunities and obstacles for innovation in the healthcare environment, the best piece of advice she has ever received, the secret mantra behind her success, future plans, pearls of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
Hi Dr Myriam Fernández. Please tell us about your background and areas of expertise.
Clinically grounded, I am a registered nurse, I hold a PhD in Health Sciences and master’s in science of nursing by the University of Alicante and an Executive Certificate in Healthcare Leadership by the University of Missouri.
After spending several years working as a nurse in different positions in hospitals in Spain, I embarked quickly in the intersection of healthcare and IT, first in Spain, with a local healthcare IT company called IT Deusto, and later with Cerner Corporation (now Oracle Health) as the first Spanish associate to join the company in Spain. In this role I expanded my responsibilities across Europe, driving the clinical transformation teams and standing up a strategic growth portfolio. Due to my demonstrated leadership and achievement of results on high speed to growth and profit, I was then asked to relocate to the US in 2013 to stand up the Value Advisory team as a Senior Director with Cerner Corporation. Overall, I have worked with more than two hundred C-suites worldwide.
In 2022, I came back to Europe as the Head of Health Innovation for Amazon Web Services (AWS) for the EMEA region. I am now responsible to guide the AWS clients and partners on how to leverage the breadth and depth of AWS cloud solutions to deliver personalized health and care in their outcomesoriented strategies. Applying continuous improvement methods, I advise leaders in making their healthcare digital transformation programs become mechanisms that improve health, operational and financial outcomes.
HEALTHCARE IS FACING UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES AND HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENTS, PAYORS, HEALTHCARE TECHS AS WELL AS STARTUPS ARE LOOKING FOR INNOVATIVE WAYS TO OVERCOME THEM
What is your most favourite aspect of your current role?
Healthcare is facing unprecedented challenges and healthcare organizations, governments, payors, healthcare techs as well as startups are looking for innovative ways to overcome them.
We live longer with more chronic conditions and there is a need and demand for personalized care. Meanwhile, the costs of healthcare continue to rise, the healthcare systems are based on volume rather than value, more than half of clinical professionals are suffering burnout, patient safety remains a challenge and, inequities in health and care continue to grow. All of these, combined with the fact that the healthcare data volume doubles every two years but 97% of goes unused because it is trapped in unstructured formats, and that healthcare organizations are a target for cyberattacks, with a growth year over year of 60% of this threat, makes the journey to cloud enabled advanced services a key cornerstone for any sustainable, resilient healthcare system strategy.
In AWS we are committed to providing technology that empowers healthcare organizations to deliver high quality, equitable care, and championing the use of our services to elevate the human condition. In my day to day, I have the responsibility to shape the healthcare strategy across the region, guiding AWS clients and partners on how to leverage the breadth and depth of AWS cloud solutions to deliver personalized health and care in their outcomes-oriented
initiatives. I am particularly focused on innovation, Generative AI and continuous improvement methods.
To deliver the services consumers expect, organizations, from providers and payors to healthtech, need to innovate faster and unlock the potential of data, all while keeping health information secure and private. AWS empowers health organizations to improve outcomes and accelerate the digitalization and utilization of their data with the broadest and deepest portfolio of cloud services, purposebuilt industry solutions, and an extensive partner network. This commitment to healthcare was further solidified almost a decade ago when AWS created a dedicated Healthcare and Life Sciences (HCLS) team consisting of healthcare professionals, industry experts, and cloud experts to help create solutions designed specifically for Healthcare’s unique needs. Since then, the AWS HCLS team has collaborated with health organizations across the globe to design and deploy solutions with a unified goal in mind: improving healthcare outcomes while giving customers control over their healthcare IT delivery costs. AWS’ scale, computing power, resiliency, deep expertise in healthcare, and portfolio of purpose-built services has established AWS as the trusted technology and innovation partner to the global health industry.
I love being part of enabling a positive change in healthcare on using technology for good.
Looking more broadly, what are the biggest opportunities and obstacles you see for innovation in the healthcare environment?
Healthcare is a discipline with innovation tied to its core. Clinical innovations have occurred throughout history, continually advancing our ability to treat, prevent and manage complex people: the first vaccine for smallpox in the 18th century, the measures implemented by Florence Nightingale in the Crimean War at the end of the 19th century to prevent infection and dramatically reduce deaths, the development of antibiotics in the 1920s and the world’s first organ transplant three decades later. However, the 21st century has brought even more progress, with technological advances redefining the healthcare sector.
At AWS we are committed to providing technology that empowers healthcare organizations to deliver high quality, equitable care. Some of the biggest opportunities are around embracing the understanding that technology enables providers to make health and care better. While this may seem obvious, it is still not broadly accepted. Showing the results of the impact of healthcare transformation though data driven approaches is critical to fill this awareness gap.
The biggest opportunity I see is to build trust in the healthcare sector. For example, it is impossible these days to talk about innovation in healthcare without talking about Generative Artificial Intelligence. If we look at a clinician trust in Generative AI and the extent to which they perceive it to be a helpful decision-making assistant, this will depend on multiple factors such as socio-ethical considerations, technical and design features,
user characteristics, and expertise. These are considerations that need to be made whenever approaching a new innovation.
AWS has long believed in and shared our customers’ excitement about the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to transform patient outcomes – from predicting bioactivity in drug discovery to automating complex medical image interpretation. At AWS, we have played a key role in democratizing ML and making it accessible to anyone. As a result, more than 100,000 customers rely on AWS ML services to transform their organizations. Now we’re seeing the vast promise of generative AI in healthcare and life sciences, with the potential to accelerate innovations and increase efficiencies across the care continuum. For example, with generative AI on AWS, customers can predict protein properties, create customized patient engagements, drive unprecedented levels of scientist and clinician productivity, and streamline manual clinical processes to reduce burden. At AWS we are taking the same approach to generative AI as we have done with ML: delivering new innovations to make it easy, cost effective, and practical for healthcare and life sciences organizations to leverage technology in their organizations.
As a clinician, I am a firm believer that technology can be an enabler for good in health and care.
In your opinion, what is the single most important change that will better enable digital transformation in health systems?
The most important change is going to be driven by the consumer of health and care and the need to
deliver a personalized experience. We are in the midst of generational change from those who learned to use a mobile phone in their adulthood, to kids who can’t imagine a time without a highpowered computer in their pocket.
Digital should never be the goal, but the means instead. Otherwise, we will continue to face a digital gap for our aging population and a “not being enough” digital for our younger ones. We need to understand the specific characteristics of the person to be able to deliver the best health and care possible. We are moving towards a journey of personalized health which is an emerging approach to healthcare that tailor’s medical treatment and prevention strategies to an individual’s unique characteristics, including their genetic makeup, lifestyle, and environmental factors. The goal of personalized health is to accompany a person in their life journey and provide more effective and targeted therapies, including prevention actions while minimizing adverse reactions and healthcare costs.
The individual will drive that change because it will become evident that healthcare cannot continue to be left behind. We are starting to see a shift in the way transformation strategies are approached and this is key to deliver outcomes.
What do you know now that you wish you had known when you were starting out as an innovator?
I wish some had explained to me from the beginning that the most important thing in anything you want to achieve at work is that you must understand people to understand business. Many of the problems we face today are so large and widespread, no one organization or agency can solve them alone.
In organizations, innovation involves the collaboration of people and teams with different knowledge, experience and expertise.
For example, at AWS, we have played a key role in democratizing ML and making it accessible to anyone who wants to use it, including more than 100,000 customers of all sizes and industries.
Traditionally, digital transformation projects have been merely IT projects, but when we want to truly transform an organization these projects need to become strategic and IT-enabled. This is the first step to see tangible outcomes. The second step would be the understanding that these are truly not “projects” that do not connect, even if they happen in different departments, but a journey instead. The word project has the connotation of “start” and “stop” and innovation should never stop, it should iterate. Lastly, we need to clearly articulate the problem we are aiming to solve, how we are going to measure success, and make sure, as hard as it might be, that measurement occurs. Agreeing on outcomes and making them a north star is a key component to facilitating change. Without the management of change, improvement will not be seen.
Where do you see digital health moving in the next ten years?
While we generally do not make predictions like this, I’m seeing a lot of promising work happening today that will surely shape the future of healthcare. The transformative influence of technology is pervasive, touching every aspect of our lives and altering the way we live, work, and interact. Revolutionizing work and learning: the way we work is undergoing a seismic shift.
I LOVE BEING PART OF ENABLING A POSITIVE CHANGE IN HEALTHCARE ON USING TECHNOLOGY FOR GOOD
In the healthcare industry this is no different. Technology is and will continue to be immersed in everything we do. The key is to build the journey in a manner that delivers tangible outcomes, helping to build trust such as ensuring responsible AI.
AWS builds foundation models with responsible AI in mind at each stage of its comprehensive development process. Throughout design, development, deployment, and operations we consider a range of factors including accuracy, fairness, intellectual property and copyright considerations, appropriate usage, toxicity, and privacy. We build solutions to address these issues into our processes for acquiring training data, into the FMs themselves, and into the technology that we use to pre-process user prompts and post-process outputs. For all our FMs, we invest actively to improve our features, and to learn from customers as they experiment with new use cases. At AWS, we know that generative AI technology and how it is used will continue to evolve, posing new challenges that will require additional attention and mitigation. Together with academic, industry and government partners, we are committed to the continued development of generative AI in a responsible way.
With the advancements on AI or generative AI there are lot of discussions on the impact on human and what will it mean to us, specifically on healthcare. Emotional intelligence provides human insights and empathy, but AI brings efficiency and analytical capabilities. That is why those that develop emotional intelligence skills with the learning and competencies of generative AI will be the leaders of the future.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE PROVIDES HUMAN INSIGHTS AND EMPATHY, AND AI BRINGS EFFICIENCY AND ANALYTICAL CAPABILITIES
In your academic or work career, were there any mentors who have helped you grow along the way? What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received? I have been very fortunate to work with amazing leaders across my career. I have also encountered leaders that have shown me what not to do and I am thankful for both, because challenge is good, it helps you grow, learn and get out of your comfort zone. Great challenges open great opportunities. You need embrace challenge, learn to surround yourself with talent and passion, and invest time with your team and stakeholders, this would be one of the best lessons I learned.
Change is hard and influencing a culture of innovation requires investment the leader’s time. You don’t need to have a team to be a leader, you don´t need to have a reporting structure to influence the teams around you.
The combination of understanding the motivation of the people you are working with, investing time in getting to know them, be stubborn in the vision but flexible in the details, support them as people and not only as peers or reports and above all building a safe environment where members trust each other, are critical steps towards building high performing teams. In this last part I always try to “lead by example” and challenge my teams, peers and leaders to do the same.
What are your passions outside of work?
I have and incredible spouse and two amazing daughters which are my number one passion. Spend time with them, enjoying time and sharing their joys, working together through life and pursuing their dreams is where I love to spend my time.
Spend some time exercising and listening to music or enjoy time with my extended family and close friends and have fun in “tardeos”, which is a Spanish tradition of having a small “tapa” before dinner or extending it before lunch during the weekends are some of my other passions.
I really enjoy travel as well, I do that for work and I love doing it for fun, getting immersed and learning from different cultures helps you incredibly grow as a person and implicitly as a leader.
You have been a recipient of prestigious awards and recognitions over the years, the recent being named as one of the Most Admired Women in Digital Health to follow in 2024. Our readers would love to know the secret mantra behind your success. Embrace your dreams and find your sense of purpose. If you do not know where you are going, it will be difficult for you to get there. Why are you doing what you are doing? You need to find your passion. Without passion you will be unlikely to succeed. Once you find your passion is easier to ensure dedication and commitment and put in the hard work necessary to excel. I’ve always approached my endeavors with a strong work ethic, a willingness to go the extra mile, and a determination to see tasks through to completion.
Once you find your “why” be ready to do the following every day, it is what I call my dayto-day equation: prepare yourself and combine it with discipline and flexibility and then do it again, and again.
Be aware you will never be successful alone. Success comes from teamwork and is important to invest time in it.
Also, need to embrace that success is rarely a linear path; it often involves overcoming obstacles, bouncing back from setbacks, and persevering through challenges. My mantra emphasizes resilience, the ability to remain focused, stay positive, and quickly pivot when faced with adversity. This mindset has helped me navigate through difficult situations, learn from failures, and ultimately emerge stronger and more experienced. Success is the combination of preparation, you have to study, every day, be curious and learn, be disciplined, it is ok to fail, stand up and try again and be flexible, sometimes to get to a certain place you might need to change directions. Opportunities will come, be ready to adjust.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
In the next five years, I see myself continuing to play a pivotal role in driving digital transformation initiatives within the healthcare industry. I look to continue to grow and develop my skills and expertise in responsible healthcare digital transformation. Continue to learn from my colleagues and help others to learn. I will continue to look for opportunities where I can leverage my experience and knowledge to mentor and guide others, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment that nurtures talent and breeds excellence. Ultimately, my goal is to contribute to the development of a connected, intelligent, and human-centric healthcare ecosystem. By fostering partnerships with technology companies, research institutions, and healthcare organizations, I aspire to drive innovation that
can positively impact lives and shape the future of healthcare delivery.
I’m driven by the desire to make healthcare better today so it can be sustainable for the future.
What is the one piece of advice that you can share with other professionals in your industry?
We are all patients or going to be patients some day in our lives. Making healthcare better is a right and a responsibility of all of us. If you work in healthcare and aim to improve it make sure you are obsessed with making it better, with showing impact on healthcare outcomes and to do that you need to be customer obsessed. In Amazon we aim to be earth’s most customer-centric company and our commitment is to make our customers’ lives easier. We are customer obsessed and this is not just one of our leadership principles, it is true in the way we live our day to day. This was one of the main drivers that had me join Amazon Web Services. This statement is critical to drive growth, instead of “pushing” things to the market start by understanding what the client needs instead and work backwards from there. This needs to be accompanied by a long term thinking, which is another of our leadership principles, because it might mean that you might “lose a sale” in the short term because maybe at that point what you can offer if that is not what the customer needs, and you need to be ok with that, help recognize it and be transparent because in the long term, to earn the trust of the customer will make you become a key element in their overall journey and opportunities will naturally come.
Guiding & Inspiring the Next Generation of Cybersecurity Professionals
Bianca Lins, Legal & Compliance Officer, Amt für Kommunikation - Office for Communications
Bianca, please tell us about your background and areas of interest. My background is a blend of legal expertise, a deep-seated passion for cybersecurity and space, and a commitment to education and mentorship. Before embarking on my academic journey in law, I had already established a career in the IT and finance sectors. This experience provided me with a solid foundation and a unique perspective that I later brought into my legal studies and
research. In 2011, while raising two young children, I decided to further my education and completed my high school diploma, marking the beginning of my formal journey in the legal field. I pursued law studies at the University of Linz in Austria, where my interest in the intersection of law and technology began to take shape. My passion for this field was further solidified through my Executive Master of Laws, where my thesis on Robo Advice was recognized with a best
Technology is not just an adjunct to the legal system; it’s a catalyst for its evolution, making it more efficient, equitable, and equipped to handle the challenges of the modern world
Dr. Bianca Lins, LL.M. is a Legal & Compliance Officer at the Liechtenstein Office for Communications (OfCom), the regulatory authority for the electronic communication and space sector. She is the POC for space activities and responsiblefortheimplementationoflegal requirements. In doing so, she co-drafted the Liechtenstein Space Act and the Liechtenstein Cybersecurity Act. Before working for OfCom, she was a researcher at the University of Liechtenstein, where still teaches Cybersecurity & Law. In 2023, she was awarded the “Cybersecurity Woman of the Year Award” (category Law Professional). In her early career she worked in IT and financial markets.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Digital First Magazine, Bianca shared her professional trajectory, insights on the infusion of technology into the legal system, the biggest challenges that might affect the legal sector in the next 5 years, significant career milestones, future plans, pearls of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
paper award. Completing my doctorate “summa cum laude” was a milestone that signified not just academic achievement, but also represented the culmination of balancing family life with a deep commitment to learning and exploring new frontiers in law and technology.
In my current role as the Legal & Compliance Officer at the Liechtenstein Office for Communications, my responsibilities include regulatory oversight in electronic communications and the space sector. Part of my role involves active engagement in various committees and working groups, such as BEREC Cybersecurity, Eutelsat, and the ITSO Advisory Committee. Additionally, contributing to the drafting of significant legislation like the Space Act and the Cybersecurity Act is among my key responsibilities, showcasing my commitment to shaping the legal landscape in these vital areas.
Aside from my role at the Office for Communications, I maintain a strong connection with academia. I continue to teach at the university, focusing on Cybersecurity & Law, and am currently engaged in writing various articles and a book project on cybersecurity. My role as a mentor is also central to my professional life, as I am passionate about guiding and inspiring the next generation of professionals in this field.
I was deeply honored and humbled to receive the ‘Cybersecurity Woman of the Year’ award in 2023. This recognition, which reflects the collective effort and support of many, serves as a reminder of the meaningful progress we are making together in the field of cybersecurity. I believe that my non-traditional path and the challenges I have overcome serve as a testament to the importance of persistence, continuous learning, and the drive to make a positive impact in the world.
How do you see technology helping the legal system, which is otherwise known to be very traditional and conservative?
In my view, the infusion of technology into the legal system, particularly in the public sector where I’m currently engaged, heralds a transformative era. Traditional and conservative though the legal framework may be, technology offers unprecedented opportunities to enhance its efficiency, accessibility, and adaptability. Technology is not just an adjunct to the legal system; it’s a catalyst for its evolution, making it more efficient, equitable, and equipped to handle the challenges of the modern world.
For example, we’re seeing the introduction of digital courtrooms and e-filing systems which expedite case handling and reduce paper-based inefficiencies. Moreover, advanced data analytics and AI tools are becoming indispensable in legal research, helping to sift through vast amounts of legal
precedents and literature, thereby aiding in more informed decision-making.
Another critical area is cybersecurity law, where technology plays a dual role. It not only presents new challenges and complexities that the legal system must address, but also provides innovative tools for legal professionals to combat cyber threats effectively. This is especially vital in the public sector, where protecting sensitive data and infrastructure is paramount.
Furthermore, technology facilitates greater access to legal resources for the public. Online legal services and platforms are democratizing legal advice, making it more accessible and affordable. This is crucial in bridging the gap between the public and the legal system, ensuring that legal assistance isn’t a privilege confined to a few.
In the space sector, where legal frameworks are still evolving, technology provides a unique opportunity to shape laws that are forward-thinking and adaptable to
I see the biggest challenge for legal professionals in the next five years as twofold: mastering the technological tools that are revolutionizing our field, and doing so in a way that upholds the ethical standards that are the bedrock of our profession
future innovations. As we venture further into space exploration and utilization, the legal system must keep pace, and technology is the key to that agility.
The legal profession is changing, and professionals need to be more business and tech savvy. What do you see as the biggest challenge for the legal professional in let’s say five years from now?
I see the biggest challenge for legal professionals in the next five years as twofold: mastering the technological tools that are revolutionizing our field, and doing so in a way that upholds the ethical standards that are the bedrock of our profession. It’s about striking a balance between being tech-savvy and ethically vigilant, ensuring that as we embrace innovation, we don’t lose sight of the fundamental principles that define our role in society.
The rapid advancement of technologies like AI and machine learning is transforming and reshaping the very fabric of our daily lives and the way we work. These technologies are forging new frontiers, bringing about a wave of novel legal and ethical questions. Take, for
example, the realm of autonomous driving. This innovation is set to revolutionize transportation, offering potential benefits such as increased efficiency and reduced accident rates. However, it also presents complex legal challenges that ripple across various aspects of law and ethics.
Autonomous vehicles raise questions about liability in the event of accidents. Who is responsible when a driverless car is involved in a collision – the manufacturer, the software developer, or the owner of the vehicle? Moreover, the data security and privacy issues associated with autonomous vehicles are significant. These cars rely on vast amounts of data to operate, including sensitive personal information about their occupants. The collection, storage, and use of this data bring forth concerns regarding privacy rights and data protection, areas that are already a hotbed of legal activity. Ethically, autonomous driving technology forces us to confront dilemmas that were once purely theoretical. For instance, how should an autonomous vehicle’s software be programmed to respond in a scenario where an accident is unavoidable? The decisions made by programmers today could have profound ethical implications in real-world situations tomorrow.
Incorporating emerging technologies into daily legal practice offers numerous advantages for lawyers, particularly in terms of efficiency and client service
In essence, the challenge for legal professionals over the next five years is to navigate this new landscape where technology is continuously reshaping societal norms and working methodologies. We need to develop legal frameworks that are flexible enough to adapt to these rapid changes while ensuring that they align with ethical principles and societal values. Our role is not just to respond to these developments but to actively shape the
discourse around them, ensuring that the law remains a guiding force in a world increasingly driven by technology.
How can lawyers use emerging technologies in their day-to-day operations?
Incorporating emerging technologies into daily legal practice offers numerous advantages for lawyers, particularly in terms of efficiency and
client service. The rise of cloud computing has revolutionized data management in the legal field. It allows lawyers to access case files and collaborate from virtually anywhere, streamlining workflows and client interactions. The integration of chatbots and virtual assistants into legal practice can enhance client service. These tools handle routine inquiries and tasks, enabling lawyers to concentrate on more complex legal issues.
Blockchain technology is significantly impacting areas like contract law and intellectual property. Smart contracts automate and secure the execution of agreements, while blockchain’s robust record-keeping capabilities are invaluable for ensuring the integrity of legal documents.
AI and machine learning, for example, are transforming legal research, allowing for the rapid analysis of large volumes of legal documents and precedents. This not only saves time but also enhances the accuracy and depth of legal research.
Furthermore, emerging technologies like virtual and augmented reality are beginning to be used in litigation to recreate scenes for a more immersive evidence presentation. This could revolutionize the way evidence is understood and interpreted in courtrooms.
The integration of emerging technologies into legal practice offers a plethora of benefits. It not only enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of legal services but also opens up new avenues for innovation in the way lawyers operate and engage with their clients. But the key is to embrace these technologies thoughtfully, ensuring they complement and enhance the legal expertise rather than replace the crucial human element of legal practice.
According to you, how are legal technology providers addressing the need for data security?
In the field of legal technology, the issue of data security is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Speaking from my experience and observation, providers are really stepping up to meet this challenge, but there’s a range of how well they’re doing it. Many are turning to established security standards like NIST and ISO 27001 as their guiding frameworks. These aren’t just checkboxes; they’re comprehensive guides that cover everything from risk management to incident response. By aligning with these standards, providers are able to offer a level of security that’s robust and reliable.
Then there’s the legal side of things, like the NIS-2 Directive in the EU, which is quite stringent. It’s not just about being compliant for compliance’s sake; it’s about genuinely protecting data. Providers who are serious about their role understand this and are integrating these requirements into their operations.
However, it’s not uniform across the board. While many providers are doing an excellent job, staying ahead of threats and regularly updating their security measures, others might not be as proactive. This is where the challenge lies. In this digital age, staying static isn’t an option; the goalposts for data security are always moving.
From my viewpoint, the key for legal tech providers is not just to meet the current standards but to continuously evolve and adapt. It’s about being vigilant, educating ourselves and our clients, and always striving for better security. After all, in legal tech, the way we handle data security is as important as the services we provide.
The legal profession is not static; it’s continually evolving with the advancement of technology and the changing landscape of global business
Do you think that Law Schools understand the need to change the traditional curriculum or at least give more attention to the business of law?
I believe there’s a growing awareness of this necessity. The legal profession is not static; it’s continually evolving with the advancement of technology and the changing landscape of global business. Consequently, legal education must adapt to prepare future lawyers for these challenges.
Many law schools are already taking steps to integrate courses that cover the business aspects of law, technology’s impact on legal practice, and the emerging trends in the legal industry. This shift is partly due to the realization that legal practice today demands a broader skill set than before, one that encompasses business acumen, technological proficiency, and an understanding of global market dynamics.
Additionally, the legal profession’s increasing overlap with fields like finance, technology, and international business necessitates a more interdisciplinary approach to legal education. Law schools that are proactive in updating their curricula are not just responding to current trends but are also positioning their graduates for success in a legal landscape that’s becoming more integrated with business and technology.
However, the pace of change varies among institutions. While some are at the forefront of this evolution, others may still be anchored in traditional methods. The challenge for law schools is balancing the foundational aspects of legal education, like critical thinking and legal theory, with practical skills and knowledge about the business of law. The most forward-thinking law schools are those that not only acknowledge this need but actively
Whether it’s interacting with clients from diverse backgrounds or working within increasingly global teams, understanding and valuing different perspectives is crucial
embrace it, ensuring their graduates are wellequipped for the modern legal environment.
What three qualities do you think a modern lawyer should have?
I believe there are three key qualities that define a modern lawyer, qualities that resonate deeply with the challenges and opportunities we face today.
Firstly, being technologically adept is no longer a luxury but a necessity. It’s not about being a tech wizard, but about having a comfortable grasp on how technology influences legal practices. This includes everything from understanding e-discovery tools to grappling with the implications of data privacy laws. It’s about embracing the digital age in law, and not just as a bystander.
Then, there’s the undeniable importance of adaptability and a commitment to lifelong learning. The legal world is not static; it’s a vibrant, ever-changing entity shaped by new laws, societal shifts, and global events. A modern lawyer needs to be nimble, ready to learn and relearn, and open to evolving their practice. This might mean staying updated on legal precedents today and understanding new international regulations tomorrow.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, is the combination of emotional intelligence and cultural competence. Law isn’t just about statutes and case law; it’s about people. Whether it’s interacting with clients from diverse backgrounds or working within increasingly global teams, understanding and valuing different perspectives is crucial. It’s about more than just legal expertise; it’s about empathy, ethics, and the ability to see the world through others’ eyes.
With other words, the modern lawyer needs to be a hybrid of sorts – grounded in traditional legal excellence but also adept in the digital world, adaptable, and culturally and emotionally intelligent. This blend is what will make lawyers not just competent professionals but invaluable assets in this rapidly evolving world.
One piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring lawyers.
The legal field is constantly evolving, with new challenges and opportunities emerging all the time, especially in areas like technology and international law. Embrace continuous learning and adaptability. Staying curious and open-minded, always eager to expand your knowledge and skills, is vital.
Furthermore, the value of empathy and understanding in our profession cannot be overstated. Law isn’t just about statutes and legal principles; it’s inherently about people and their lives. Being able to see things from multiple perspectives and understanding the human element behind legal issues is key to becoming not just a competent lawyer, but a compassionate one.
Also, never underestimate the power of perseverance and resilience. The journey through a legal career can be demanding, with inevitable setbacks. Remember why you chose this path and let that passion drive you forward. The most fulfilling achievements often come from overcoming the toughest challenges. Stay curious, be empathetic, and remain resilient – these qualities are essential not just for a successful legal career but also for a rich and rewarding professional journey.
AssureCare
Empowering Healthcare Transformation Through Innovative Technology Solutions
AssureCare stands as a leading figure in the realm of population health, bridging the gap between payors, providers, and pharmacies on a national and international scale. Its mission is clear: to tackle the complex challenges stemming from fragmented patient information, outdated software, and disjointed care teams.
“In today’s healthcare landscape, the need for seamless connectivity is paramount,” says Dr Yousuf J. Ahmad, CEO of AssureCare. “We are dedicated to ensuring that patients remain at the heart of our platform.”
Founded out of a necessity to address the fragmented and costly nature of healthcare delivery, AssureCare’s technology platform unites payors, members, and pharmacists to streamline care management, utilization management, and medication therapy management. The company’s unwavering commitment to patient-centricity and stakeholder connectivity underpins every facet of its operations.
A testament to its success, AssureCare’s Connected Care Platform has revolutionized healthcare management, integrating essential functions to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Dr. Yousuf Ahmad, CEO of AssureCare
Supported by a network of over 2,500 pharmacies nationwide, AssureCare empowers healthcare professionals worldwide, with a user base exceeding 75,000
Mayur Yermaneni, EVP of Strategy, Innovation, and Growth, AssureCare
With an impressive reach extending to over 83 million lives, the company has been at the forefront of healthcare innovation.
With millions of lives supported on the platform and a user base exceeding 75,000, AssureCare stands at the forefront of healthcare technology and management. Their technological infrastructure handles a remarkable volume of transactions, facilitating over 70,000 transactions per minute and managing approximately 45,000 clinical decisions daily. Supported by a network of over 2,500 pharmacies nationwide, AssureCare empowers healthcare professionals worldwide.
Innovations Driving Healthcare Transformation
AssureCare stands as a beacon of innovation in healthcare management, offering a diverse array of products and services aimed at reshaping the industry landscape. Central to its portfolio is the population health management enterprise platform, MedCompass, a standout
solution empowering healthcare providers with comprehensive insights into patient health data.
“In today’s complex healthcare environment, seamless care management is crucial,” notes Dr. Ahmad. “MedCompass revolutionizes this process, providing personalized care planning and robust reporting capabilities.”
A recent addition to AssureCare’s arsenal is OptimAIzer, a groundbreaking platform leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance population health management services. OptimAIzer PDS, the flagship product, optimizes physician resources by an impressive 60%, streamlining operations and expediting critical medical reviews. “OptimAIzer represents a significant leap forward in operational efficiency,” Dr. Ahmad emphasizes. “Its seamless integration with existing platforms ensures minimal disruption for our clients.”
Furthermore, AssureCare’s AssureRx platform introduces a novel solution aimed at simplifying
pharmacist credentialing, setting a new standard in the healthcare industry. By addressing the complexities of payor requirements, AssureRx streamlines the credentialing process for community pharmacists, ultimately enhancing patient safety and optimizing outcomes. “AssureRx epitomizes our commitment to innovation and excellence,” adds Dr. Ahmad. “It’s about empowering pharmacists and improving patient care at every touchpoint.”
AssureRx, the latest innovation from AssureCare, is revolutionizing efficiency and simplicity by guiding pharmacists through the credentialing application process. “With AssureRx, pharmacists not only benefit from streamlined credentialing but also gain access to advanced medication therapy management capabilities,” explains Mayur Yermaneni, EVP of Strategy, Innovation, and Growth at AssureCare. “Our goal is to empower pharmacists to deliver quality patient care while advocating for change
and providing comprehensive solutions for seamless integration into medical plans.
AssureCare is committed to incorporating the Food as Medicine discipline into its whole person management model, a testament to its dedication to holistic healthcare. “Investment in Food as Medicine underscores our commitment to comprehensive patient care,” Yermaneni explains. “It’s about addressing the root causes of health issues and promoting overall well-being.”
In line with its commitment to innovation, AssureCare has developed solutions to ensure clients can seamlessly comply with upcoming CURES Act regulations. FHIR integrations, for instance, enable healthcare providers to submit Prior-Authorization requests directly from their Electronic Health Records (EHRs), streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency.
Moreover, AssureCare’s Utilization Management Module, Optimized UM, promotes financially sound resource management through streamlined claims processing, eligibility verification, and clinical necessity assessment. The Medication Management Module identifies care gaps and opportunities for medication adherence, further enhancing patient outcomes. “AssureCare’s diverse product offerings reflect our dedication to driving positive outcomes and efficiency in healthcare delivery,” shares Yermaneni. “It’s about empowering healthcare professionals and advancing the integration of healthcare systems for the betterment of patient care.”
Redefining Healthcare Technology Through Innovation and Patient-Centric Solutions
AssureCare LLC stands out in the healthcare technology landscape, driven by several distinguishing factors that set it apart from the
competition. “With AssureCare, our aim is to provide comprehensive solutions that cater to the diverse needs of healthcare organizations,” notes Dr. Ahmad. “It’s about empowering our clients with end-to-end support.”
Central to AssureCare’s ethos is a patientcentric approach, prioritizing the needs and experiences of patients to improve outcomes and enhance overall quality of care. Through technology solutions that promote patient engagement and adherence to treatment plans,
AssureRx, the latest innovation from AssureCare, is revolutionizing the pharmacist credentialing process, ushering
in a new era of efficiency and simplicity
AssureCare empowers individuals to actively participate in their healthcare journey. “Our technology platform is designed to be highly flexible and scalable,” notes Dr. Ahmad. “Whether it’s a small regional health plan or a large payor like Aetna, our solutions can be tailored to fit specific workflows and infrastructures.”
Harnessing the power of advanced analytics, AssureCare enables healthcare providers to derive meaningful insights from data. By identifying trends and predicting outcomes, providers can make informed decisions to optimize patient care and operational efficiency. “Innovation is at the core of what we do,” says Dr. Ahmad. “From
artificial intelligence to telehealth solutions, we’re constantly exploring new technologies to drive advancements in healthcare delivery.”
AssureCare places a strong emphasis on regulatory compliance and data security, ensuring that its solutions adhere to industry standards such as HIPAA. By prioritizing data privacy and security, AssureCare builds trust with its clients and safeguards sensitive healthcare information. “AssureCare’s commitment to comprehensive solutions, patient-centricity, flexibility, advanced analytics, innovation, and compliance sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare technology industry,” states Dr. Ahmad. “It’s about redefining what’s possible in healthcare technology and ultimately improving patient outcomes.”
AssureCare stands out in the healthcare technology landscape, driven by several distinguishing factors that set it apart from the competition
Pioneering Healthcare Technology for Enhanced Patient Care
At the forefront of healthcare technology, AssureCare leads the charge in driving significant advancements and improving patient care through its innovative solutions and services. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies, AssureCare revolutionizes care coordination, empowers population health management, and fosters meaningful patient engagement. “Our commitment is to connect technology with patient outcomes,” says Dr. Ahmad. “It’s about transcending the traditional model of acute management to embrace whole person management.”
Through ongoing collaboration with partners and internal brainstorming sessions, AssureCare ensures that its solutions remain at the forefront of innovation. This dedication underscores AssureCare’s commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare solutions
for the benefit of patients and providers alike. “With approximately 80 million member lives covered, AssureCare is poised to make a significant impact on the healthcare landscape,” adds Dr. Ahmad.
AssureCare’s distinction within the healthcare technology market lies in its commitment to innovation, patient-centric approach, and comprehensive suite of solutions. With a reach spanning over 83 million lives, AssureCare offers practice management, electronic health records, and value-based healthcare payor solutions, positioning itself as a one-stop solution provider. “Our patient-centric approach empowers patients to actively engage in their healthcare journey,” emphasizes Dr. Ahmad. “It’s about connecting all stakeholders and ensuring patient engagement.”
Furthermore, AssureCare’s technology platform is highly flexible and scalable, catering to the evolving needs of healthcare organizations. Leveraging advanced analytics capabilities, AssureCare provides meaningful insights from healthcare data, enabling providers to make informed decisions.
AssureCare’s emphasis on regulatory compliance and data security ensures adherence to industry standards like HIPAA, fostering trust with clients and maintaining data integrity. Overall, AssureCare’s blend of innovation, patient-centricity, and comprehensive solutions positions it as a leader in the healthcare technology industry, poised to drive positive outcomes and efficiency in healthcare delivery.
Strategies for Market Leadership and Innovation
AssureCare adopts a comprehensive strategy to maintain its market leadership and competitive
Investing heavily in research and development, AssureCare ensures its solutions remain at the forefront of the industry
edge, focusing on Voice of Customer (VoC), technology innovations, and market/industry trends research. “At AssureCare, our commitment is to continuously innovate and leverage the latest technologies,” states Yermaneni. “It’s about staying ahead of the curve and meeting our customers’ evolving needs.”
Investing heavily in research and development, AssureCare ensures its solutions
remain at the forefront of the industry. By closely monitoring emerging trends and technological advancements, the company anticipates customer needs and delivers innovative solutions proactively. “Our customer-centric approach is paramount,” Yermaneni emphasizes. “We actively seek feedback from our clients and integrate their suggestions into our product development process.”
Listening to the voice of the customer ensures that AssureCare’s solutions are tailored to meet specific needs and deliver maximum value. Furthermore, the company’s agility and adaptability enable it to respond swiftly and effectively to market changes, whether they be shifting customer preferences or evolving regulatory requirements. “Adaptability is key to our success,” says Yermaneni. “We are always ready to adapt and innovate to maintain our position as a leader in the healthcare technology industry.”
Delivering Success through Specialized Implementation Methodology
AssureCare takes pride in the expertise of its seasoned implementation team, adept at introducing innovative solutions with a focus on cost-effectiveness. At the core of AssureCare’s approach lies an unwavering commitment to enhancing the likelihood of success through a meticulously crafted hybrid methodology. “Our methodology blends standardized processes with innovative techniques encapsulated within our specialized ‘Playbooks’,” explains Yermaneni. “It’s about providing our clients with a structured framework for success.”
Developed over years of experience, these Playbooks serve as a blueprint for success, guiding clients through each phase of implementation with clarity and precision. Emphasizing the integration of reusable configurations and data integrations, AssureCare ensures seamless compatibility with existing systems while minimizing disruptions. “By leveraging pre-
established components, we streamline the implementation process,” adds Yermaneni. “It’s about delivering value to our clients efficiently and effectively.”
Leading the Charge in Healthcare Transformation
AssureCare emerges as a forward-thinking healthcare technology company dedicated to revolutionizing healthcare delivery through innovative solutions. Leveraging cutting-edge software platforms and data analytics, AssureCare focuses on optimizing care coordination, managing chronic conditions, and improving population health management. “Our mission is to empower healthcare organizations to enhance patient outcomes and streamline workflows,” says Dr. Ahmad. “It’s about advancing healthcare technology to drive positive health outcomes for all individuals.”
With a commitment to innovation, AssureCare aims to expand access to quality care, reduce disparities, and improve health outcomes across diverse settings. From government-sponsored programs to commercial health plans, nursing homes, retirement homes, home health, and addiction clinics, AssureCare offers care management solutions tailored to meet the evolving needs of its customers. “We are dedicated to not just meeting but anticipating the needs of our customers,” Dr. Ahmad concludes. “Through ongoing innovation and evolution of our technology solutions, we strive to empower our customers to coordinate better care for their clients and drive positive outcomes.”
A Thought Leader, Connecting Company Growth with Government Innovation
David Egts, Field CTO, Public Sector, MuleSoft at Salesforce
David, can you share with us what you’re focused on this year as the Field CTO, Public Sector, MuleSoft at Salesforce? What are the top priorities for MuleSoft?
AI is top of mind among nearly all business leaders – especially those in the public sector. There is an industry-wide AI adoption process taking place, and the government does not want to be left behind by the private sector. As such, my focus at MuleSoft has been on helping government leaders
identify what their AI strategy is and what it should be – but before a good AI strategy can be put into motion, we first have to make sure we’ve laid the foundation with an effective data strategy.
Data fuels AI, and organizations must unlock all of their data sources to create a foundation that’s safe, secure, and trustworthy. A challenge organizations in the public sector face today is that they all have data lakes, but these data lakes
AI requires its leaders to embrace a level of risktaking that the industry has not traditionally been comfortable with
David Egts is MuleSoft’s first Public Sector Field CTO, serving as the connective tissue between MuleSoft and top public sector decision-makers and influencers globally. He applies his deep industry knowledge to help ensure current and future government requirements are factored into MuleSoft’s existing products and R&D efforts.
OutsideofMuleSoft,Davidisthefounding co-chair of the WashingtonExec CTO Council and advises numerous companies on commercializing open source software and working with the public sector industry. He has received industry-wide recognition as an FCW Federal 100 winner, FedScoop 50 Industry Leadership awardee, and one of WashingtonExec’s Top Cloud Executives to Watch.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Digital First Magazine, David shared his top prioritiesforMuleSoft,insightsonthebiggest hurdle for government organizations when it comes to implementing a successful AI strategy,howthepublicsectorcanbestequip employees with the skills and knowledge to keep up with the pace of innovation, future plans, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
aren’t easily accessible or actionable – because they aren’t connected.
MuleSoft’s priority is to help organizations integrate all of these data sources, with the help of Salesforce’s Data Cloud and automation tools. This unifies siloed data and activates it to create a 360-degree view of citizens, residents, and other users of government services that unlocks the full potential of AI for the public sector.
As AI adoption continues to rapidly increase, what are the implications of AI that the public sector needs to be mindful of? How do the implications differ from other industries?
The public sector is still learning about AI and how to best apply it. AI requires its leaders to embrace a level of risk-taking that the industry has not traditionally been comfortable with.
In the public sector, failure is not an option (to quote the great Gene Krantz), and a new culture of low-risk, high-reward risk-taking needs to be adopted. Otherwise, the technology gap between the public and private sectors will continue to widen — and that’s a risk in itself that impacts areas like customer experience and trust.
MuleSoft’s Connectivity Benchmark Report found that 86% of public sector respondents see integration challenges as a roadblock to digital transformation. In the average enterprise, there are over 900 applications used, with only 28% of them integrated — this struggle is even more pronounced in the public sector.
Public sector respondents to MuleSoft’s report are cautiously optimistic about the transformative potential of AI, which may be due to the limited availability of government-certified AI services.
However, by embracing proper API management and governance, the public sector can experiment with emerging AI tools using non-sensitive data to lay the groundwork for future integration (eventually using sensitive data) as more AI providers become government-certified.
Why is data privacy and security so fundamental to the public sector, from your perspective?
Trust is the number one value at Salesforce and MuleSoft, and the same goes for the public sector. This means it’s critical for the industry to provide an exceptional customer experience that explicitly builds that trust from the beginning. And now, adding AI to private and public sector systems makes trust-by-design all the more important. The government can’t do this alone and needs to align itself with companies in the private sector
that share its values of trust. Data strategies demand sharing – it’s important that agencies find a balance between the sharing of data with privacy and security. APIs offer a way to provide transparency without releasing personally identifiable information (PII).
AI has the potential to disrupt service delivery in ways that can be beneficial or detrimental. AIaugmented systems can deliver better customer experiences faster and increase trust, but poorly designed AI systems can destroy trust even quicker.
Trust-by-design should be built into IT systems and public services instead of as an afterthought. Customer data should not be a company’s product – Salesforce’s Einstein Trust Layer provides a model for other public and private sector organizations to follow, and hold service providers to the same security guardrails and standards
AI-augmented systems can deliver better customer experiences faster and increase trust, but poorly designed AI systems can destroy trust even quicker
Lifelong learning and growth mindsets must be at the foundation of every agency’s culture, as they have a responsibility to their employees to nurture their growth
they set for themselves in checking for toxicity, hallucination, bias, masking, and unmasking of data to ensure AI outputs are trustworthy.
What is the biggest hurdle for government organizations when implementing a successful AI strategy? What technologies should IT leaders look to adopt to help overcome it?
For government organizations, the pace of innovation is faster than the pace of regulation. On top of that, the integration of applications remains a hurdle to overcome as the best AI models in the world do organizations no good if they can’t access data to make informed, wellgrounded decisions. An effective AI strategy needs to make AI easy for government agencies to use. Otherwise, policies will be circumvented to get work done.
Government agencies need to adopt APIs to better unlock their data for use by AI and other applications, and have the data governance needed to establish guardrails. To do this, agencies should develop what I like to call an ‘AI Autobahn’ that is paved and smooth with wide guardrails so they can move faster using agency-provided and governed tools than going it alone. The guardrails are helpful because they keep everyone on the (approved) road.
Automation will also help bring generative AI to life by triggering workflows to engage customers with AI-generated content that is grounded in real-world customer data that drive desirable outcomes. Using predictive analytics, organizations can forecast what is likely to happen in the future by looking for patterns in the information they already have.
Many state governments are basing their AI strategy on the values of their state constitutions to
reflect the norms of their residents. Not only does this give the public sector a baseline AI strategy to work off of, but it also builds trust as guardrails are created based on values that have been long established within each state.
How can the public sector best equip employees with the skills and knowledge to keep up with the pace of innovation? Are there any societal impacts due to innovation that you are watching?
In the public sector, we often talk about modernizing legacy applications, but we sometimes forget about modernizing our workforce. We need to continuously do that to attract and retain the best talent in the public sector. Lifelong learning and growth mindsets must be at the foundation of every agency’s culture, as they have a responsibility to their employees to nurture their growth.
Before, technology education required major investments in time and money to attend universities or product training programs. Today, employees have a wealth of low or no-cost learning available where they can build a customized curriculum based on their personal interests and career aspirations. For example, Salesforce offers Trailhead to empower people to learn in-demand skills and access free, hands-on training to upskill for the future, and other companies offer similar courses. Then there is an abundance of online courses where people can obtain micro-credentials to help advance their careers.
It’s an exciting time that’s empowering people to take ownership of upskilling themselves for the future to keep up with the pace of innovation today. With generative AI, these courses can be augmented to help bring training content to life. This essentially provides a virtual tutor to
help better upskill the workforce. Education is critical for employers to attract and retain talent, and now it’s up to the public sector to bring it to life by creating a structure for continuous learning and enablement.
Where do you expect to see the Public Sector in its AI adoption journey one year from now? What can we expect to see from MuleSoft?
As Yogi Berra would say, the future ain’t what it used to be. The coming year in the public sector will be full of significant advancements – and surprises – in AI. We’ll see the development of more powerful AI systems, as well as the widespread adoption of AI in a variety of industries.
Most public sector agencies won’t be building their own models, but they will be leveraging AI built into the products they already own to create centaur teams that pair humans with integration-fueled AI to improve productivity and reduce turnover.
We’ll also see more cloud AI services from the private sector embracing regulated industries, receiving government certifications like FedRAMP, and appearing in regions where data sovereignty is required. This means IT leaders should embrace a loosely coupled APIled approach to AI adoption, as it will let them experiment and develop skills with the latest noncertified services today and quickly move to their certified counterparts tomorrow.
We can expect to see even more transformative applications emerge in the public sector – as soon as this year and in the years to come. In the near term, our focus at MuleSoft will continue to be on bringing data to life through effective integration, automation, and AI in ways that help the public sector harness the pace of innovation.
Empowering Individuals for a Strong Cybersecurity Future
Hi Dorota. Please share your background and areas of interest.
I am recognized with the Cyber Woman Hope trophy by CEFCYS, and as one of the talented 40 under 40 in Cybersecurity 2023 by the Top Cyber News Magazine, and I enjoy sharing my knowledge and insights as an international keynote speaker.
As a Penetration Tester, I help clients test their security posture through a structured cyber attack simulation with a predefined and agreed-
on scope. I have over two years of experience in offensive security, with the ability to think like an adversary and identify and exploit security gaps and vulnerabilities on endpoint devices, applications, and networks. I also provide reports enumerating the existing vulnerabilities and remediation to mitigate them.
I am passionate about cybersecurity and learning new skills and technologies. I have a strong investigative mindset with attention to detail and great communication skills, ensuring assignments
I am passionate about cybersecurity and learning new skills and technologies
Dorota Kozlowska always dreamed of working in ITand studying computer science. As a certified cybersecurity specialist, she shares why she established herself in the cybersecurity industry - for the maximum challenge! She is also eager to empower others to enter the industry and become cybersecurity specialists, which is why she shares her learning journey and tips on how she became a cybersecurity professional to give a point of reference and help others build the courage to follow their dreams. Year 2023 was important as she has received the Cyber Woman Hope trophy by CEFCYS, was selected as one of the 40 under 40 in Cybersecurity 2023 by the Top Cyber News Magazine, and she has enjoyed sharing knowledge and insights as an international keynote speaker during the Forum in Cyber conference in Montreal.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Digital First Magazine, Dorota shared her professional trajectory, insights on the common myths’ companies have in their mind while dealing with cybersecurity, the secret mantra behind her success, future plans, words of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
The nature of leadership is evolving. We are moving from authority to trust; from hierarchy to networking; from decisionmaking to inspiration
are delivered confidently and promptly. I have degrees in Economics, Management and Marketing, and Computer Science, and I am certified with CompTIA Security+, ISTQB Foundation, and ITIL.
When does an organization need to get a pen test, and how often should they renew it?
Depending on the size of the company it is advised that at least one manual Pentest per year, perhaps twice depending on your budget. If the company is small, that could be less often than that.
What are the myths companies have in their mind while dealing with Cybersecurity?
You can acquire this knowledge by first learning what isn’t true, starting with these cybersecurity myths and their corresponding facts.
Myth: Only certain people and organizations are targets.
High-profile financial and government institutions are absolutely targets for wideranging cyber-attacks. However, not all instances of cybercrime are major organizational data breaches. In fact, the most common types of cyber-attacks include phishing, spoofing, and identity-based attacks that are used to target individuals over companies.
Myth: It’s okay to use the same password and username combination across multiple accounts.
Although it may be more convenient to choose one strong password to use across multiple accounts and devices, cybercriminals have long since caught on to this habit. With the help of bots and other AI tools, hackers can compromise your data in seconds with a credential stuffing attack: entering one known username and password combination across dozens of popular apps to obtain payment and other personal information.
Instead, use a password manager tool to keep track of unique passwords across your accounts.
Myth: Phishing emails and SMS messages masquerading as a trusted source are always obvious.
This was true some time ago but is certainly no longer the case. With access to company logos and other visual marketing collateral, names and email addresses of those known to you, and other familiar features, phishing links can now be cleverly embedded within legitimate-looking messages.
Avoid phishing attacks by double-checking sender information and signing into that organization’s account separately to confirm any messages sent to your email or texts. Never click the link sent to you and be sure to report the message immediately if it’s fraudulent.
Myth: Public wifi is secure to use with your personal devices—especially if it’s password-protected.
This one is simple: sensitive information shared over a public wifi network is more likely to be intercepted than it would be on a private connection. Plus, while many guest wifi offerings are encrypted, it’s still possible for cybercriminals to install malware via any shared network.
Consider investing in your own VPN (Virtual Private Network) to ensure your data remains protected even when using public wifi.
Myth: Any data that’s been deleted is not susceptible to hackers.
Data that’s been deleted may still be at risk of being extracted by hackers—both within cloud drives and hard drives. Using file restoration programs, cyber attackers can retrieve files after gaining remote access to your hard drive, while cloud-stored files often remain accessible on your account for 30 days or more.
Myth: Apple Mac computers are invulnerable to malware.
While operating systems are an important differentiator between Mac and PC computers for consumers with varying needs, both are vulnerable to malware. Malware is an umbrella term representing the full gamut of malicious software, including adware, viruses, ransomware, and more.
Myth: Data stored via the cloud is automatically secure—with built-in protection from potential breaches.
Just as deleted data can be accessed via both hard drive and the cloud, live data can also be accessed through both storage locations. The difference lies in how cloud data is accessed.
Myth: Multi-factor authentication is unnecessary.
According to a March 2023 report by Microsoft, over 99.9% of the account compromise reports they deal with could have been prevented by multi-factor identification. Plus, considering many devices, apps, and email providers offer built-in MFA functionality, there’s really no reason not to use them.
In your opinion, what upcoming challenges do you see for a Penetration Tester as per the current security postures of companies?
Companies are cutting costs so they might resign from investing in Cybersecurity all together in the future, but that wouldn’t be a smart move.
What’s your favorite part of the penetration testing process?
Reporting. The final stage is Reporting, where the tester compiles a comprehensive report detailing their findings. This includes the vulnerabilities discovered, data exploited, and the success of the simulated breach.
Understand Your Objectives: Be clear about what you want to achieve from the penetration test
The meaning of leadership can change from one era to the other, how would you define the meaning of leadership today?
Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act toward achieving a common goal, that is the definition. The nature of leadership is evolving. We are moving from authority to trust; from hierarchy to networking; from decisionmaking to inspiration.
The workplace has changed dramatically over the last few years, with the increase of remote work and the growing importance placed on employee touchpoints, such as diversity, equity and inclusion.
Become more self-aware. Great leaders know their strengths, weaknesses and effects on the people they lead. They set a good example and model good behavior. One way to become more self-aware is to seek feedback from those people.
Refine communication skills. Leaders should be effective and clear in their communication; they must also be good listeners. Communication should be based in openness, honesty and transparency. This involves setting clear goals and expectations and giving regular feedback to employees.
Connect with team members. Connections build trust, understanding and bonds that are critical for successful leadership. The best leaders should get to know the personalities and capabilities of their team members.
Encourage growth. The best leaders encourage their own, their colleagues’ and their employees’ or followers’ personal and professional growth. Encouraging growth strengthens bonds and trust between leaders and team members and increases what teams can accomplish.
Be open to change. Change is inevitable in business; being open to it and encouraging new
ideas and perspectives from team members can help leaders become more effective.
Develop positive attitudes. Responding to negative situations and problems with positive approaches and encouragement is a great way to model and improve problem-solving skills.
Seek out growth opportunities. Great leaders look for opportunities for continuous improvement and education. This can involve attending conferences, finding a mentor and reading books on leadership.
Any last words of advice for organizations that need a pen test?
Understand Your Objectives: Be clear about what you want to achieve from the penetration test. This could range from identifying vulnerabilities to testing the effectiveness of your incident response team. Choose the Right Type of Penetration Test: There are different types of pentests such as network services, web application, client-side, and wireless. Depending on your objectives, choose the right type. Hire a Reputable Pentest Firm: Ensure the firm has a strong track record and relevant certifications. The quality of the pentest is largely dependent on the expertise of the pentesters. Prepare Your Team: Make sure your IT team is ready to support the pentest. This includes providing necessary access, being available to address issues that might arise, and being ready to remediate identified vulnerabilities. Document the Test: Make sure to document everything including the scope of the test, the methods used, any vulnerabilities found, and the recommended remediations. Follow Up: After the pentest, review the findings and implement the recommended remediations. Also, consider scheduling regular pentests to ensure ongoing security.
TUbiquity AI Democratizing Artificial Intelligence for SMEs
he inception of Ubiquity AI stemmed from Francisco Ortigosa’s passion for leveraging generative AI to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Throughout his career in the corporate sector, working on large-scale technological projects, Ortigosa observed that while these projects were transformative, they primarily benefited large multinational corporations. He noted that 90% of the world’s productive fabric consists of SMEs, which often have limited access to the latest technologies due to resource constraints. This disparity inspired him to make a significant change.
Ortigosa decided to leave the multinational sector to bring cutting-edge technology, particularly artificial intelligence, to SMEs. He founded Ubiquity AI with a clear mission: to democratize access to advanced AI technologies and help SMEs optimize their operations, enhance productivity, and explore new business opportunities. “By doing so, I aim to unlock their full potential and ensure they can compete on a level playing field with larger enterprises,” Ortigosa explains.
The overarching vision of Ubiquity AI is encapsulated in its Massive Transformative Purpose (MTP): to democratize AI and bring
Francisco Ortigosa, CEO of Ubiquity
it to 1 billion people. Ortigosa often likens its goal to becoming “the McDonald’s of Artificial Intelligence—deploying AI instantly and affordably to every corner of the globe.” Over the next 5-10 years, Ubiquity AI aims to evolve by continuously innovating its AI offerings, expanding services globally, and becoming the go-to partner for SMEs looking to harness the power of AI. “We envision a future where every SME can leverage AI to drive growth, efficiency, and innovation,” he says, “achieving this by making AI accessible at a fractional cost.”
Ubiquity AI’s core values are innovation, integrity, customer-centricity, and continuous improvement. These values guide their
interactions with clients, drive their commitment to developing innovative solutions, ensure ethical practices in all activities, and foster a culture of learning and growth within the team. Ortigosa believes these values are essential to building long-term relationships with clients and achieving sustainable success.
Empowering SMEs with Cutting-Edge AI Solutions
Ubiquity AI’s mission aligns perfectly with current AI trends, emphasizing accessibility, scalability, and practical applications of AI across various industries. As AI technologies become more advanced and affordable, Ubiquity
David Contreras and Gaby Dominguez, Ubiquity Mexico
AI focuses on empowering SMEs to benefit from cutting-edge AI solutions without the need for large-scale investments. The company stays at the forefront of AI advancements to provide relevant and impactful solutions to its clients.
By 2027, Ubiquity AI aims to have its AI tools and platforms accessible to SMEs in over 50 countries, ensuring language and cultural inclusivity. The goal is to scale AI solutions to support businesses of all sizes, from microenterprises to larger SMEs, allowing them to grow and adapt seamlessly with Ubiquity AI’s technology. Ortigosa explains, “By 2027, we intend to develop and deploy AI applications tailored to at least 20 different industries,
providing specialized tools that address unique business challenges and opportunities.”
One of the key objectives is to reduce the cost of AI adoption by 50% for SMEs within the next five years, making advanced AI capabilities financially feasible for smaller businesses. Ortigosa emphasizes, “The most distinctive characteristic of our solution is that our clients generate new revenue streams with the use of our solutions. Our solution is not merely software; software may save costs or increase efficiency, but it never generates cash.”
Ubiquity AI uses NPVs (Net Present Values) instead of ROI (Return on Investment) to measure success. “Our solution is a real investment that
Ubiquity AI’s mission aligns perfectly with current AI trends, emphasizing accessibility, scalability, and practical applications of AI across various industries
generates cash,” says Ortigosa. “We never take on cases where we doubt that the potential client might not generate that cash.” This approach has attracted the attention of M&A companies and rescue business companies, seeking to increase the value of companies they are selling or improve the chances of rescuing struggling businesses through the revenue streams generated by Ubiquity AI’s solutions.
Driving Financial Growth Through Innovative AI Solutions
Unlike traditional Large Language Models (LLMs), which primarily focus on improving operational efficiency, Retriever-Augmented Generative (RAG) models significantly enhance a business’s financial performance by occupying existing idle capacities and generating new revenue streams. For instance, in exploiting a current value proposition, Ubiquity AI’s AI optimizes internal processes to enhance efficiency and reduce operational costs. Ortigosa elaborates, “An example is a car dealership using sentiment analysis to understand customer preferences better, leading to successful upselling strategies.”
When expanding the value proposition, Ubiquity AI’s solutions enable rapid adaptation to market needs by personalizing products and services, thereby attracting new customers. Ortigosa adds, “A notable case is a luxury yacht company that created a new revenue stream by offering tailored recommendations to clients.”
Furthermore, in exploring new value propositions, Ubiquity AI’s AI drives innovation and the creation of new products or services, opening entirely new markets. Ortigosa cites an example, “An industrial data capture company successfully ventured into the industrial AI sector with the help of a RAG model.” By
Richard Koseluk, VP of Business Development, Ubiquity
When expanding the value proposition, Ubiquity AI’s solutions enable rapid adaptation to market needs by personalizing products and services, thereby attracting new customers
focusing on these transformative applications, Ubiquity AI ensures that SMEs not only stay competitive but also thrive by tapping into new growth opportunities and generating sustainable financial outcomes.
Streamlining Knowledge Management with Tailored AI Solutions
Ubiquity AI specializes in implementing tailored AI solutions that seamlessly integrate with existing systems. An exemplary application is the CoPilot application, engineered for knowledge management, processing, and analyzing vast data sets to deliver nuanced insights that inform decision-making. Ortigosa explains, “For Institucion Futuro, a Think Tank in Spain focused on improving the competitiveness of companies in Navarre, CoPilot provides access to an impressive repository comprising 51 million
words, 10,600 URLs, 5,500 reports, and 80 websites. This makes it an unparalleled source of information.”
Institucion Futuro deployed Ubiquity AI’s solution to analyze, correlate, and generate data from existing reports, producing novel content
and valuable insights. The Think Tank faced challenges in disseminating its vast repository of reports due to the overwhelming amount of content on its website. In response, the institute deployed Ubiquity AI’s RAG system, trained with numerous reports, web pages, and approximately 100 affiliated institutional websites.
This implementation allowed their 200 affiliated companies to easily access synthesized reports generated by CoPilot. Each report features a comprehensive list of sources, ensuring transparency and enhancing the credibility of the information provided. Ortigosa adds, “This
Just
Sverre & Ann Jeanette, Ubiquity Mexico
enabled Institucion Futuro to streamline its information-handling process and improve the effectiveness of its policy advocacy.”
Pioneering User-Centric AI Solutions
Ubiquity AI’s generative AI capabilities are distinguished by their adaptability, precision, and user-centric design. Unlike standard AI solutions, Ubiquity AI’s models are specifically trained to address the unique needs of SMEs, providing highly relevant and actionable insights. Ortigosa elaborates, “Our use of Retriever-Augmented Generative (RAG) models ensures that our
Unlike standard AI solutions, Ubiquity
AI’s models are specifically trained to address the unique needs of SMEs, providing highly relevant and actionable insights
solutions are always leveraging the most current and specific data, offering a significant advantage over more static AI models like ChatGPT.”
The company offers real-time training and access to unlimited documents, tables, YouTube videos, podcasts, and most databases. Ortigosa adds, “All our solutions can be turned into an iPhone or Android app that can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.” Furthermore, Ubiquity AI’s services include Wolfram Alpha integration, custom API calls, and IFTTT integration. Their solutions also seamlessly integrate with apps and websites like
Rafael Torres, Javier Regueiro and Ignacio
- Ubiquity Spain
Webflow, WordPress, Wix, Google Sites, Shopify, Notion, Framer, and .bubble. Ubiquity AI’s solutions are integrated with Web Browser, Google Search, Wikipedia Search, Dall-E-3, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Messenger, accessible from within Max.
Ubiquity AI plans to address future market needs by expanding its services, developing industry-specific AI solutions, enhancing AI-driven automation capabilities, and increasing its global footprint
To ensure their technology remains cuttingedge, Ubiquity AI invests in continuous research and development, collaborates with leading AI research institutions, and maintains an agile approach to product development. They actively gather feedback from clients to understand their evolving needs and incorporate insights into their technology roadmap. Ortigosa emphasizes, “Our research focus is not only in the development of technology but also in the customization for different sectors and the quantification of possible revenues produced by our solutions in each sector. This way, we maximize our strategy to generate cash for our clients.” Ubiquity AI has developed custom solutions for 22 sectors to date, continuously exploring how to integrate their solution into new verticals.
Revolutionizing Industries with Autonomous AI Agents
As a leading figure at the intersection of business and artificial intelligence, Ortigosa is excited about
several upcoming technologies and trends in AI that are being integrated into its offerings. One of the most groundbreaking advancements is the deployment of autonomous AI agents that interact directly with machines. Ortigosa explains, “Our agents are not just theoretical concepts; they perform real work in the real world, operating autonomously to enhance efficiency and productivity.”
These agents function as software robots or brains, capable of giving life to any machine,
similar to the concept seen in the Transformers movie. Ubiquity AI is particularly focused on industrial AI, where these agents are transforming the manufacturing landscape. The company is partnering with a specialized company to retrieve data from old machinery, which the agents will process to optimize operations. Ortigosa elaborates, “This initiative involves deploying a brain in every machine, allowing for smarter, more responsive industrial processes.”
In addition to industrial applications, Ubiquity AI is exploring the luxury market through “Luxurious AI.” By partnering with a 3D AI company, the company offers personalized, high-quality designs for bespoke jewelry at a fraction of the traditional cost. This approach leverages AI’s characteristics of exclusivity and customization to meet the unique tastes and preferences of each customer.
The company’s innovations also extend to agriculture. By partnering with a sensor company, Ubiquity AI aims to automate greenhouse operations, enhancing the efficiency and productivity of agricultural practices. This partnership will enable precise monitoring and control of environmental conditions, leading to better crop yields and resource management.
Furthermore, Ubiquity AI’s autonomous AI agents are designed to adapt and learn from their environment, making them increasingly efficient over time. Ortigosa highlights, “These agents can make decisions, predict maintenance needs, and optimize workflows without human intervention, significantly reducing operational costs and increasing productivity.”
This is just a glimpse of Ubiquity AI’s short-term growth. As the company continues to integrate cutting-edge technologies, Ortigosa and his team are confident that their AI solutions will revolutionize various industries, providing unparalleled value and transforming the way businesses operate.
Ubiquity AI’s Vision for the Future
Ubiquity AI plans to address future market needs by expanding its services, developing industry-specific AI solutions, enhancing AI-
driven automation capabilities, and increasing its global footprint. Ortigosa states, “Our goal is to continuously evolve our offerings to meet the dynamic needs of SMEs worldwide.”
Despite the proliferation of developers and AI applications in the market, AI implementation remains underdeveloped. Ortigosa highlights the gap, stating, “While 72% of executives recognize the necessity of this technology, only 5% acknowledge that their company is capable of effectively implementing it. This situation is unsustainable; there is a vast amount of development but very few practical, widespread applications.”
Ubiquity AI bridges this gap by providing services that generate cash for clients, rather than just licensing software. Ortigosa emphasizes, “From the very beginning, we understood the importance of an international distribution network that directly engages with companies, rather than waiting for someone to download our solution.”
Already, two companies developing AI applications have approached Ubiquity AI to distribute their applications through their network under their brand. Ortigosa explains, “Expansion is in our DNA. Even before having a website, we were operating in two countries (Mexico and Spain). Unlike others who typically start selling and then expand, we created the network first and then began distribution.”
Looking ahead, Ubiquity AI’s future lies in expansion, reaching every corner of the globe. “Our vision is to become the McDonald’s of artificial intelligence, rapidly deploying AI products at low prices in every corner of the world,” Ortigosa concludes.
Evolution of Cybersecurity: Embracing Diversity And Customization
Alittle over a decade ago, I embarked on a journey that would transform the way I perceive the world of cybersecurity. My path has been a diverse one, leading me through industries such as the cruise sector, automotive, and finance. Yet, what truly defined this journey was the moment I discovered my passion for cybersecurity. It was at that moment, a decade ago, that I realized that cybersecurity is not merely a technical task but a living, breathing part of an organization’s identity. This revelation ignited a passion within me, a passion for
making cybersecurity accessible and efficient for everyone.
This vision extends beyond the boundaries of traditional cybersecurity departments. It’s about creating a top-down security culture, led by leaders who share this passion and understand the importance of weaving security into the very fabric of the organization.
To safeguard data and uphold the principles of the CIA Triad—confidentiality, integrity, and availability—we must embrace simplicity as a powerful ally. In a field often associated with complexity, my message is straightforward: complexity does not equate to security.
To safeguard data and uphold the principles of the CIA Triad— confidentiality, integrity, and availability—we must embrace simplicity as a powerful ally
Btissam Laaouina is a passionate Italian Moroccan CyberSecurity Manager. She holds a degree in Telecommunication Engineering and a master’s in digital Transformation from the polytechnic of Turin. Btissam is certified with CCISO, CISSP, CISM, ITIL V4, and other notable qualifications. Her expertise and enthusiasm in the field of cybersecurity make her a prominent figure in the industry. She also enjoys nature, mountains, horseback riding, and has a special fondness for bees. In 2024, she was selected as one of the incredible women shaping the cybersecurity landscape. Btissam also loves to travel, explore, and speak multiple languages including Arabic, French, English, Italian, German, and Spanish.
Building a culture of security requires collaboration and communication across all levels of the organization
The human element, often the weakest link in security, is a critical aspect that cannot be ignored. Education and awareness are essential to empower individuals and strengthen our collective security posture. Inclusivity and diversity, particularly in gender representation, are key elements of this vision, driving innovation and fresh perspectives.
Security shapes our digital landscape, yet one size doesn’t fit all. Each organization faces unique challenges and requires tailored solutions. It’s about understanding the specific needs and risks of each environment and implementing measures accordingly. This personalized approach ensures that security efforts are effective and efficient.
Moreover, cybersecurity is not solely the responsibility of IT departments. It’s a collective effort that involves every individual within
an organization. From the CEO to the interns, everyone plays a role in maintaining a secure environment. Building a culture of security requires collaboration and communication across all levels of the organization.
As technology evolves, so do the threats we face. It’s essential to stay ahead of the curve and continuously adapt our security measures. This requires a proactive approach to threat detection and mitigation, as well as ongoing education and training for employees.
In conclusion, my journey from the past decade has transformed my perspective on cybersecurity, evolving curiosity into a passionate commitment. It’s a vision that’s not just for the experts but for everyone, and it’s a message that I’m deeply committed to sharing with the world.
